Founder. Operator. Exit. Now helping yours.
I help founders build ops that actually scale.
Most consultants tell you what to do. I've done it — from zero to Mattel. Now I bring that playbook to the founders who are ready to use it.
Book a Discovery CallAbout Max
The path no consultant has walked.
Before Dark Horse Ops, I was a public school teacher, a consultant at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Executive Director of Teach For America, and a senior policy advisor at the White House.
Then I built Caribu from nothing — surviving the fundraising gauntlet as a Latina in a system not designed for people like me — won over 30 pitch competitions, landed on TIME's Best Inventions list, and eventually sold the company to Mattel.
I know what it costs to build something real. And I know exactly what breaks when a founder tries to scale without the right operational foundation underneath them.
That's what Dark Horse Ops is for.
"The tech industry was not built by, or for, people that look like me — and I built a company anyway. Now I help the next generation do the same thing, faster."— Maxeme "Max" Tuchman, Founder, Dark Horse Ops
How We Work Together
Four ways to build
something that lasts.
The Dark Horse Retainer
A dedicated ops partner embedded in your business. We identify what's breaking, build what's missing, and install the systems that let you scale without burning out your team — or yourself.
The Founder Accelerator
A 10-week cohort for early-stage founders who need to build operational muscle fast. Small groups. Real frameworks. Accountability that actually works.
The War Room
Two days. One inflection point. Whether you're preparing to fundraise, scale, or exit — we build the strategy and the operational plan together, and you leave with a clear path forward.
Keynote & Workshop
A keynote that founders actually remember — not because it's motivational, but because it's real. Built for accelerators, VC events, and corporate innovation teams who want the unfiltered truth about building from zero.
Who This Is For
You're ready for this
if you recognize yourself here.
You're growing faster than your systems.
Revenue is moving but everything behind the scenes feels like duct tape. You need operational infrastructure before the whole thing cracks.
You're raising, scaling, or preparing to exit.
Big moments require operational clarity. You don't want to walk into a Series A, a major hire wave, or an acquisition conversation with chaos under the hood.
You're building as the underdog.
You're a founder who doesn't fit the typical mold. You don't have the network handed to you. You're doing this the hard way — and you deserve an advisor who has too.
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Ready to build something real?
Let's talk. One conversation, no pitch, no pressure. Tell me where you're stuck and I'll tell you if I can help.
Book a Discovery Call