Kirk Coburn

Founder | Teaching Category Creation Playbook | Fractional Executive Development

About

I created the Fractional CMO category on July 22, 2009.That's not a flex. It's a timestamp.I co-founded Chief Outsiders, introduced a term that didn't exist to a market that needed it, and built the systematic process that went on to serve 2,000+ clients at $10K-$25K/month retainers. Not Chief Outsiders' process. Mine. They scaled it. I built it.I actually started as a fractional CFO and COO before perfecting the CMO model. So I know this works across the entire C-suite and deep functional expertise — marketing, finance, operations, technology, HR, and beyond.So why am I not still running a placement firm?Because I hated the model. You do the work, they take 30-40% forever, they own the client relationship. I built the category, then I watched it get rigged.I left to build other companies — raised $60M for a blockchain platform, built SURGE into a top 10 global accelerator, launched InspirePlay. But I kept coming back to the same problem: talented professionals getting filtered out by a hiring system that wasn't built for them.Now I'm back to fix it.The ReTern shows experienced professionals (40-60, VP+ backgrounds) how to land their first fractional role in 90 days. No commissions. No firm taking a cut. You own the playbook. You keep 100%.The hardest part of going fractional isn't the work. It's doing it alone. No one to pressure-test your pricing against. No one to tell you your proposal is too generous. No one to send you a referral when a client needs what you don't do.That's why I built The Crew.Vetted peer groups. Weekly calls with me in the room. Real talk about what's working and what isn't. Referral partnerships without giving up 30-40% to a firm. First Mate CRM to track your pipeline. And my systematic process — the same methodology that's placed 2,000+ executives into fractional roles since 2009. The difference between me and every career coach on your feed:→ I'm not selling motivation. I built the system→ I don't teach networking. I teach process.→ 20 outreach messages = 1 fractional client. That's math, not magic.I'd love to be on a beach somewhere right now. Or a golf course. Or anywhere that isn't staring at a screen. But I can't sit still knowing talented people are burning another year sending applications into the void when I know the way out.The work is serious. The life doesn't have to be.🚀 Join The Crew → theretern.com/pricing

Country

United States

City

Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

Industry

Management Consulting

Skill

Chief of Staff, Fractional COO, Fractional CMO, Fractional Executive Placement, B2B Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Business Planning, Start-ups, Market Planning, Marketing, Strategy, Energy Software, Energy, Angel Investing, Clean Energy Technologies, Venture Capital, Renewable Energy, Upstream, Water, ETRM

Experience

Founder | Teaching Category Creation Playbook | Fractional Executive Development

The ReTern

2025-9 - Present · 1 yr 1 mo

Dallas, TX

I created the Fractional CMO category in 2009 and built the systematic process that placed 2,000+ executives into fractional roles at $10K-$25K/month retainers. Now I'm teaching that playbook to experienced professionals going independent. The ReTern helps corporate refugees — experienced professionals (40-60) exhausted by a hiring system designed to filter them out — land their first fractional role in 90 days. Any function: marketing, finance, operations, technology, HR, and beyond. THE SYSTEMATIC PROCESS: → Week 1-2: Assess + Position (readiness profile, authority statement, retainer framing) → Week 3-4: Prospect (20 target companies identified + qualification criteria) → Week 5-6: Reach Out (systematic outreach launched, 40+ messages by Week 6) → Week 7-8: Navigate (Migration Method training, discovery calls begin, 5+ by Week 8) → Week 9-12: Close (proposals sent, retainer negotiations, first fractional role signed) TWO WAYS IN: The Crew ($99/month) — Vetted peer groups. Weekly calls with me in the room. Referral partnerships without giving up 30-40% to a firm. First Mate CRM to track your pipeline. For experienced professionals building their independent practice. Founding Client (results-based) — 1-on-1 program. For professionals ready to move fast. → Get the free 90-Day Escape Plan: theretern.com/playbook → Join The Crew: theretern.com/pricing Process beats network. You own the playbook. You keep 100%.

Founder & CEO

InspirePlay

2024-1 - Present · 2 yrs 9 mos

Texas, United States

Built golf entertainment company despite knowing nothing about content creation. Applied corporate project management and market analysis to disrupt traditional golf media. Proof that corporate skills transfer to any industry with fundamental business problems.

Advisor

Captain Energy

2023-3 - Present · 3 yrs 7 mos

Houston, Texas, United States

Captain Energy is revolutionizing industrial decarbonization with the only fuel cell focused on Ammonia to Industrial Heat conversion. Harnessing the power of Proton Conducting SOFCs, we prioritize clean, efficient, and affordable heat production for industries. Our technology not only ensures optimal heat generation but also produces hydrogen as a valuable byproduct. With a unique PATENTED tubular design and 7 years of R&D, we're committed to providing sustainable energy solutions that address the global need for cleaner heat sources.

Investor

Infinite Composites

2015-2 - Present · 11 yrs 8 mos

Investor

Molecule

2012-2 - Present · 14 yrs 8 mos

Investor

OPTIMITIVE

2013-2 - Present · 13 yrs 8 mos

Investor

Deep Imaging d.b.a. ESG Solutions

2012-5 - Present · 14 yrs 5 mos

Founder & Managing Director

SURGE Ventures

2010-9 - Present · 16 yrs 1 mo

Houston, Texas Area

SURGE Ventures is the leading seed-stage venture fund and mentor-driven accelerator located in the Energy Capital that enables entrepreneurs to solve the world’s energy problems. SURGE is ranked as a top 10 seed accelerator. Under Coburn’s leadership and direction, SURGE has recruited more than 200 industry-leading scientists, investors, policymakers, customers, and entrepreneurs. SURGE has raised four funds and invested in 43 early-stage energy tech startups in its first three years. SURGE Alumni have raised more than $100 million in funding, generated similar amounts in customer revenue, and created over 250 jobs.