Stop Running
Your Company.
Start Engineering It.

A 72-hour coastal intensive to dismantle your founder bottlenecks and install the CEO-grade operating system that scales without you in every loop.
Install My CEO Operating System
THE PROBLEM

You built someting real.
Now it's running you.

The same qualities that got you here — your judgment, your relationships, your ability to hold every thread — are now the ceiling on your growth.

Your company is running on your personal capacity to process and decide, not its own logic.

You've become a master of context-switching. You toggle between seven problems in an hour. You've memorized every manual workflow, every client quirk, and every team member's blind spot.

You've become indispensable.

And that is the bottleneck.

There is no time for the God's-Eye View work — you spend six hours clearing the "urgent" backlog, answering Slack and email pings, re-approving invoices, and jumping on sales calls because the prospect "wanted to talk to the founder."

Elevate is where you fix it in 72 hours.

THE SOLUTION

Where the rebuild happens.

You cannot read or Zoom-call your way out of systemic problems. You need to get out of your environment, away from the notifications, and into a room where you can strip the business down to the studs. 72 hours is the minimum time required to break your own habits and rebuild the logic of your company from the ground up.

We X-ray your business, map your chokepoints, and replace them with documented, repeatable systems. We build the scorecards, decision frameworks, and meeting rhythms that allow you to step out of the daily loop without the company breaking.

WHO IT'S FOR

Is this for me?

Read both columns. You'll know which side you're on before you finish the list.

Build with us

You’re ready for the build if…

You’ve hit the $250K–$3M revenue wall.

The business is outgrowing your ability to manage it manually.

You’re working 60+ hours a week.

But growth has flatlined or slowed. You’re the primary engine, and you’re tired of the redline.

Your team is dependent on you.

You have 3–15 people, but every decision — from invoices to marketing copy — flows through your desk.

You know you’re the bottleneck.

You’ve identified the chokepoint; now you’re looking for the system to extract yourself.

You’re ready to trade “heroics” for “architecture.”

You’re done with fire-drills and ready to build a company that runs on its own logic.

Maybe later

Save your time if…

You’re pre-revenue.

We re-engineer existing operations — this isn’t a startup incubator.

You want a “lifestyle” business.

If you don’t want to build a team-led engine, this will feel like overkill.

You’re looking for “hacks.”

We don’t do shortcuts. We do fundamental operational re-engineering.

You believe “no one can do it like me.”

If you aren’t ready to release the death grip on control, you’ll fight the process.

You want “inspiration.”

This is a 72-hour construction site. If you aren’t ready to get your hands dirty, stay home.

WHAT YOU INSTALL

Your CEO Arsenal

These are the execution assets designed to break the loop of reactive day-to-day management. You don't leave with notes — you leave with systems already built.

01

The Bottleneck Audit

A diagnostic map of your top 5 time-traps. You'll know exactly where your day is leaking before you leave.

02

Decision Frameworks

A set of rules that allow your team to make decisions without your sign-off.

03

The CEO Scorecard

Three numbers, tracked weekly, that replace 20 hours of manual monitoring.

04

The Fundraising Narrative

A structured worksheet that translates your business model into the language investors actually fund.

05

Meeting Rhythm Playbooks

A documented cadence that clears 10+ hours from your calendar every week.

06

The 90-Day Leadership Blueprint

Your execution plan for the next quarter, with clear ownership and accountability.

07

Direct Access

A dedicated line to Richard for the 90 days following the retreat to pressure-test your critical decisions.

08

The Alumni Network

Lifetime access to the Elevate peer group. You aren't just leaving with a plan; you're joining a cohort of founders running the same operating system.

Your Transformation Timeline​

Day 0
Arrival & Group Reception

Check into Saltwater Resort. Evening drinks overlooking the Atlantic with nine other founders who get it. No pretense. No posturing. Just truth.

Day 1
Foundation & Strategic Clarity
The journey begins here. This opening session is designed to help you unwind, connect, and align before diving into three days of transformation. You’ll meet the Elevate team, your fellow founders, and the support staff who will guide your experience throughout the retreat. Together, we’ll review the agenda, set expectations, and define what success looks like for you this week, both personally and professionally.
Every founder gets 20 minutes in the hot seat. We dissect your business model, identify your top 3 bottlenecks, and pinpoint exactly where you're still playing founder instead of CEO. This isn't comfortable, but it's necessary. We’ll zero-in on precisely what to fix.
Founders leave this session with strategic clarity that transforms how they lead, sell, and scale. You’ll know exactly who you serve, why you win, and how to price your value with confidence. Your business will stand on a foundation of data, differentiation, and discipline — ready to attract capital and deliver consistent results.
Founders leave this session with a clear picture of how to operate on the business, not in it. You’ll have identified your biggest bottleneck, mapped your execution rhythm, and built the first version of your Discipline Engine — the system that replaces heroics with habit.
Some of the best insights happen between sessions. Create bonds and breakthroughs you can't get in a conference room.
Day 2
Growth, Capital & Execution
Founders leave this session seeing the big picture through the lens of capital, discipline, and disruption. They’ll understand how macro trends connect directly to micro decisions: hiring, pricing, capital deployment, and investor communication.
Founders leave this session with the mindset and tools to fund like CEOs — disciplined, data-driven, and investor-ready. They’ll know how to speak the language of capital, build proof before pitch, and design a financial system that earns trust long before they ask for it.
Founders leave this session seeing marketing as a system of alignment, not a megaphone. They’ll know how to communicate with precision, build customer trust early, and translate insight into predictable traction.
Founders leave this session with a practical framework for turning culture into a system, one that scales with clarity, consistency, and purpose. They’ll understand how to balance family and business roles with structure, and how to ensure the organization’s values endure long after their direct involvement.
The Elevation Dinner is your moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate the breakthroughs, friendships, and growth forged over the past few days. Surrounded by fellow founders, investors, and the Elevate team, this evening is about honoring the work you’ve done and the momentum you’ve created. This isn’t just a closing dinner, it’s the symbolic start of your next chapter. Over great food and coastal conversation, you’ll share lessons, laughter, and future plans with the people who now make up your founder circle.
Day 3
Leadership & Legacy
Pull it all together into your personal 90-day transformation plan. Lock in weekly scorecards, monthly strategic blocks, and quarterly planning rhythms. Build accountability that ensures implementation.
Learn endurance, command, and high-performance teams from someone who led thousands in life-or-death situations. Understand what real leadership looks like when stakes are highest.
You leave with frameworks, systems, and nine peers who'll call you on your founder backsliding. More importantly, you leave as an upgraded version of the founder who walked through the door. This is identity reconstruction with immediate implementation.

