πŸŽ’
⛰️
🚴

Entrepreneur  Β·  Adventurer  Β·  Volunteer

Not all who wander

are lost

Building businesses, exploring the world on two wheels, hitting the trails, and giving back to the communities along the way.

Explore Adventures Professional Journey

Where Passion Meets Purpose

I'm a serial entrepreneur and fractional COO who believes life is best lived at the intersection of ambition and adventure. Whether I'm pedaling the historic Erie Canal towpath from Buffalo to Albany, navigating the challenges of building a startup, or lending a hand in the communities that need it most β€” I bring the same energy and commitment to everything I do.

My journey has taken me from boardrooms to towpaths, from startup pitches to volunteer work with nonprofits. I've been part of more than 10 startups with multiple exits, leading operations, product, technology, and customer experience across healthcare, SaaS, consumer services, and retail. Each experience has reinforced my belief that the best stories are written outside your comfort zone.


πŸ“
15+
Countries Explored
❀️
500+
Volunteer Hours
πŸ’Ό
10+
Businesses Built

Trails, Roads & Wild Places

From long-distance bicycle tours to backcountry expeditions, these are the journeys that have shaped my perspective.

🚴
[ Erie Canal photo ]
🚴 Bicycle Tour
Erie Canal β€” Buffalo to Albany
1 Week364 mi
Read more β†’
🚴
[ Pacific Coast Ride photo ]
🚴 Bicycle Tour
Pacific Coast Ride
3 Weeks1,500 mi
πŸŽ’
[ Appalachian Trail photo ]
πŸŽ’ Backpacking
Appalachian Trail
2 Weeks200 mi
🚴
[ Colorado Rockies photo ]
🚴 Bicycle Tour
Colorado Rockies Loop
2 Weeks600 mi
πŸŽ’
[ Finger Lakes Trail photo ]
πŸŽ’ Backpacking
Finger Lakes Trail
12 Days200 mi
🌊
[ Water Adventure photo ]
🌊 Water Adventure
Canal Boat Expedition
5 Days34 Locks

Entrepreneurial Journey

From my first startup to leading teams today, each venture has been driven by a passion for solving real problems and creating lasting value.

πŸ’‘
2022 β€” Present
Founders Workshop
Chief Operating Officer / Partner
Helping savvy founders, entrepreneurs, and business executives scope, validate, build, and launch their software apps. Using operational, startup, and growth experience to get ideas out of founders' heads and into the market. Responsible for long-term strategy, customer experience, and day-to-day operations.
Product StrategyStartup AdvisingSoftware Development
πŸ€–
Dec 2025 β€” Present
Serpico AI Learning Center
COO (Fractional)
Supporting startup operations as Fractional COO, focusing on operational systems and processes. Overseeing key areas including IT, finance, marketing, legal, and sales. Collaborating with the CEO on strategy, bookkeeping, and vendor management.
Fractional COOAI & EdTechOperations
πŸ₯
2014 β€” Present
Reputation Health
Founder & Board Member
Founded and built a SaaS-based reputation management and customer experience platform for medical practices, hospitals, and healthcare professionals. Led biz dev, customer success, and operations. Currently serves as advisor to the company and key clients.
SaaSHealthTechCustomer Experience
βš™οΈ
2014 β€” 2019
ServiceGuru
Co-Founder / COO
Co-founded and built a SaaS-based customer experience platform from ideation through MVP to product launch. Key customers in healthcare, restaurant, and hospitality. Led operations, product management, software development, customer success, sales and marketing.
Co-FounderSaaSProduct-Market Fit
πŸ“±
2017 β€” 2018
TechFly
Fractional CEO
Gig economy proof-of-concept launch in the technology services space. Collaborated with the Nerd Alert team and an investment group including a Shark Tank alumnus.
Gig EconomyTwo-Sided MarketplaceFractional CEO
πŸ’»
2008 β€” 2014
MD Tech Pro
Founder & CEO/COO
IT support and technology services company in the healthcare vertical, helping hundreds of physicians convert their practices to EMR software. Built a recurring subscription model and led the company from startup through national growth to a successful exit.
Healthcare ITSuccessful ExitSubscription Model
πŸ”§
2006 β€” 2008
ToFixIt
VP of Operations
Led operations, customer experience, contact center, product management, and customer success for a SaaS-based lead generation platform for service businesses. Built all systems and processes to scale to multiple US locations.
Lead GenerationSaaSOperations Scale
πŸ“‘
2001 β€” 2006
Geeks On Call
VP of Operations
Part of the founding launch team that grew Geeks On Call from startup to a national brand with 400 employees in just 4 years. B2B and B2C technology services company providing services nationally, ultimately acquired.
Launch Team400 EmployeesAcquired
🏦
2000 β€” 2001
Liberty Tax
Director of Information Technology
Startup franchise system providing tax solutions for consumers. Focused on product, IT management, and customer support. Built foundational systems that helped the company scale to 2,500 locations nationwide.
Franchise SystemsIT LeadershipScale to 2,500 Locations

Volunteering & Community

The most rewarding adventures are the ones where you lift others up along the way. Here's how I try to make a difference.

🌐
Living Oncology
Board Member and Fractional COO for this 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, providing strategic leadership and operational support to help fulfill their mission supporting those affected by cancer.
πŸ‘₯ Board Member & Fractional COO Β· 2024 – Present
πŸ“–
Youth Mentoring
Mentoring young entrepreneurs and students, sharing lessons from building businesses and navigating challenges across more than two decades of startup experience.
πŸ‘₯ 30+ mentees
🌱
Environmental Conservation
Participating in trail maintenance, tree planting initiatives, and Leave No Trace education programs along the Erie Canal corridor and Arizona trail systems.
πŸ‘₯ 50+ events
🏠
Habitat for Humanity
Helping build affordable homes for families in need, from framing walls to finishing interiors.
πŸ‘₯ 12 homes built

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

β€” Mahatma Gandhi

Let's Connect

Whether you want to talk about business opportunities, plan an adventure, or discuss how to make a difference β€” I'd love to hear from you.

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πŸ“ Phoenix, Arizona
Β© 2026 Michael Vanderslice β€” Built with passion and purpose. ↑