Hello!
I am
Manu Prasad
A Fractional CMO for startups.
- 21+ years of experience in companies such as Myntra, Urban Ladder & Scripbox
- Led diverse teams across brand, digital marketing, growth, social media, content and PR
- Fractional CMO for startups since 2024, in diverse domains – foodtech, mobility, D2C, global staffing etc- helping them accelerate brand and business growth
What is a 'Fractional CMO for startups'?
Think of me as an ATM for startups. No, not money, and not 24/7,
All Things Marketing.
Brand Strategy
Aligning the brand to the business, and creating positioning and value propositions to drive growth.
Communication Strategy
Converting the brand strategy into creative effectiveness across multiple consumer touchpoints - digital and offline.
Growth: Acquisition & Retention
Creating efficient methods of acquiring customers through paid and organic means, and making them profitable.
Marketing Analytics
Setting up a cadence, and dashboards, to monitor and improve brand and business metrics.
Stakeholder Management
Handling internal (leadership, marketing team, investors) and external (vendors, agencies) stakeholders for all things marketing
Hiring & Mentoring
Building and equipping a team with processes and a mindset to help the organisation meet business goals
Get. Set. Grow?
How does it work in real life?
Depending on the context, I do a combination of the four things below, for a minimum of 3 months, and with a time commitment of 20-60 hours/month.
Optimise
Refresh
Troubleshoot
In short, S/O/R/T your marketing. Makes sense?
In the News
We've not come this far to only come this far
Let’s connect to understand your needs, and find a way to work together.
The Fractional CMO you need
The 'ex' axis
21+ years of experience across legacy brands, agency & startups in India
I have worked in diverse domains – from fashion to media to wealth management, and furniture and lingerie in between.
The 'why' axis
A full stack marketer with leadership expertise in brand, digital, and growth
The chart gives you a quick read of how long in my 21 year career I have been working on specific domains. The youngest is PR (‘only’ 7 years). I can help you with a holistic perspective, or a deep dive into one or more specific marketing domains.
You’re still here?
From the blog
Recent posts, media contributions, and more
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does a fractional CMO for startups do?
A: A fractional CMO brings leadership-level marketing experience to your startup -without the full-time cost. I help you on strategy, brand, growth, and team alignment.
Q: When should a startup hire a fractional CMO?
A: When you’re past MVP and want to scale sustainably—but aren’t ready for a full-time CMO. It’s ideal when marketing is scattered across agencies or junior hires.
Q: How is a fractional CMO different from a marketing consultant?
A: Consultants give advice. As a Fractional CMO, I roll up my sleeves, align with your team, and own outcomes. It’s part strategy, part execution.