Your product scales. Now make your company scalable
Upgrade your company's scalability so your team executes independently - and free up your time for strategy, not firefighting.
BACKBONE Company Scaling Program: 5-week live implementation masterclass.
For growth-stage CEOs with their leadership teams | Starts Apr 23, 2026 | Online.
Does it sound familiar?
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You and your team are busy, but the revenue isn’t growing as planned
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If you step back, things slow down or break
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You hired leaders to take things off your plate - but your plate keeps getting fuller
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No time for strategy, scaling decisions, or life outside work.
Your product and revenue scaled. Your company didn't yet.
Without a system connecting the parts of your growing company, you - the CEO become the system.
The bottleneck in every decision, the firefighter for every crisis. And you have no time left to actually lead.
BACKBONE changes that.
Introducing BACKBONE:
The Company Scaling Program
BACKBONE is the system growth-stage CEOs use to upgrade scalability across 3 pillars:
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Strategy. Align your leadership on the roadmap. Move from abstract goals to clear priorities that everyone understands and commits to.
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Execution. Install real ownership with clear roles, decision rights, and delegation frameworks - so your team delivers while you focus on CEO-level work.
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Team. Build a self-sufficient leadership layer. Executives who drive the business forward independently rather than escalating problems to you.
Read full info about the program agenda here.
Psychology matters
During thousands of founder mentoring sessions, we've learned: most growth blockers aren't strategic, they're behavioural. Misalignment, unclear vision, conflict avoidance, culture that's preached but not modeled. BACKBONE addresses both: the outgrown systems and the team patterns that created them.
Why it's live
Why it's live Most frameworks fail the same way: You read the book, you try to teach the team, the team nods. Nothing changes. Why? Because you can’t impose culture from the top down.
Real alignment happens when leadership builds the system together.
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Co-creation, not compliance. Your execs design the system alongside you. They own the process because they built it.
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Peer benchmarking. When your team sees other C-levels stepping up, it automatically raises the bar for what is expected.
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Structured homework. Between sessions, you apply the tools immediately. The sprint creates the discipline to have the hard conversations you’ve been delaying.
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Speed. Weeks instead of months.
You can't rebuild the engine while driving at full speed. This sprint creates the pit stop you need to upgrade.
Does it actually work?
It’s built from three lived perspectives: a founder, a board member who guided CEOs through IPO and beyond, and a mentor with 5,000+ hours of deep self-discovery and coaching.
And it’s proven in practice - our journeys and in clients’ management teams who have gone through the program.
Can it actually work for MY team?
That’s why it’s live, in cohort with your execs and other CEOs.
You don’t just learn the system - you build it with your team and stress-test it with other CEOs.
You’ll see how others solve challenges and make decisions. And because your execs co-create it with you, they own it. And they commit.
Do I even have time for this now?
You’re already building some form of Company scaling system - even if unintentionally.
This program saves you hundreds of hours of trial-and-error and spares you the stress of doing it alone.
Client - Shen.ai CEO feedback
The BACKBONE program provides a holistic structure and understanding of how the company should operate to be successful, backed by tons of practical tools to execute from day one.
I have way more clarity on what to focus on as a CEO.
Remi Koscielny, co-founder & CEO of Shen.ai
(ex-founder & CEO of Vivid Games with 50M+ players)
What you get in 5 weeks
The deliverables:
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Your Company OS. A clear, structured Company scaling system for your business - from diagnosis to a step-by-step Priorities plan across Strategy, Execution and Team dimensions.
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The Toolkit. Practical frameworks and templates that let your team run scalable processes without reinventing the wheel.
The shift:
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Leadership team aligned on priorities that drive revenue
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Team that understands the fundamentals of company scalability better, and owns results without chaos or micromanagement
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Your time freed for strategy, not firefighting
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The confidence that comes from having a system, not just a gut feeling.
See how each week delivers these outcomes in the Program Agenda.
Real-world wins at Cocoon:
→ Scaled team from 15 to 200+ (Jobilla)
→ Navigated cofounder exits and CEO transitions (Adaptive Media, Degritter, Click & Grow)
→ Raised $30M+ in funding (Interactio)
→ Achieved product–market fit (Shen.ai)
Founders report renewed energy, alignment, clarity, decision confidence, and real work–life balance.
