Built by an operator. For operators.
prism+spire exists because too many founder-led firms hit a ceiling they can’t see clearly. We built the firm we wish existed when we were in the seat.
Founder & Principal
Larry Waddell
Operations & Growth Strategy
I started prism+spire after spending years inside founder-led businesses, as operator, COO, and advisor, watching smart founders get stuck at the same inflection points. Not because they lacked vision or drive, but because the operating infrastructure underneath them wasn’t built to scale.
My work sits at the intersection of strategic clarity, operating architecture, and what I call Frontier Operations. Building firms that don’t just adopt AI tools, but are genuinely designed to stay ahead of where those tools are going.
I work with Innovator and Thought Leader founders at $3M to $15M who are ready to professionalize their operations before their next stage of growth. That typically means: getting financial visibility that actually drives decisions, building a leadership team that doesn’t depend entirely on you, and installing systems that scale.
Before prism+spire, I held COO and senior operating roles across professional services, consulting, and agency environments. I’ve seen what separates firms that scale from firms that stall, and it almost never comes down to effort.
"I’m not a growth hacker or a tactical executor. I’m the strategic partner you bring in before you’re ready to hire a COO."
Philosophy
What I Believe
Clarity before speed
Most firms don't have an execution problem. They have a clarity problem. Get the strategic foundation right first, ICP, positioning, go-to-market, and execution becomes dramatically easier.
Infrastructure is a competitive advantage
The firms that scale aren't just smarter or harder working. They've built operating infrastructure that lets them move faster, retain better, and make better decisions at every level.
AI is a surface, not a moment
The AI era isn't something you adapt to once and move on. It's a continuously evolving surface. The firms winning right now are building Frontier Operations postures, not just adopting tools.
Ready to see if we’re the right fit?
We work with a small number of firms at a time. If you’re building something worth scaling, let’s talk.