Richard Neal

Chief Strategy Officer @Lelex Capital Management

Product OwnerCapital RaisesQuantified Strategy0-1InnovationPublic Speaker1-10 (scaled growth)GTM💰 Investor & VCHead of Growth👍 Sales & BizDevCEOFounderProduct ConsultantInvestment AnalystPortfolio ManagerBusiness AnalystCustomer ResearcherPartner🔥 Startup FounderBusiness Owner💼 C-level ExecutiveCPO🧨 ConsultingCSO✨ Business OwnerCOOAdvisor

Rich offers a track record of leading startups and SMBs to successful exits. Neal is known for blending entrepreneurial agility with corporate discipline, becoming a highly sought-after industry leader. He adeptly combines AI, expert systems, machine learning, and predictive analytics to drive winning strategies through business, market, and consumer intelligence. Neal excels in bridging strategy and product management with day-to-day operations, engaging with various stakeholders from the US Senate to Fortune 500 boards with his approachable demeanor and insightful perspectives. His innovation within operational frameworks and effective communication make him a versatile and impactful leader in any context.

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Network Power<100 people

Roles

🔥100%

Startup Founder

✨100%

Business Owner

Geos

🇺🇸100%

United States

Work Background

KARBNZBoard Member

Jan. 2024Netherlands, AmsterdamKARBNZ improves the bottom line of clients and partners significantly, allowing for cheaper and more effective production of renewable fuel (methanol) and feedstock while using waste and dangerous GHG emissions as raw materials.

Lelex Capital ManagementChief Strategy Officer

Mar. 2018United States, Kansas CitySpearheaded the development and implementation of growth-oriented strategies aimed at propelling the company towards sustained success. Responsibilities encompassed decision-making via thorough market analysis, risk assessment, and the identification of strategic priorities to capitalize on opportunities and fortify competitive position. Working closely with the executive team, ensured that strategic direction was defined, effectively communicated, and executed throughout the organization. Additionally, provided leadership to Innovation and Research & Development teams, fostering an environment conducive to ongoing support of the company's growth objectives. Regularly interfacing with the Board of Directors, shareholders, and investors, delivered insightful presentations that underscored progress, achievements, and future trajectory, while instilling confidence in strategic direction and value proposition. + Conducted research illuminating opportunity for new protocol from amalgamated intelligence engine producing analyses of subtle market (consumption) attributes signaling pre-trends (Europe, US, China) producing underpinning >200% YOY growth rate + Implemented initiative to improve operational efficiencies to manage growth by stabilizing and reducing fixed costs across IT unit (27% average over 2 years) + Established processes and designed frameworks to support innovation lifecycle, from idea generation and validation to prototyping, testing and commercialization. Including proprietary valuation rubric establishing prioritization and KPI thresholds necessary for effectiveness of innovation efforts

Lelex PrimeChief Product Officer

Jan. 2018 - Mar. 2021United States, Kansas CityUndertook comprehensive responsibility for overseeing every facet of the company's product portfolio, from the inception of strategic development to the management of the in-market product lifecycle. Undertook a multifaceted role that entailed driving product innovation, collaboratively leading professional services, elevating user experience standards, and orchestrating initiatives to optimize revenue growth. This role was held within one of the region's fastest-growing startups, distinguished by its commitment to serving an esteemed clientele portfolio spanning multiple verticals of the Fortune 500 representing the largest worldwide household brands. + Built product development roadmaps and definition of version increments extending product line into a product-market orientation (PMF) with multiple versions providing predictability, quality, and sequencing product increments (underpinning a YoY growth rate of 61%) + Oversaw the Minimum Viable Product (MVP with web/mobile modalities), led beta launch, and systemic customer POV framework to quickly scale up the customer experience for meeting/exceeding post-GTM strategic growth goals + Responsible for market research and data analytics to identify new opportunities for growth in existing markets and entering new markets while working with finance, legal/compliance, marketing, sales, and end-user support + Generated teamwork and instilled supportive culture within a cross-matrixed international team of analysts, developers, computer scientists, and DevOps specialists in US, Pakistan, India, and Eastern Europe

StealthmarkVice President

Jan. 2016 - Jan. 2018United States, ChicagoAssumed the productization efforts for a sophisticated Intelligence System, Active Duty AI™, renowned for its adeptness in identifying, monitoring, mapping, and intervening upon counterfeit/illicit markets globally. Crafted product mapping strategies, devised comprehensive Go-To-Market (GTM) plans, established segmented targeting methodologies, and collaboratively led business development and sales execution initiatives. This facilitated the seamless integration of solution into the operations of international Luxury Brands, as well as multiple Federal Agencies and the U.S. Military. + Led research underscoring complex target journey mapping (Perpetrators) with Analytics team and affiliated Federal & State Law Enforcement Agencies for the Beta release of marque product incorporating data elements of open-source intelligence (OSINT), financial behavior modeling, Law Enforcement Data Exchanges (LEDXs) and real-time analytics leveraging machine learning + Key in negotiating terms of the accelerated Covered Subcontractor partnership through developing alliance with US Treasury, Oakridge Supercomputing Center, and US Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs + Spearheaded product diversification to increase value prior to acquisition via developing key strategies, quantified approaches and forecasting new market pursuits

mPathDiscovery, Inc.Vice President

Dec. 2012 - Dec. 2016United States, MemphisHeaded the development and execution of high-impact strategies that formed the foundation for product ideation, innovation, development, and delivery, with a singular focus on driving business growth and fostering competitive advantage. Responsibilities included crafting tailored strategic plans to ensure seamless alignment with organizational objectives and anticipatory adaptation to prevailing market trends. Utilizing insightful market analyses, translated nuanced market insights into actionable product initiatives, and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. Role extended to the guidance of cross-functional teams throughout the entirety of the product lifecycle, shepherding projects from conception through launch and subsequent iterations ensuring an alignment with strategic objectives and the ever-evolving needs of the market landscape. + Led 0-1, GTM and Growth strategy through rigorous research leading to data-driven decision-making, establishing a clear vision of applying advanced AI/ML technologies to solve for the prevalent, heavily biased market/consumer intelligence with virtual, multidimensional and interactive (dynamic) buying personae + Championed the voice of the customer; established one-to-many customer and partner forums for product feedback; engaged deeply with customers, partners, and the field + Attained 262% revenue growth via building and supporting a diverse client portfolio of hedge funds, supercar builders, digital service providers, athletic shoe manufacturers, luxury watch companies, agricultural and pharmaceutical companies within USA, Canada, UK, EU, China, Japan, Brazil, and Kenya leveraging data-driven business decisions and sound business judgment