Who this program is for
Growth-stage CEOs (€500K–15M revenue, 5-100 employees) with management teams where the product works but internal complexity is becoming the bottleneck.
Requirements:
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CEO + management team attend together (minimum 2, maximum 8 people)
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Growth mindset - focused on scaling, not just surviving
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Implementation focus - you'll apply concepts with your team in real time, not just listen
Ready to apply?
Short application → Fit assessment call → Invitation (if there's a match).
Pricing and Application
Executive Team ticket (up to 8 people)
€3500 (+VAT) per team
EARLY BIRD price - available till March 31, 2026
€3000 per team
ROI context: One month of misalignment typically costs 20-50× this investment.
What’s included
Executive Team ticket
Participation for up to 8 leaders from your team (including the CEO).
Minimum: CEO + 1 exec. Maximum: CEO + 7 execs.
5 live sessions
Learn and implement in real time with your leadership team and peer CEOs
Implementation exercises
Guided action steps between sessions - for each executive and for your management team together.
Templates and tools
Ready-to-use resources that save your team hundreds of hours of guessing and trial-and-error.
Session recordings
Available for 6 months afterwards - so your team can revisit key concepts anytime.
C-level peer community (Slack).
Work alongside other CEOs and execs between sessions.
Grow your network of growth-oriented leaders.
What you actually get: Relief. Clarity. Confidence.
100% Value Guarantee
Not feeling it after the first two sessions? Drop out before session 3 and get a full refund.
No questions asked.
Requirement: CEO + minimum 1 exec must attend sessions 1-2 in full (on camera, in breakouts, completing exercises).
This ensures seats go to teams committed to implementation.
Program reviews
If it feels like things aren’t moving forward, this program helps you step back, see the bigger picture, and identify the weak points holding back growth.
Ilze Maca, CEO of K-Rent (€13M AR)
I would recommend this program for every CEO and founder. I believe even professionals can find a lot to learn and align the team. Main gain - team and priorities synchronisation.
Gedeminas Skilčius, CEO of Unosol (€5M AR)
The Backbone program was a much-needed sanity check for our team. While the sessions themselves were insightful, the great value was in the hands-on homework. It gave us a structured process to work together, leading to tangible outcomes we could apply immediately to create positive structural changes across the company.
Kristaps Lapins, CEO of Language Inspired (€2M AR)
This program is about how you can organize operational complexity into a new order that is focused on outcomes and runs smoothly without requiring your direct involvement in every aspect. The program is run by my mentor Farhad / Cocoon whom I highly endorse.
Remi Koscielny, CEO of Shen.ai
(€1M AR) (ex-founder of Vivid Games with 50M+ players)
I recommend the program to every growing or aiming for growth company. Focus is not on giving one recipe for all, but helping people find their own recipe for success.
Rayna Damyanova, Global Head of Language Talent of Language Inspired
(€2M AR)
Agenda: What happens when you join
🗓️ Live online sessions: April 23, 30, May 7, 14 and 21 - 9:30–13:30 EEST (GMT+3)
How we prepare (The Onboarding)
The Process:
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Application: We review within 24h.
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Fit Call: A short conversation to clarify expectations and confirm the program matches your stage.
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Green Light: Confirmation, invoice, and onboarding.
The Prep Work (2 Steps): Once confirmed, you have two tasks before we start:
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The Setup: Provide details on your management team structure (5 days prior). We use this to curate your peer breakout groups.
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The Alignment: You and your team agree on the #1 objective you want to solve during this sprint. We provide the template; you bring the consensus.
P.S. Why mornings?
This is priority CEO work. It deserves your sharpest hours, not the leftovers.
If you can carve out the time, you’re ready to lead at this level. That’s the first test.
Why we created BACKBONE
After thousands of founder sessions, the pattern is undeniable: most "strategic" blockers are actually behavioral.
With that comes the scaling dilemma.
Markets and business changes fast. Human behaviour doesn’t.
You can't wait 2 years for your executives to shift.
And systems that ignore human dynamics don't stick - you've probably tried.
