Available for new engagements

Operational clarity for Blockchain and AI companies navigating complexity.

I work with founders and leadership teams in Web3, DeFi, and AI to cut through operational chaos — streamlining processes, reducing friction, and building just enough structure to scale without slowing down.

Let's talk → About Milan
Services
What I do
Operational clean-ups & transitions
Blockchain and AI companies move fast and break things — including their own operations. I help teams regain structure and momentum during growth spurts, pivots, acquisitions, and reorgs.
Process simplification
Most fast-moving tech teams carry more process debt than they realise. I identify what's blocking execution, clarify ownership, and reduce the friction that quietly drains your team's energy.
Cost & efficiency reviews
Whether you're optimising a lean team or unwinding a bloated structure, I examine how money, time, and effort are being spent — and where simple changes unlock real gains.
Finance & operations coordination
In crypto and AI, Finance, Legal, and Ops rarely speak the same language. I bridge that gap — facilitating smarter decisions and ensuring nothing falls between the teams.
AI & automation integration New
I help companies cut through the AI noise: identifying where automation genuinely saves time, implementing workflows that actually stick, and avoiding the trap of buying tools nobody uses.
Fractional & advisory ops support
Not every team needs a full-time COO. Short-term, hands-on support providing teams with additional operational capacity or clarity — stepping back when you've found your footing.
Who I work with
Built for the companies where operations never came first.
Blockchain protocols, DeFi platforms, AI product companies, and Web3 infrastructure teams share a common pattern: extraordinary technical ambition, and operations that had to catch up. Whether you're a 10-person AI startup that just closed a seed round, or a 200-person crypto organisation navigating a restructure — I bring the operational clarity that lets your team focus on building.
Blockchain protocols & Layer 1/2 teams
DeFi platforms & crypto exchanges
AI product companies & LLM startups
AI infrastructure & tooling companies
Web3 infrastructure & dev tooling
Tech companies in transition or scaling
Methodology
How I work
01
Understand before prescribing
I spend real time learning how your company actually operates — not how the org chart says it does. The real blockers are usually different from the stated ones.
02
Prioritise ruthlessly
We identify the two or three issues genuinely slowing you down and work on those first. No 90-day transformation frameworks. No slide decks that sit in a folder.
03
Solutions your team will actually use
Everything I design is built for real people under real pressure. Simple, clear, and practical — not impressive on paper but ignored in practice.
04
Hands-on when it counts
I'm not an advisor who disappears after the kickoff call. I work alongside your team during implementation — especially during the hard parts.
05
Clear scope, honest communication
You'll always know what I'm working on, what it'll take, and what to expect. No surprises, no scope creep, no wasted time.
About
The person behind Lean Ops
Milan Ilić — Operations Consultant
Milan Ilić
Operations Consultant · Belgrade
Practical ops partner for founders navigating the moments that matter most — acquisitions, restructurings, rapid growth, and wind-downs. Now expanding to AI-native companies.
7+
Years inside blockchain & tech orgs
1000+
Employee organisations navigated
Seed → Scale
Every stage of growth covered
7+ years inside real companies
Hands-on experience since 2018 working within blockchain and technology organizations — embedded in day-to-day operations rather than advising from the outside.
Experience with complexity at scale
Working with both lean teams and organizations with 1,000+ employees — understanding how decision-making, communication, and accountability change as companies grow.
Turning acquisitions into functioning teams
Direct involvement in setting up acquired teams so they actually work in practice — from offices and contracts to tooling, purchasing, and documentation.
Navigating hard transitions
Integrating teams after acquihires, aligning founders and leadership, defining KPIs that stick, simplifying operations during downsizing or wind-downs, and setting up brand protection procedures.
Now: AI-native companies
The operational challenges facing a DeFi protocol in 2019 and an AI product company in 2025 are more similar than most people expect: fast-moving, under-structured, and in urgent need of someone who can translate between technical vision and business reality.
FAQ
Common questions
What kind of companies do you work with?
Primarily blockchain, Web3, DeFi, and AI product companies — from early-stage startups to organizations with 100–500+ employees. I'm most useful when operational complexity is outpacing internal capacity.
Are you a fractional COO?
Sometimes that's the right label, sometimes not. I work in whatever capacity makes sense: short-term project-based engagements, ongoing advisory, or embedded part-time support during a specific transition.
Are you open to full-time roles?
Occasionally, yes — for the right company and challenge. If you're looking for someone fully embedded, fully committed, and not split across multiple clients, that conversation is worth having. Full-time means your team gets all of my attention, all of the time. Reach out and let's see if it's a fit.
Do you work remotely?
Yes — I work with distributed teams across time zones. Most of my clients operate globally by nature.
How quickly can you start?
Usually within 1–2 weeks of an initial conversation. For urgent situations, often faster.
What's your pricing model?
Engagements are scoped and priced per project or on a monthly retainer basis, depending on what makes sense. We discuss this in the initial call — there's no fixed price list because every situation is different.

Ready to cut through the complexity?

Reach out and let's discuss what you're working through.

Let's talk →