AI Diagnostic
Go from "vague AI initiative" to a clear go/no-go decision and a concrete plan you can execute — with or without me.
What $2,500 gets you:
- Structured intake + 60-minute working session — you fill out a short intake covering your situation, what you've tried, and the stakes. I use it to do pre-work so the 60 minutes is spent pressure-testing a diagnosis, not getting caught up
- Decision-ready brief — 2–3 pages with your diagnosis, next-step plan, value story, and go/no-go criteria, delivered in 3–5 business days
- Full credit toward a Sprint or Transformation if you move forward within 30 days
- Redo-or-refund guarantee
It costs less than one week of a mid-level engineer's time and tells you whether the next six months of their time is worth spending.
“The Fractional AI CTO you hire when you're tired of hearing ‘it's not possible’ or ‘it will take six months.’”
— Fintan Costello, Chairman & Board Advisor
Who this is for
This is for you if:
- You run a $5M–$75M+/yr company or business unit inside a larger org
- You're responsible for a P&L or major function (CEO, GM, or COO)
- You either have a specific AI / SaaS idea you think could unlock serious revenue, savings, or risk reduction
- Or you know your team or workflows should be getting more from AI, but you can't tell if it's a tooling, workflow, or attitude problem
- You don't want to spend 6–12 months and 7 figures to find out if it was the wrong bet
If you're still at the "let's explore AI in general" stage, this is too early.
The problem
Most AI efforts die quietly because:
- Everyone has opinions, no one owns the decision
- The idea is too big, so it turns into a never-ending project
- Or it's scoped so vaguely no one can tell if it worked
- Or leadership pushes "use AI more" without fixing specs, workflows, or incentives
You need a clear diagnosis, a focused bet, and a plan you can actually execute in the next 30–60 days — whether that bet is an AI-powered working Proof of Concept or using AI to unblock the people and workflows you already have.
A note on "won't AI just get better?" — it will. But models improving doesn't eliminate the advantage of knowing how to use them well. It widens it. An engineering team still running habits from six months ago isn't just missing upside — they may be working against themselves.
What you get
Within 3–5 business days, you get a decision-ready brief and a concrete next step. You can use this plan even if you never hire me to build the thing.
Diagnosis & Path
Are you better off building an AI-powered working Proof of Concept (a feature or tool), or using AI to accelerate how your existing team works (workflows, specs, reviews, internal automation)? What's actually blocking progress right now?
Your Next-Step Plan
The 1–3 highest-impact moves for your team over the next 30–60 days — whether that's a Sprint with me to ship an AI-powered POC, using AI to speed up how your team already works, or both. Written in plain language your team can act on without me.
Simple Value Story
Where the upside comes from (revenue, savings, risk, or a mix). Rough ranges using your numbers, not fantasy spreadsheets.
Go / No-Go Criteria
How you'll know if it's working. When to invest more, and when to shut it down.
How it works
Step 1
Quick screen (free, 20 minutes)
Short call to confirm there's a real decision and real stakes. If I don't think there's at least 10x the fee in upside or avoided waste, I'll tell you and we'll part ways.
Step 2
AI Diagnostic (paid)
You fill out a short structured intake (10–15 minutes) so I'm not relying only on the quick screen notes. Then I run a 60-minute working session where I come prepared with a first-pass diagnosis and we pressure-test it together.
Step 3
Written brief (within 3–5 business days)
2–3 page brief with diagnosis, next-step plan, value story, and a clear recommendation:
- Path A: 1‑Week AI Build Sprint
- Path B: Training Pack or 8‑Week Transformation
At a glance
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Working session | 60 minutes |
| Written brief delivered | 3–5 business days |
| Build time (if you Sprint) | About 1 week |
Pricing & terms
- Fee: $2,500 flat
Guarantee
If you don't walk away with a clear diagnosis and actionable next step, I'll redo it at no charge or refund the fee. Your call.
What happens if we decide to work together
The Diagnostic is a complete product on its own — you walk away with a clear diagnosis and plan regardless.
If the Diagnostic reveals a build worth doing, your $2,500 is fully credited toward:
- 1‑Week AI Build Sprint — typically $15k
- AI Training Pack — $7.5K+
- 8-Week AI Engineering Transformation — $50K+
If you want to do this
If you're looking at a big AI bet and don't want to wander for a year, this is how you get to one clear decision in under a week.
Ready to book? Fill out this form and I'll reply with next steps.
Not sure yet?
Book a free 20-minute call
I'll walk you through how the Diagnostic works and whether it makes sense for your situation.
Take the free AI Readiness Assessment
7 questions. Personalized advice for your team. No commitment.