That's why BACKBONE operates on both levels:
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The System: Frameworks for immediate clarity, speed, and momentum.
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The Psychology: Insights that drive lasting behavioral ownership.
Real scale requires both.
Real scale requires both the hardware (structure) and the software (mindset) to work in sync.
This is the most structured, high-leverage system we have ever built.
Meet the Architects:
Farhad Niyoz
Cocoon CEO, mentor, builder - turned guide
After earning an MBA and founding several tech ventures, Farhad has invested 12 years and 5,000+ hours in deep self-discovery - uncovering how the inner world shapes outer results.
He bridges the breadth of business with the depth of human psyche - the real drivers (or blockers) of performance.
What it means for you: business systems rooted in logic, designed around human nature.
Martins Bicevskis
Supervisory board member, C-suite advisor
Martins has led organisations with teams in the hundreds, and guided CEOs through pre- and post-IPO scaling, change management, and high-stakes org design.
What it means for you: strategic insights on where your org needs to go - and clarity on how to get there from someone who’s guided CEOs through IPO and beyond.
If you take building your business seriously you should consider Cocoon. I see the largest benefit in Cocoon’s focus on personal development and not just business.
- Henri Nordström, Jobilla CEO, Finland
Martins Bicevskis is a unique person - being honest and with an open mindset to be entirely focused on the discussion to improve the outcome of the initiative he has taken to achieve.
- Margus Rosin, Bigbank CTO, Estonia
Farhad's wealth of experience in both business and life, coupled with his adept ability to listen attentively and pose incisive questions, significantly facilitated my journey of self-discovery and growth.
- Nauris Skride, CEO of Adaptive Media, Latvia
Farhad's experience and insight were very helpful for us in our growth trajectory. He is incredibly generous as a mentor. - Julia Gifford, Truesix CEO, Latvia
I was looking for a clearer vision for my company. Our results astounded me - we uncovered so much about our current challenges and possible steps towards better alignment.
- Toomas Pihl, Agrello CEO, Estonia
Farhad is very good at getting to the root of the problem with his direct questions and comments.
- Michael Henriksen, Wavepiston CEO, Denmark
While I often rely on my gut feeling to make choices, Martins has taught me how to substantiate those decisions, which has given me greater confidence. I now have the words to articulate the strong feelings behind my actions and decisions. Martins has been a mirror for me - challenging me, confronting me, and offering alternative perspectives. I genuinely enjoy our sessions.
- Selma Stevense-Bakker, Managing Director of Jobilla Benelux, Netherlands
My company and I needed a change for better results. I have brought many learnings from Cocoon back to my company.
- Indrek Jaal, Globalreader CEO, Estonia
Participation in Cocoon Program has helped me to solve challenges in my business and also on a personal level. - Matiss Neimanis, BuildIT CEO, Latvia
I believe that most challenges in our life and business are directly related to the challenges, limitations, or barriers in ourselves. Cocoon helped me to understand the root cause of my challenges and remove the barriers and limitations that are causing them. At the end of the program, I am a better leader but, more importantly, a better and happier person.
- Mattias Lepp, CEO of Click and Grow, Estonia
Farhad has the ability to look at your challenges from a completely different angle to what you would expect. - Marek Alliksoo, Skycrop CEO, Estonia
I highly recommend Martins Bicevskis as a mentor; his expertise spans various domains, and his guidance has been akin to a catalyst for positive change.
- Kaspars Sirmais, Co-founder of Amit Baltic, Latvia
Farhad has a unique ability to navigate both the business side and the personal side of decision-making. His approach has challenged me to think more critically and make more informed decisions, which has been invaluable for both my personal and professional growth.
- Martins Bratuskins, Co-founder of Monetizr, USA / Latvia
The Cocoon program empowered me to embrace the CEO role authentically and overcome fears, including that of a co-founder potentially leaving.
- Uku Püttsepp, Degritter CEO, Estonia
Cocoon group mentoring has been ridiculously effective for me. Every session I discovered many unknown unknowns about myself and got deep insights from multiple perspectives that boosted the process of solving my personal and business challenges.
