Growth strategy consulting · Los Angeles

Growth strategy consultant that helps you navigate when and how to build, partner, and/or buy.

I help AI Powered Digital Video, Digital Marketing, and SaaS companies decide how and where to grow next, then close the customers, strategic partnerships and acquisitions that get them there.

Email Me See the roadmap

Stanford MBA · 30+ years in growth strategy and deal making · $2.4B in transactions

About

I'm Stephen S. Marshall.

Everyone calls me Steve.

For 30+ years, I have worked with and advised startups, small to medium businesses (SMB), middle market companies, large enterprises, and public companies in 2 main areas:

Growth StrategyDeal Making
Stephen S. Marshall, growth strategy consultant in Los Angeles, California
30+ YearsGrowth strategy and deal making

Current Consulting Projects

  • Infamous MediaLeading streaming video strategy (FAST channels, AVOD apps, AI powered microdrama / vertical video content creation and ad strategy)
  • Peak LocalDirecting growth strategy and AI-powered marketing for local businesses

Education

  • Stanford Graduate School of BusinessMBA
  • UCLAB.A. Business-Economics, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Location

  • Los Angeles, CA
LinkedIn Profile

Experience across

  • ServiceTitan
  • Vobile
  • Microsoft
  • Local.com
  • Peak Local
  • GameOn
  • Merrill Lynch
  • Stanford Graduate School of Business

What I Do

One consultant across the full growth strategy roadmap.

Every growth plan follows the same curve. Revenue accelerates as you add leverage, from sales and marketing, to channel partners, to capital.

  1. 01Sales and marketing leverage
    Organic growth

    Build

    • Sales and marketing strategy
    • Go-to-market and growth planning
    • AI-enabled go-to-market and AI tool evaluation
  2. 02Channel leverage
    Inorganic growth

    Partner

    • Strategic, channel and affiliate partnerships
    • Technology, content and licensing agreements
    • Joint ventures and distribution deals
  3. 03Capital leverage
    Inorganic growth

    Buy

    • Acquisition target sourcing and screening
    • Valuation, diligence and negotiation
    • Financing and integration support

The Unified Growth Strategy RoadmapSM

Revenue accelerates as growth moves from sales and marketing leverage to channel leverage and capital leverage.

  1. Organic Build

    Sales Signal, Sales Leverage and Marketing Leverage

    TestProduct
    Market
    Fit
    FindICPIdeal Customer Profile
    TargetSEO
    AI Visibility
    Social Media
    Email Marketing
    Paid Advertising
    • Sales
    • Marketing
    • Content Branding
    • Funnel Nurturing
    • Share of Wallet Upsells
    • Customer Referral

  2. Inorganic Partner

    Channel Leverage

    • Strategic
    • Channel
    • Affiliates

  3. Inorganic Buy

    Capital Leverage

    • Merger
    • Acquisition
      • Cash
      • Debt / Equity
SSM GROWTH STRATEGY™© 2026 Stephen S. Marshall

How I Think About Deals

A good deal needs 3 things.

A good deal between parties that leads to desired results is a harmonious combination of a fair exchange of value, a reasonable allocation of risk, and an alignment of upside incentives.

The Good Deal TriangleSM

Successful deals rely on these 3 concepts.

An Alignment of Upside Incentives

All parties are motivated to do much more than the minimum.

A Fair Exchange
of Value

All parties are receiving
value important to them.

A Reasonable
Allocation of Risk

All parties are accountable for
their actions and deliverables.

SSM GROWTH STRATEGY™© 2026 Stephen S. Marshall
A good deal between parties that leads to desired results is a harmonious combination of a fair exchange of value, a reasonable allocation of risk, and an alignment of upside incentives.
Talk through a dealThe Good Deal TriangleSM by Stephen S. Marshall

Track Record

Results from both sides of the table.

Merrill LynchInvestment Banking $2.4B

Equity, debt and convertible transactions executed early in my career at Merrill Lynch

Vobile ~$90MM

Zefr acquisition managed for Vobile, from diligence through financing and integration

Local.com $33MM

2 acquisitions valued, negotiated and closed for Local.com

Infamous Media ~20

Distribution platform deals closed for Infamous Media's streaming channels

Infamous Media 20→50MM+

Viewing minutes grown from 2022 to 2024 across 3 FAST channels launched

Selected Experience

Where the work is happening now.

Now
Current AI-powered local marketing

Growth Strategy & Execution Consultant for AI-powered digital marketing, websites and Google Business Profile optimization for local businesses. Develop the growth strategy and direct the team that executes it, from SEO, AEO and GEO optimization and GoHighLevel automations with a Voice AI assistant to Google PPC and Local Services Ads.

Current Streaming video

Fractional head of business development, launching FAST channels and AVOD apps, now leading AI microdrama and ad content strategy.

Previously
Home services SaaS

Inorganic growth strategy for home services SaaS: TAM, new verticals and acquisition targets.

400%

of quota. Closed $6MM+ in enterprise revenue deals.

Video content protection SaaS

Corporate development and China market-entry strategy.

Local search

Corporate development for a small business search and local directory company.

5

affiliate deals closed as Acting CFO, including DraftKings.

Contact

Let's figure out your growth strategy plan and roadmap.

Tell me how and where you want to grow. I'll help you think through how to build it, partner for it, or buy it.

steve@ssmgrowthstrategy.com
Email Me

Based in Los Angeles, CA

LinkedIn