This is an Open Coffee for Fractionals session — part of my coaching practice.

Noel Putaansuu is a fire investigator, engineer, and inventor — building smart, wireless systems to help wood stoves burn cleaner than new. He’s got patents, prototypes, working sensors, and field testers — but he’s still solo.

This call turned into a go-to-market jam session: how to find the right partner, what a fractional CEO actually does, and why talking to chimney sweeps might matter more than raising VC.

Livio Zanardo helped frame the real ask — and connected the dots between regulated markets, retrofit demand, and business partnerships that actually work.

We got into:

• why fractional CEOs often aren’t looking for equity-only roles
• how local regulations shape hardware markets
• selling to mom-and-pop shops vs manufacturers
• the role of “hero customers” in early traction
• the physics of burning wood (and why your dog shouldn’t nap by the stove)

No slides. No pitches. No agenda. Just honest conversation.

📅 Recorded July 14, 2025
🎙️ Hosted by David Raistrick

Join a future session | Explore the For Fractionals community