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Operating partners

We bring structure and systems that drive performance.

For businesses and investors who need better visibility, alignment, and execution.

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What we believe

Lack of visibility and misalignment are two of the biggest problems in business.

When leaders can't see what's actually happening — when data is unreliable, scattered, or doesn't exist — decisions get made on instinct. And when objectives, roles, and processes aren't connected, friction compounds across the business.

"Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise."

— Bertrand Russell

What we do

We create the structure and systems that replace ad hoc with predictability.

We start with alignment — ensuring the organization is clear on objectives. Then we structure roles, data, and processes so everything is understood, observable, and actionable. The result is execution that ladders up to what actually matters. The goal is simple: eliminate ad hoc.

What is a system

Three elements working together.

Business systems are made up of three elements — and when they're aligned, the business runs with clarity and efficiency. When they're not, friction compounds.

People (or Agents)

Who or what does the work.

Process

What happens before, during, and after each step.

Technology

The tools used to execute and generate data.

How we help

Every situation is different.

Most engagements start here. Where they go depends on what the business needs.

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01Organizational AlignmentMethods & frameworks
02AccountingBooks & close
03Financial Planning & AnalysisModel & forecast
04Operating SystemsProcess & platforms
05Executive AdvisoryLeadership support

Have something else in mind?

We're open to exploring special projects where there's a mutual fit. Let's have a conversation.

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How we work

We come in where you need us. We stay as long as we add value.

Every engagement is shaped around what the business actually needs. We get current fast, operate from the inside, and adjust as things change. Some engagements stay focused on one area for years. Others grow. Both are exactly right.

The AI moment

AI is only as good as the system it runs on.

Technology — whether traditional software or AI — is only one part of the equation. The people running it and the processes surrounding it matter just as much. Get those three things aligned, and technology becomes a multiplier. Without that foundation, new tools create new complexity.

That foundation is what we build.

Who we serve

Where complexity is outpacing structure.

All industries. All geographies. SMB through middle market.

We work with leadership teams across all industries and geographies — from small and mid-sized businesses through the middle market. The situation varies: rapid growth, key employee turnover, a distressed environment, an inflection point, a critical decision, or simply a business that's ready to run better. If the systems underneath the business need to keep up with where it's going, that's where FCP comes in.

Businesses

Leadership teams at companies from SMB through middle market, across all industries.

Investors

Venture capital firms, private equity firms, corporate venture arms, and family offices who need clarity or performance before, during, or after a transaction.

About

We've built this before.

Founded by operators. Not advisors.

Fountain City Partners was founded by Ben Schultz and Jared Schnefke — operators with decades of experience building structure and systems inside growing businesses.

Before FCP, the team worked together at a fast-growing company Ben founded. As the business scaled, they built the finance and operating infrastructure that took it from an early-stage environment to a structured, high-performing organization. That business was acquired by a publicly traded company in 2021.

They bring experience from both top-tier consulting and real operating roles — and know the difference between designing a system and actually running one. That's the experience they bring directly to every engagement.

Ben Schultz
Founding Partner

Ben is an entrepreneur who thinks in systems. He has founded and led multiple businesses — and along the way developed a deep conviction that the right systems are what separate companies that compound from those that plateau. He brings that lens directly to FCP's clients.

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Jared Schnefke
Founding Partner

Jared brings deep expertise in strategy, operations, and finance to every engagement. He is at his best serving as a systems expert and operator — helping purpose-driven businesses solve hard operational problems and unlock their potential.

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Ready for more structure, visibility, and alignment?

Let's talk about where you are and what you need.

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