Member blog: Strengthening venture-backed companies: The impact of interim leadership & governance part 1

From founder to scaler: When and how to bring in outside leadership

Many startups and growth companies outgrow their founding team’s expertise. Interim experts can help. But when is the right time to bring in an interim CEO, CFO, or other executive? Let’s break it down. 

Startups often experience rapid growth, market pivots, and scaling challenges that stretch the capabilities of the founding team. It’s not uncommon for founders who thrive in the early days—building a product, winning early customers, and securing funding—only to find themselves less comfortable navigating later-stage growth— managing larger teams, or preparing for M&A activity. 

This is where interim management comes in. These are experienced executives brought in temporarily to fill a leadership gap, drive transformation, or provide specialized expertise. While interim leaders aren’t a long-term fix, they can be powerful change agents in moments of transition. 

In this post, we’ll explore three specific scenarios when interim leadership might be the right move: 

• Filling an unexpected or strategic gap 

• Strengthening the board or prepping for an acquisition 

• Evaluating or supporting the CEO with outside expertise 

We’ll also discuss how interim leaders can work alongside founders to professionalize operations without disrupting the company’s culture or momentum. 

Filling a gap: Traditional interim management 

Startups can lose key executives suddenly, whether through resignation, burnout, or strategic change. When a CEO, CFO, or CTO departs and the search for a permanent replacement could take months, an interim leader can provide critical continuity. 

In other cases, the founder may recognize that their skills are better suited to product or vision work—not day-to-day management. Bringing in an interim executive allows the company to keep scaling without rushing to fill a permanent role. 

Interim leaders in this capacity are often seasoned operators who’ve been through similar growth phases. They stabilize the team, assess what’s working (and what’s not), and help set the stage for the next full-time hire. 

Enhancing the team’s capabilities and professionalizing operations

As startups mature, they often prepare for strategic events like funding rounds, M&A, or IPOs. These moments demand more financial rigor, sharper governance, and enhanced credibility in front of investors or acquirers. 

Bringing in an interim CFO or advisor can help put the necessary structures in place: tightening up reporting, forecasting, and compliance. Similarly, a temporary COO might step in to systematize operations ahead of a sale. 

In some cases, boards also seek interim leaders to add strategic or industry-specific experience that complements existing leadership. This can improve decision-making and reassure external stakeholders that the company is scaling responsibly. 

Supporting or testing the CEO role 

Not every founder wants—or is ready—to scale into a CEO of a 100+ person company. Interim leadership can be used to test-drive a new CEO, either as a full replacement or in a collaborative structure alongside the founder. 

This can help everyone involved assess fit, without the finality of a full-time hire. An interim CEO might also come in to mentor the founder, improve executive communication, or realign the leadership team during times of strategic change or investor pressure. 

In some cases, this is a healthy transition model where the founder moves into a new role (e.g. Chief Product Officer) while the company experiments with new leadership styles and structures. 

How interim leaders complement founders 

The best interim leaders don’t disrupt—they amplify. They bring objectivity, cross-industry insight, and hard-earned operational experience. Founders often find that having a peer-level sounding board helps relieve pressure and unlock better decision-making. 

Moreover, interim executives are used to moving fast and embedding themselves into existing teams. They often introduce best practices in hiring, goal-setting, performance reviews, and financial management—laying the foundation for a more scalable organization. 

Their mandate is short-term, but the impact can be long-lasting—especially when they focus on building systems and teams that will outlast their tenure. 

Interim leadership protects and accelerates portfolio value 

In the lifecycle of any high-growth company, there are moments when the founding team needs support to reach the next level. Interim executives can be a smart, strategic lever—stepping in to stabilize operations, professionalize functions, and unlock growth without long-term hiring risk. 

For VCs, deploying interim leadership at the right time can help protect your investment, support your founders, and position portfolio companies for stronger outcomes—whether that’s a successful fundraise, exit, or operational turnaround.

Ferovalo: Your partner for interim talent across the portfolio 

At Ferovalo, we help VCs and their portfolio companies quickly access a trusted network of interim CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and board-level experts. Whether you’re managing leadership transitions, prepping for a transaction, or simply need operational firepower, we deliver experienced talent that fits both the moment and the culture. 

Let’s talk about how Ferovalo can help you scale your portfolio—smarter, faster, and with confidence. 

Learn more at ferovalo.com.