--- title: "Fractional AI operating partner for PE funds | Anyway Ventures" description: "A retained AI operating partner for lower mid-market PE funds, deployed into the deal or portfolio company with the strongest AI value case." url: https://anywayventures.com/ai-operating-partner updated: 2026-09-29 --- 02 · RETAINED AI OPERATING PARTNER LAST UPDATED SEP 2026 # An AI operating partner the fund can deploy. Mid-market funds know AI belongs in the value-creation plan and can't justify a full-time operating partner to own it. This is that role on retainer: senior days reserved for the fund each month, which the deal team deploys into the target or portfolio company where AI can move the numbers most. Hands on with management until it's live and measured, then redeployed. [Book 30 minutes](https://anywayventures.com/contact) ONE OR TWO FUNDS AT A TIME · ANNUAL TERM ## What the role covers Agreed with the deal team at the start of the term and reviewed at six months. DEPLOYMENT ### Sent where the value case is strongest The deal partner chooses the company. We agree the outcome, the baseline to beat and the exit criteria before day one. IN THE BUSINESS ### Hands on with management Inside the portfolio company with its CEO and a named owner: diagnose, build and put into production. Someone who has sat in their chair. DELIVERY ### More hands when it's worth it Where a deployment needs more than the retained days, an [embedded sprint](https://anywayventures.com/embedded-ai-delivery) from me and the bench, scoped and priced separately. DEAL TEAM ### Pipeline, 100-day plans and exits Early reads on targets, priority access for [full diligence](https://anywayventures.com/ai-due-diligence) , AI in the 100-day plan for new acquisitions, and an evidenced AI story for each exit. FUND ### Reporting per deployment One page for the deal partner after each deployment: baseline, what went live, hours returned, still running at six months. A quarterly summary for the IC. SHARED LEARNING ### Patterns that transfer What works in one portfolio company is packaged for the next deployment, so the fund pays for a pattern once. ## How a deployment runs The same shape every time the fund sends us in. 001Brief with the deal partner The company, the outcome that matters, the baseline to beat and the exit criteria. Agreed before anyone arrives. WEEK 0 002Diagnostic in the business Days with the people doing the work. A ranked, costed list of what to change, and the one or two to do now. WEEK 1 003Build and put live With the team, inside their systems, demoed weekly. In production, not a pilot. WEEKS 2–8 004Hand over and redeploy Documented, owned by management and measured against the baseline. A report to the deal partner, then on to the next priority. ON COMPLETION SAMPLE · REDACTED ## See what an AI value-creation plan actually looks like A redacted plan from a recent engagement: the opportunity map, the cost-out model in three cases, readiness findings and the first-hundred-days sequence. Twelve pages, PDF. [Request the sample plan →](mailto:brannan@anywayventures.com?subject=Request%3A%20sample%20AI%20value-creation%20plan) ## Who it suits ### Lower-mid-market funds Six to fifteen portfolio companies, no in-house operating team of scale, and an LP base asking about AI. ### Tech-enabled services and software Businesses where the cost base is people doing process, and the growth story rests on product. ### Funds who want it done, not described If you want a framework and a workshop, there are cheaper options. This is for funds that want working systems in the portfolio.