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Maria Dervenco

Fractional COO for Start-ups & Scale-ups. Career Mentor. Web3 & AI Advisor & Speaker

About Me

Most founders don't fail because of a bad product. They fail because operations can't keep up with ambition. I've lived that from the inside. As Co-Founder and COO of Vault Hill, I built the operational backbone of a Web3 and AI startup from zero — securing $2.1M in pre-seed funding at a $15M valuation, launching three digital products, and leading a remote team of 35+ people across six countries and three continents. We moved fast, made hard calls, and built systems that scaled. Now I bring that same operational firepower to founders who need it — without the cost of a full-time executive. Here's what I actually do as a Fractional COO: → Design and implement operational systems that give founders their time back → Build and align cross-functional remote teams across cultures and time zones → Create the infrastructure — processes, OKRs, tools, hiring frameworks — that investors want to see → Support go-to-market execution and international expansion readiness → Prepare leadership teams for fundraising and board-level conversations I work with tech, SaaS, Web3, and AI companies at the seed and Series A stage, primarily across the UK, Europe, and MENA. If you're a founder scaling fast and drowning in operational chaos — or preparing to raise your next round — let's talk.

Jurisdiction

Region: Europe

Experience

Seniority LevelExecutive
Years of Experience15-20 years
Current StatusActive
Fractional COOMD Advisory
2025 - Present

-I partner with growth-stage founders (teams of 10–50) who are operationally overwhelmed and need more than advice — they need someone who builds alongside them. In 3–6 month mandates, I come in with a clear brief: audit the operation, identify the real bottlenecks, and build systems that scale without burning out the team. Clients don't need more strategy decks. They need someone who

Career Counselor & MentorMD Advisory
2024 - Present

- Coached over 50 professionals through career transitions into tech and remote roles. - Developed personalized plans that increased client interview success rates by 30%. - Delivered workshops on CV optimization and LinkedIn positioning.

Chief Operating OfficerVault Hill Limited
2021 - 2025

Summary: Led strategic and operational scale-up of a global Web3 startup across EMEA and MENA, launching three platforms and building fully remote systems from 0 to scale. Key Achievements: - Secured $2.1M in pre-seed funding at a $15M valuation through investor ops & pitch alignment. - Built internal processes including OKRs, dashboards, and agile rituals, enabling scalable delivery. - Launched Vault Hill City (Metaverse), Hillda (AI platform), and VH Games — 650K+ revenue generated. - Oversaw full HR transformation including hiring, onboarding, and team leadership development. - Grew digital community to 100K+ through strategic content and growth marketing. - Represented company at global tech events (LEAP, AIM Congress) as speaker and thought leader.

Junior Project ManagerBrenbar
2018 - 2020

Summary: Managed large-scale infrastructure delivery for a £1.2B real estate development, introducing operational efficiencies and developing future-ready workforce initiatives. Key Achievements: - Delivered high-value construction project for Berkeley Group, on time and within budget. - Implemented project tracking systems that improved transparency and reduced risk. - Managed apprenticeship training and school partnerships to support talent development.

Client Relationship ManagerLondon Capital Club
2015 - 2018

Summary: Drove client retention and team development at a premium B2B membership club. Key Achievements: - Increased client retention by 20% and grew revenue by 15% through proactive relationship management. - Mentored and trained 10+ staff, improving service ratings by 30%. - Led campaigns with marketing and sales that boosted acquisition by 25%.

Executive AssistantDTH Television Group
2008 - 2012

• Provided support to the CEO and the management team during a transition period – ensuring the management of operations and workflow, • Worked effectively on our own initiative during a sensitive and difficult period, when the company was insolvent and subsequently in bankruptcy – collaborating with the Judicial Administrator and the insolvency company team

Executive AssistantCITR Group
2012 - 2015

- Efficiently managed CEO and Board of Directors' complex agendas. - Organized team-building activities, staff parties, and social events. - Collaborated with various teams to optimize efficiency, communication, and time management.

Education

Degree of Business ManagementRoehampton University
2017 - 2020
Masters of International BusinessUlster University
2020 - 2022

Certification

Total Certifications1

Claude 101

Anthropic

Credential ID: wnr2u5gahp8w

Skills

Core skills0
Languages4

Languages

English
Italian
Romanian
Spanish