The Elevate CEO Experience​

Elevate happens at The Saltwater Resort: a clean, coastal space designed for focus.

Ocean views, fresh salt air, and scenic beach horizons are ideal conditions for your first uninterrupted thought in months.

You’ll have a private room to recharge, a quiet space to work, and shared access to:

  • A saltwater pool
  • Bike / Shibumi rentals for local exploration
  • Covered outdoor common area with seating, games, and ping pong

Plus, it’s just a short walk from downtown Surf City’s best restaurants.

Your $2,000 investment gets you private lodging, expert-led CEO training, and a lifelong network of peers, all built to unlock ROI far beyond the retreat.

For more information on Saltwater Resort, please visit their website https://www.saltwatertopsail.com/

Elevate CEO Teaching Team​

Richard Stroupe

Founder / Managing Partner, Cape Fear Ventures
Lead Instructor, Elevate CEO Retreat

Richard Stroupe is a serial entrepreneur, seasoned investor, and leading technologist with a proven track record of turning innovative ideas into thriving, scalable companies.  Over the past two decades, he has founded, built, and successfully exited multiple ventures across technology, defense, and real estate, each time honing the operational discipline, strategic insight, and leadership skills that now define his approach to business.  Driven by a mission to empower the next generation of groundbreaking startups, Richard provides hands-on mentorship to founders, guiding them through the complex and often unpredictable challenges of early-stage growth. 

As Founder and Managing Partner of Cape Fear Ventures, Richard invests in and builds high-potential businesses that combine operational excellence with strategic growth.  Under his leadership, the firm has become known for its ability to identify promising ventures early, provide deep operational support, and position companies for long-term value creation.

Beyond his role as an investor, Richard is deeply committed to leadership development and entrepreneurial education. He has served as a Part-Time Faculty Member at George Washington University and as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Georgetown University.  Academically, he earned his doctorate at Purdue University, holds a Master’s degree from George Washington University, and completed his Bachelor of Science from Appalachian State University.  Additionally, Richard is a graduate of the Owner/President Management (OPM) program at Harvard Business School. 

Richard is also the creator of the Elevate CEO Retreat, a transformational program for growth-stage founders, and host of The Amplified CEO Podcast, where he shares actionable insights from top leaders and operators. 

Rita Suggs

Elevate CEO Program Manager

Rita is the Program Manager at Cape Fear Ventures, where she leads strategic initiatives and delivers founder-focused programs designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs turn promising ideas into scalable businesses.  Known for her attention to detail and ability to coordinate complex logistics, she oversees every aspect of program delivery, from venue selection and design to working with facilitators who enrich the Elevate experience for participants.  By collaborating with industry experts and startup coaches, Rita ensures founders gain the tools, strategies, and leadership skills needed to overcome challenges, accelerate growth, and achieve meaningful results.  Partnering closely with service providers, she integrates resources to create programs that are impactful, memorable, and tailored to the unique needs of each cohort.

In addition to her work in venture, Rita is an accomplished real estate professional and a native of coastal North Carolina.  With an MBA in Real Estate Development, she is recognized for her credibility, commitment, and results-driven approach. Balancing both fields, she brings a distinctive perspective that combines strategic thinking, operational excellence, and a deep understanding of people and place, guiding both clients and founders toward long-term success.

Course Schedule

The curriculum is delivered in an intensive, three-day in-person experience designed to spark rapid breakthroughs and drive lasting change. Through a dynamic mix of immersive workshops, strategic peer collaboration, and guided implementation sessions, you’ll gain the tools, frameworks, and confidence to transform the way you lead. Each day builds intentionally on the last, ensuring you leave with not just powerful insights but a clear, actionable roadmap you can immediately apply to accelerate your business.
Date
Fee
Format
Status
Oct 26 – 29, 2026
In Person
$2,000

Accepting Applications

Mar 08 – 11, 2027

In Person

$3,000

Accepting Applications

May 03 – 06, 2027

In Person

$3,000

Accepting Applications

Ready to Transform?​

Application takes 2 minutes. Acceptance within 24 hours.