marketing strategy for when you’re changing the world
fractional CMO for femtech, climate tech, and mission-led startups.
big-brand experience. startup budget.
hi - i’m Elena Pugach. i help purpose-driven founders build a marketing strategy that does two things: gets your product in front of the right customers, and shows investors you know exactly how to grow.
what you actually get
here’s what we’ll do together, depending on your stage:
clarify your marketing strategy and brand story
map your go-to-market or launch plan
define who your customer actually is - and how to reach them
build your first marketing engine (the one that doesn’t collapse under growth)
create campaigns, systems, and messaging that scale with your mission
help you understand what to prioritise now, and what can wait until later
you get senior-level marketing clarity without a full-time salary. i join your team, build your plan, and help you stop guessing.
how we can work together
fractional CMO
when you’re ready for structure and senior-level strategy - but not a full-time salary
i’ll help you build clarity, process, and focus, so your marketing supports your impact (not your anxiety)
specific project
for the big stuff: rebrands, launches, investor decks, websites
i’ll lead strategy and execution (bringing in trusted partners when needed) so you can stop juggling everything
ongoing consultancy
a few hours a month of honest marketing advice
ask questions, get unstuck, and have someone in your corner who actually gets purpose-driven growth
pro bono
one 45-min session a month, offered to an early-stage impact startup that needs it and can't yet pay for it.
if you think that's you, tell me about your work and why now.
areas i can help with
i help you connect your purpose to your pipeline - without sounding like a corporate sustainability report or a wellness influencer
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you'll leave with:
a messaging framework your whole team can use - one that explains what you do in plain language without dumbing down the science
a go-to-market plan that tells you which channels to prioritise, in what order, and why
investor-ready positioning that shows commercial traction, not just mission alignment
a content strategy you can actually execute without a full marketing team
because "we're saving the planet" is a beautiful mission, but a really, really vague strategy.
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you'll leave with:
a clear picture of who your actual audience segments are -not "women"
messaging that earns trust before it sells (which matters more in femtech than almost ANY other category)
a launch or growth plan that accounts for platform restrictions, taboo topics, and medical credibility
a brand voice that sounds like neither a medical disclaimer nor a moon cycle influencer - just a credible company that knows what it's talking about
because talking about periods shouldn’t feel like a revolution - but here we are…
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you'll leave with:
a marketing strategy that serves two masters at once: the customers you're selling to and the investors you're pitching
a clear priority list - what to do now, what to do later, what to stop doing entirely
messaging that sounds like a real people who care, not a grant application
a roadmap your team can follow without you having to explain it every week
because your impact deserves visibility - not just good intentions
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"High creativity, outstanding organisational skills, sharp attention to detail and unwavering enthusiasm for every new project"
— Veronique Le Therisien, Dynata
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"Elena challenged the status quo on projects that needed it - and pushed them further because of it"
— Lucy Nikolskaya, Google
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"We've seen significant growth in sales and loyalty as a result of this project led by Elena"
— Tatiana Vegera, Starbucks
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"Impressive strategic thinking, with an analytical and methodical approach - and the A/B testing skills to back it up"
— Ewa Tamar Lewandowska, PhD Researcher, Founder
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"She always manages to "pull a rabbit out of a hat" and deliver above any expectations"
— Andrew Winton, Kaspersky
FAQs
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basically - i’m your part-time marketing lead. you get senior-level strategy, direction, and execution without committing to a full-time hire.
i help you figure out what matters, build the plan, and make sure your marketing actually moves your business forward (not just makes a pretty deck for investors). think of it as having a CMO - but only for the hours you actually need one.
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i choose to work with climate tech, femtech, and mission-led businesses - the ones trying to fix systems, not just sell products.
if your brand is doing something that makes the world tangibly better - i’m in.
whether you’re pre-Series A or mid-scale, my sweet spot is helping you translate purpose into positioning - so your message lands, your audience cares, and your investors see the commercial path forward.
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here’s what we’ll do together, depending on your stage:
clarify your marketing strategy and brand story.
map your go-to-market or launch plan.
define who your customer actually is — and how to reach them.
build your first marketing engine (the one that doesn’t collapse under growth).
create campaigns, systems, and messaging that scale with your mission.
help you understand what to prioritize now, and what can wait until later.
in short: i give your marketing direction, focus, and purpose - not just activity.
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that depends on what you need:
fractional CMO: i act as your part-time marketing lead - setting strategy, mentoring your team, managing projects, and building your roadmap.
project-based: we focus on one key thing - like your rebrand, launch, or investor campaign.
advisory / coaching: you get me on speed-dial for big decisions, quick feedback, or when you just need a marketing grown-up to sanity-check your plan
and yes - it’s all flexible, remote-friendly, and built around your current stage (and budget).
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i believe in being transparent about pricing - so no mysterious “let’s jump on a call to discuss budget” energy here.
since i’m based in Portugal, my rates reflect Portuguese-level pricing, not Silicon Valley or London ones. you’re getting senior-level strategic marketing expertise - but without the inflated “big city” hourly rate.
here’s how it usually works:
advisory calls / short-term consulting: €120–€150/hour
fractional CMO retainers: from €2,000/month, depending on scope and hours
project-based support (e.g. go-to-market plan, rebrand, launch): usually €2,500–€6,000 depending on deliverables and timeline
early-stage or mission-led startup? let’s talk. i sometimes adjust my pricing or design smaller “starter packages” for founders who are still finding their footing - because meaningful work shouldn’t only be for teams with big budgets.
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not at all. in fact, this is when the right strategy matters most.
i love working with early-stage founders who know their mission but aren’t sure how to tell the story or prioritise their marketing. we’ll start small — think 90-day roadmap, clear priorities, and systems that grow with you.
basically: i’ll help you get unstuck before you spend money on things you don’t need yet.
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usually within 2–3 weeks. i only work with a small number of clients at a time so i can actually focus (and not just nod through Zoom calls).
the process starts with a short intro call - we’ll see where you are, what you need, and if it’s a good fit. then we build from there.
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