A cycling paceline is faster and more efficient than any solo rider.
It's about clear goals, technique, shared effort, and trust.
We help leaders create that same fusion — aligning strategy, product, go-to-market, and operational execution so the whole organization moves faster, more efficiently.
What We Do
We partner with CEOs, their teams, and investors on value creation — sharpening strategy, accelerating growth, and driving operating results. Our work sits at the intersection of product, go-to-market, and operations.
Private Equity-Backed Companies
Technology and AI transformation to drive valuation growth and operational efficiency.
Venture-Funded Startups
Scaling product-market fit to profitability with disciplined execution.
Mid-Market & Enterprise
Modernization of product, technology, and go-to-market for established businesses.
Recent Advisory Projects
- Created ICP and GTM clarity for stealth mode AI native productivity startup
- Advised CEO on line extension using AI to create new, high margin revenue
- Provided Product Management leadership for new AI travel product
- Advised PE client on domain industry entry/investment
- Worked with CEO to develop case to Board for new product line
Why It Works
No rigid methodology. Every engagement is customized to the leadership team, their business stage, market dynamics, and their goals.
Our work is influenced by high performance at companies like Microsoft, Expedia, Amazon, Nuance, Elemental, Identity Digital, and Lighthouse — from startup to hyperscaler, across roles including CEO, COO, CRO, and CPO. We've been founders, scaled executives, and board partners, all rooted in product management.
How We Work
- Retainer-based engagements with defined time blocks and deliverables
- Minimum one-month commitment, typically two to three months
- Maximum three to five concurrent clients for focused attention
- Seattle-based, serving clients nationwide
In House Innovation
- We do not just talk about AI, we live in it. Current projects:
- Tocc.contact: AI inbound email management for SMB, Creators, Sales & Marketing
- Tocc.ai: Make email threads smarter - put agent@tocc.ai on the to: or cc: line
- CheckThisEmail: Service for seniors to help them avoid scams
John Pollard, Principal
John is a technology executive and operator who helps companies scale with clarity, speed, and disciplined execution. He blends deep operating experience with a builder’s mentality—cutting through noise, aligning teams, and driving results that show up quickly in revenue, margin, and product velocity.
He’s led organizations through growth, turnarounds, integrations, and major strategic shifts. As a multi-exit founder and C-suite operator across public, PE-backed, and VC-backed companies, John is known for diagnosing fast, simplifying complex environments, and creating the conditions for teams to execute at a higher level.
John has built and scaled products across several waves of modern technology—from early consumer software and e-commerce to mobile services, speech recognition, ML, and now applied AI. His work at Microsoft, Expedia, Jott, Nuance, Identity Digital, and Lighthouse reflects a consistent through-line: using technology to raise the performance of people and businesses.
He has significant experience in M&A, integrations, capital strategy, leadership development, and operational excellence. Today, as an advisor and fractional executive, he partners with CEOs and investors to accelerate growth, modernize operations, and apply AI in practical, ROI-driven ways that strengthen the business—not theory, but execution.
His operating philosophy is simple and scalable: Trust → Alignment → Teamwork → Precision → Efficiency → Results.
Get in Touch
Direct: paceline@tocc.contact