- Ranno Käomägi, CEO of Remato, Estonia
Frequently Asked Questions
AI disrupting us - should we wait? If you’re facing major shifts like AI disruption, you’re effectively running two companies at once: the one that pays the bills and the one that must exist a year from now. That level of complexity breaks teams without a real operating system. This program gives you the structure to lead both - without chaos or lost momentum.
How much time will this take? Sessions: 20 hours (5 sessions x 4h). Team + individual implementation work between sessions: 8-10 hours (4 times x 2h). Built for busy CEOs - saves you hundreds of hours over time. You’ll implement some version of a Company OS eventually. The question is: how much time, energy, and friction do you want to burn figuring it out alone?
We’ve done OKRs, offsites, tried to align - what’s different here? Most tools focus only on the business level: goals, cadences, dashboards. Or they’re unstructured “feel-good” sessions. They don’t fix root issues - misaligned priorities, messy execution, unclear ownership - or leadership psychology blockers like fear of letting go. BACKBONE program builds the actual system behind your business: strategy, execution, and team in one rhythm - co-created with your execs, grounded in human behaviour, tackling the blockers that sabotage change.
What if my team doesn’t stick with it? They won’t - if this is just another system handed down from the top. That’s why we focus on building real buy-in - and recommend joining with your full exec team (minimum: CEO + 1 executive).
What if I miss a session? All sessions are recorded and available for 6 months, so you can revisit key concepts. But real change happens live - through team and peer collaboration. That’s why showing up matters. And for CEOs especially: the OS only sticks if you value and lead it, so your presence is essential.
Is this relevant to my industry / stage? BACKBONE is industry-agnostic and program participants have came from Deeptech AI, SaaS, Wholesales, Infrastructure, B2B services, and more - because internal complexity and leadership challenges are universal once you hit €500k–€15M revenue and 5–100 FTEs.
What ROI can I expect? For most companies, the program cost is a fraction of what’s lost monthly through misalignment, missed goals, and leadership & team friction. Think of it as 1. reclaiming hundreds of hours, 2. smoother execution, 3. and faster revenue growth - with clarity and confidence.
Who exactly should participate? Recommended: the CEO with the full exec team (direct reports), up to 8 people in total. At minimum: the CEO + 1 executive. During and between sessions, your exec team co-creates the Company OS and works on alignment. This isn’t doable without them present.
We’re mid-fundraise / product launch / fire - is now the right time? This program is built exactly for complexity - when plans, opportunities, and market shifts collide. But if your runway is shorter than 6 months, fundraising should be your #1 focus. In that case, email hi@cocoonprogram.com and we’ll let you know the next cohort start date.
What if it doesn’t work? See our 100% Value Guarantee: Not feeling it after the first two sessions? Drop out before the third - and get a full refund, no questions asked. The guarantee applies only if the CEO and at least one executive attend the first two sessions live in full. Full participation means attending from start to finish, being on camera, joining breakout rooms, and actively engaging in discussions and assignments.
Apply now and
make your company scalable
Executive Team ticket (up to 8 people)
€3500 (+VAT) per team
EARLY BIRD price - available till March 31, 2026
€3000 per team
For our clients, €3000 is typically 20-50× less than the monthly cost of misalignment and missed goals.
Apply now - so you stop firefighting and start hitting your revenue targets.
What you actually get: Relief. Clarity. Confidence.
What’s included
Executive Team ticket
Participation for up to 8 leaders from your team (including the CEO).
Minimum: CEO + 1 exec. Maximum: CEO + 7 execs.
5 live sessions
Learn and implement in real time with your leadership team. Online with implementation breakouts - collaborate as a team and exchange insights with other CEOs and execs.
Implementation exercises
Guided action steps between sessions - for each executive and for your management team together.
Templates and tools
Ready-to-use resources that save your team hundreds of hours of guessing and trial-and-error.
Session recordings
Available for 6 months afterwards - so your team can revisit key concepts anytime.
100% Value guarantee
Not feeling it after the first two sessions? Drop out before the third session - and get a full refund, no questions asked.
C-level peer community (Slack).
Work alongside other CEOs and execs between sessions.
Grow your network of growth-oriented leaders.
Cohort starts April 23, 2026. Limited number of CEO teams admitted. Questions? Get in touch