Questions
Frequently asked questions
What Stratessence is, who we work with, and how engagements run. If your question is not here, the fastest answer is a short call.
About Stratessence
- What is Stratessence?
- Stratessence is an AI-native strategy consultancy. It helps enterprises and startups turn generative and agentic AI into strategy that reaches production, and helps investors run technical diligence on AI companies. It was founded in 2009 as a startup advisory and has been revived as an AI-native practice.
- Who founded Stratessence?
- Stratessence was founded in 2009 by Dipankar Sarkar, who leads the firm as founding partner. His background sits at the intersection of engineering and strategy, building software and advising founders.
- What does "AI-native" mean?
- AI-native describes an organization where AI is part of how work happens, decisions get made, and products get built, by default, rather than a tool added to unchanged processes. An AI-native strategy consultancy applies that same principle to its own work.
- Where is Stratessence based?
- Stratessence is based in New Delhi, India, and works with clients and investors worldwide, remotely and on-site as an engagement requires.
For companies
- Who does Stratessence work with?
- Three groups: enterprise and startup leadership teams setting AI direction, operating teams rebuilding how work gets done, and investors evaluating AI companies. Engagements range from a focused strategy sprint to embedded fractional leadership.
- How is a boutique different from a large consulting firm for AI work?
- The work is led by a senior operator who has built and shipped software, not staffed by a pyramid of junior analysts. Clients get direct access, faster cycles, and plans written to be executed rather than to extend the engagement.
- Do you only advise, or do you help build?
- Both. Strategy engagements produce a roadmap; transformation engagements ship working systems into production alongside your team. Many clients move from one to the other.
- What is a fractional Chief AI Officer?
- A fractional Chief AI Officer provides senior AI leadership on a part-time or interim basis, typically one to three days a week. It gives a company the judgment of a Chief AI Officer without the cost or the wait of a full-time hire, and usually includes helping find the permanent one.
For investors
- What does AI technical due diligence cover?
- It assesses whether an AI company has a durable technical advantage or a thin layer over a foundation model. It covers architecture, data and dependency risk, unit economics at scale, and team capability, and ends in a clear, decision-ready memo.
- How quickly can you turn around a diligence engagement?
- Most fit a one to three week window, with a verbal read on the biggest risks available well before the written memo, so the work moves at the speed of a live deal.
Working together
- How do engagements typically start?
- With a short intro call to understand the situation and decide whether we can help. If it is a fit, we scope a specific engagement with clear outcomes. There is no obligation and no pitch deck.
- How do you price your work?
- Strategy and diligence engagements are fixed-scope for a fixed fee. Fractional leadership is a monthly retainer based on days per week. Pricing is agreed before any work begins.
Turn your AI ambition into something that ships.
A first conversation is the fastest way to find out whether we can help. No pitch deck, no obligation.