Your Company’s Value Is Held Hostage by You.

That dependence doesn’t just cost you freedom: it costs you millions at exit.

Founders who stay at the center of everything eventually become the bottleneck. I help you step back—without losing control—so your company can grow, scale, and one day sell at maximum value.

Build a Business That Thrives Without You.

i help design your exit and increase the value of your business.

“Founder‑dependent businesses often receive valuations 30%–50% below market comparables.”

Strategic Exit Advisors, The Hidden Valuation Killer That Could Cost You Millions
“Firms overly dependent on founder expertise face ‘key person discounts’ of 20%–40%.”

Consulting industry analysis (Duedilio, June 2025)
“Each additional degree of founder control (e.g., maintaining board or CEO control) reduces startup value by 23%–58% on average.”

Noam Wasserman (Harvard Business School)

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PHIL JEWELL, A COMBAT LEADER AND DECORATED VETERAN.

From the Battlefield to the Boardroom — Proving the Best Leaders Make Themselves Irrelevant.

i’m a decorated veteran, and In combat my performance wasn’t measured by how many decisions I made, but by how well my team could operate without me. The same is true in business: if your company depends on you, buyers will discount its value. the irrelevant founder is about creating a business that thrives without you — unlocking freedom, legacy, and maximum valuation.

I’VE DONE THIS ON THE BATTLEFIELD, IN SOME OF THE MOST COMPLEX, HIGH-PRESSURED, INTENSE ENVIRONMENTS THAT EXIST. I’M DOING IT IN MY OWN BUSINESS. NOW IT’S TIME TO DO IT FOR YOU.

A soldier sitting against a wall with desert camouflage uniform, equipment, and tactical gear, looking at the camera.

“A dynamic leader, Phil delivered outstanding results in one of the most demanding combat environments imaginable…”

Combat Deployment performance Review, Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Your Path to Founder Freedom AND BECOMING AN IRRELEVANT FOUNDER. WE START AT STEP 1 AND GO FROM THERE.

Step #1: The Founders Freedom Audit

We start here by seeing how much your business really depends on you — and what that costs you at exit.
Most founders are shocked to learn just how much their company relies on them. That dependence is the #1 reason valuations get slashed by 30–50%. The Founder Freedom Audit™ gives you a clear, data-driven assessment of where you’re the bottleneck and what it’s costing your business today. You’ll walk away with a scorecard, heatmap, and valuation impact analysis — plus immediate steps to start building independence.
👉 Your company is worth more when it needs you less.

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Step #2: Irrelevance Blueprint

Finish at Step 1, or turn your independence gap into a roadmap for freedom and value.
Knowing the problem is only half the battle. The Irrelevance Blueprint™ is a 90-day engagement where we design the systems, leadership structure, and cultural foundations that make your business run without you. Together, we’ll transfer decision-making, strengthen your leadership bench, and codify your playbooks so the company performs consistently — whether you’re in the room or not.
👉 Freedom isn’t an accident. It’s a plan.
Step #3: Exit Independence Accelerator

This is the Cadillac of options where I work closely with you and your team to embed the systems, prove the results, secure the valuation.

The Accelerator is where transformation happens. Over 6–12 months, we embed the Blueprint across your business, coach your leadership team, and stress-test your systems until the company runs flawlessly without you. By the end, you’ll not only be free from the day-to-day, you’ll hold a verified Exit Readiness Score™ that shows investors and buyers your business is built to scale.
👉 A company that thrives without you is a company buyers pay more for.