Q3 2026 — Currently accepting 4 of 6 client engagements
Los Angeles / Est. 2025

An operating system for founders.

We replace the chaos of running multiple ventures with one operator who runs the system end-to-end.

100%
Founder-led
6
Engagements / qtr
8wk
Build cycle
LA + MI
Dual-market
01The Problem

Most founders are running six businesses with one nervous system.

Without the system
Five tools that don't talk to each other
Three half-finished decks
An LLC waiting on EIN paperwork
A brand book in seven Google Docs
Twelve open tabs of "I'll get to it"

Generalist agencies optimize one channel. Freelancers ship one deliverable. Neither understands what it takes to run six ventures simultaneously.

With the Silk Road
One operator across all ventures
One brand system, all sub-brands
One pipeline, six revenue streams
One dashboard, every metric
One source of truth

Built for the founder running multiple ventures simultaneously who needs a seasoned operator — not a generalist agency recycling the same playbook.

02The Silk Road OS

Six surfaces. One core.

Hover any node to see what it owns.

CORE
THE OPERATOR
Strategy
Brand · Position
Growth
SEO · Ads · Content
Capital
Gov · Equity · BD
Platform
Build · Publish · Ship
Data
Dashboards · Analytics
Ops
Systems · Vendors
03Built In, Not Theorized

Four ventures. One playbook.

We don't theorize. We've shipped this across our own portfolio first.

Parent Entity · Est. Michigan 2018
Lee Business Solutions
Federal contracting · Business consulting · Michigan LLC
Production
Blue Shadow Studios
Hollywood · Cineo LED · Virtual production & ICVFX
blueshadowstudios.com
E-Commerce
Chalk & Ember
Multi-line dropship · 7 product sub-brands
Imprint
Wumble Press
Children's books · Humor-forward · Culturally aware
04Where We Sit

Operator depth. Boutique scale.

Single Channel
Full Spectrum
Operator Depth
Freelancers
Boutique agencies
Full-service agencies
Independent consultants
The Silk Road
Vs. Agencies

No junior reps, no account managers, no handoffs. Founder-led on every call.

Vs. Freelancers

We don't ship one deliverable — we operate an integrated system across six surfaces.

Vs. Big Consultancies

Calibrated for lean teams. Actionable, not aspirational. No 200-slide deliverables.

05Engagements

Project rates. Specialty depth.

Final scope confirmed in writing after discovery.

Multi-brand ecosystem design

SIGNATURE

Parent + sub-brand architecture, naming, positioning, voice hierarchy.

$8,500–$14,000per ecosystem

Brand identity system

Logo suite, palette, typography, voice guide, full editable brand book.

$4,500–$7,500per brand

Naming, trademark & domain

USPTO class screening, domain check, DBA guidance, tagline development.

$2,200flat

Brand collateral & print

Decks, one-pagers, sell sheets, business cards — print-ready.

$175–$275/hr5 hr min

Solo entrepreneur launch

SIGNATURE

Entity structure, brand foundation, revenue model, 90-day plan.

$6,500flat

Partnership & equity structuring

Equity modeling, operator comp frameworks, vesting design, pre-legal prep.

$325/hr8 hr min

Pitch competition prep

Narrative, slide coaching, financial story, Q&A prep — MMSDC/SBDC.

$1,800per competition

Revenue model & pricing

Day rate, retainer, product, hybrid pricing with competitive benchmarking.

$2,200flat
06Monthly Retainer

Three tiers. One operator.

All retainers begin with a complimentary 30-minute discovery call. 60-day minimum.

FOUNDATION

Foundation

For founders getting structured and visible.

  • Brand identity foundation
  • Social media (2 platforms)
  • Monthly strategy call
  • Email support · 48-hr response
  • 1 deliverable / month
Apply →
OPERATOR

Operator

For multi-venture founders who need a full operator.

  • Full brand + marketing management
  • Social (3 platforms) + paid ads
  • SEO + 2 content pieces / month
  • Analytics dashboard & reporting
  • BD advisory + deal support
  • 2 calls / mo + Slack access
Apply →
THE SILK ROAD

Silk Road

You run the vision. We run the operations.

  • Full-stack brand + digital + BD
  • Publishing, course, or platform build
  • Government contracting pipeline
  • Speaking engagement prep
  • Dedicated lead + daily async
  • Weekly check-in calls
Apply →

Engagements are invoiced after discovery. ACH, wire, and credit card accepted via secure invoice. Ad spend, third-party tools & platform fees billed separately.

07Leadership

Co-founders. One principal voice.

Kristie is principal on every client engagement. Michael anchors production and technical depth.

PRINCIPAL
KL

Kristie Lee

FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL
Mortgage Loan Officer · CEO · Writer · Investor
Hampton University · Los Angeles, CA · She / Her

Founder of The Silk Road and principal on every engagement. Multi-venture operator across federal contracting, mortgage lending, multi-brand e-commerce, publishing, and digital platforms. Brings credit, capital, and operations perspective most consultants don't have.

MM

Michael McCollough

STRATEGIC PARTNER & CO-FOUNDER
VP, Blue Shadow Studios · Technologist
Generative AI · Web3 · Blockchain
Los Angeles, CA · He / Him

Vice President of Blue Shadow Studios — the Hollywood production operation behind The Silk Road's virtual production and ICVFX work. Brings technical depth across generative AI, Web3 automation, and blockchain when AI integration is in scope.

08Apply for Engagement

Ready to build something real?

Currently accepting 4 of 6 client engagements for Q3 2026. Apply below — we respond within one business day.

Step 1 of 3 · Qualification
Location
Los Angeles, CA
By appointment only
Entity
Lee Business Solutions, LLC
Est. Michigan · September 2018