Opposing Force


OP4 operates upstream of execution.

Before decks circulate. Before capital commits. Before the market decides.
Most teams don’t lose momentum at launch. They lose it earlier, when the product is strong, but the story hasn’t caught up.

OP4 embeds with founders during these high-leverage moments to clarify intent, align narrative, and remove friction between what’s built and what’s understood, so conviction forms early and momentum holds.

Small footprint. High leverage.
Decisive timing.

Offerings

Red Cell

A pre-decision pressure test for founders.

The Red Cell challenges how your company will be interpreted under real market conditions. We surface confusion, stress-test differentiation, and expose narrative risk before it becomes expensive.

Translation Sprint

A 2–4 week engagement that helps founders turn internal clarity into market clarity, before a relaunch, reprice, or push into new territory.

We define the value, sharpen differentiation, and translate it into messaging, site structure, and a clear go-to-market plan your team can execute immediately.

Embeded Operator

At this stage, we operate as the connective tissue between founders and the product and design teams—ensuring intent, decisions, and execution stay aligned.

Testimonials

I first reached out to Mike for a website for my real estate development start-up, instead I got a coach dedicated to understanding the needs of me and my business and communicating a methodical and practical approach to success. We would not be where we are today without his guidance. Strong recommend!

Nate Jester, Co-Founder at Cascade Centennial

February 21, 2025

Working with Mike has been a transformative experience for my entrepreneurial journey. His insights, guidance, and personalized strategies have empowered me to navigate unique challenges outside of my military career, set clear goals, and unlock untapped potential within my brand. With his unwavering support, I've gained a renewed sense of direction and the tools to drive my business forward and even won a $50,000 grant with Veteran Shark Tank. I'm truly grateful for the positive impact Mike has made on this ever evolving path.

Haley Marie McClain Hill, Founder of TORCH Warriorwear

August 10, 2024

Working with Mike has been a transformative experience for our team at Atomic Insights. Mike’s unique perspective on category design and narrative strategy has helped us reframe how we present our product and ourselves to prospective clients. Instead of positioning Atomic Insights as something that belongs in a brand-new category, Mike encouraged us to identify Atomic as a specialized workflow tool, something our audience already understands. Mike also encouraged us to emphasize the robust improvements we have made over traditional workflow products, but only once prospective customers were clearly associating our product as a potential solution to their existing pain points. This shift was incredibly powerful and we incorporated Mike's guidance into every aspect of our marketing portfolio. More importantly, we also changed how we think and speak about ourselves, and the improvement in clarity and resonance with our prospects was immediate and noticeable. Mike’s guidance gave us the confidence and language to connect with our market more effectively. We’re grateful for his insight and highly recommend him to any organization looking to sharpen their narrative and accelerate growth.

Lucas Babbitt, Co-Founder & CEO of Atomic Insights

November 13, 2024

Inquire now

Once you enter your info, my AI assistant will give you a quick call to help you get started.

By sharing your phone number, you agree to get promotional SMS messages from Iron Mike via Cactus. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. Text STOP to end or HELP for help. Terms of service and privacy policy.

OR

Call us @ (510) 330-0462