1. What a fractional GTM specialist does
GTM stands for go-to-market. A fractional GTM specialist owns how your product reaches and converts buyers: the positioning, the channels, the pipeline, and the systems that keep it running. They work part-time or by project, giving you senior go-to-market leadership without a full-time hire. Increasingly the role is AI-assisted, using tools to research accounts, personalise outreach, and report on what is working.
2. What Rafiki's GTM specialists deliver
- Positioning and messaging that makes your offer clear to buyers.
- Ideal customer profile definition and target account lists.
- Outbound and inbound pipeline systems, often AI-assisted.
- Lifecycle, CRM, and reporting so you can see what actually works.
- Launch plans for new products or new markets.
3. How the managed model works
You send one brief. We return a vetted shortlist within 72 hours, drawn from a bench where fewer than 1% of applicants are accepted. The average specialist brings 15 or more years of experience, and the wider network has delivered 50+ international projects.
Your specialist embeds in your tools and standups, working your business hours. Billing runs through Petl Pay, so cross border payments settle without SWIFT fees.
4. Engagement options
| Option | Best for | Team | Typical start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single specialist | One go-to-market workstream | 1 specialist | Within 72 hours |
| Micro-squad | A full GTM build or launch | 2 to 4 specialists | Within 1 week |
| Embedded fractional | Ongoing revenue leadership | 1 to 2 part-time | Within 72 hours |
5. Why fractional plus AI beats an early full-time hire
Hiring a full-time GTM specialist is a slow, expensive bet, usually made before you know whether you need the role or how that person works. A managed fractional GTM specialist removes that risk: senior, AI-leveraged output from day one, a commitment you scale up or down as the work changes, and a permanent hire only once you have validated the need.
Because our specialists run on best-in-class AI tooling, a single fractional engagement covers what used to take a full team. You pay for senior judgment and outcomes, not for headcount you are not yet sure about.
Our bench spans a core group in South Africa, where Rafiki's founders are from, plus vetted fractionals across the UK and Europe, all working your business hours with strong overlap for standups.
6. Frequently asked questions
What does GTM stand for?
GTM stands for go-to-market, the strategy and systems a company uses to bring a product to buyers and convert them into customers.
What is a fractional GTM specialist?
A senior go-to-market operator who works part-time or by project, owning positioning, pipeline, and revenue systems without being a full-time hire.
How fast can Rafiki place a GTM specialist?
We return a vetted shortlist within 72 hours of receiving your brief.
Is this a freelancer marketplace?
No. Rafiki is a managed service. We vet, match, and support every specialist, and you work with people who have cleared a screening fewer than 1% pass.
How much does it cost?
Pricing is set per brief, based on scope and seniority. A fractional GTM specialist costs a fraction of a full-time hire, and because they run on best-in-class AI you get senior output from a flexible, lower-risk commitment instead of carrying permanent headcount before you have validated the need.
Explore the fractional AI bench: Managed Fractional AI Squads · Sales · MCP & Agent Engineers · Chat-based builds · Forward-deployed
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