Cybersecurity Checkup for Professionals:
Elliott T. Friedman
Holistic Business Advisor
Transforming how founders scale, professionals grow, and private equity creates value—through integrated advisory that connects strategy, technology, and operations.
Serving Charleston, South Carolina and Beyond
For Professional Service Firms & Solo Practitioners
Launching or scaling a practice demands more than technical expertise in your field—it requires business acumen across marketing, operations, technology, and finance. I work with CPAs, attorneys, financial advisors, healthcare providers, and other professionals to build firms that attract the right clients, run efficiently, and grow sustainably. Whether you're hanging your own shingle or leading an established team ready for the next level, I help build the business side of your practice with the same rigor you bring to serving clients.
For Private Equity Firms
Technology is no longer just a diligence checkbox—it's a value creation lever. As a Senior Technology Advisor with IT Ally, we partner with PE firms on technical due diligence, post-acquisition technology strategy, and portfolio company optimization, with a focus on the lower middle market. I also work with firms on their own internal technology needs—deal sourcing systems, investment security, and data visualization that sharpens decision-making. Being a certified Private Equity IT Leadership (PE-ITL) advisor gives me a unique advantage that helps sponsors see technology not as risk to mitigate but as alpha waiting to be unlocked.
For Founders & Entrepreneurs
You're building something meaningful—but the path from idea to exit is rarely linear. I help founders navigate that journey with clarity, whether you're raising capital, preparing for acquisition, or simply building a business that lasts. With two successful exits of my own, I offer the strategic guidance I wish I'd had earlier: how to build not just a profitable company, but one that's genuinely valuable and investment-ready.
Practice Accelerator
Ready to start your own practice or transform your existing firm? The Practice Accelerator is an intensive 9-week program that builds everything you need—from operational systems and technology infrastructure to marketing strategy and financial management—giving you a modern, growth-ready practice.
For CPAs, Attorneys, Financial Advisors, & Healthcare Providers
Elliott T. Friedman
Founder, Principal Advisor
I'm Elliott Friedman, a Charleston-based business and technology advisor providing holistic advisory support to professional service firms, private equity sponsors, and founders navigating growth, complexity, and critical inflection points. My work centers on helping leaders make sound decisions across business structure, technology, and execution—particularly where risk, regulation, and long-term value intersect.
Much of my advisory work is grounded in the realities of professional practice. I work closely with CPAs, attorneys, financial advisors, and healthcare professionals who operate in regulated environments where trust, accuracy, and continuity matter. My approach focuses on strengthening the internal mechanics of the practice so modernization, growth, and client service reinforce one another rather than compete.
My perspective is shaped by building companies, not simply advising them. I've launched, scaled, and exited businesses alongside partners and teams—experiencing firsthand the operational strain, leadership tradeoffs, and execution challenges that emerge as organizations grow. That experience informs an advisory style that is pragmatic, systems-oriented, and grounded in how work actually happens.
Across my career, I've held executive leadership roles spanning technology, operations, and digital strategy. I co-founded a media production company that was acquired in 2014, later led technology initiatives for a growing private medical practice, and most recently served as Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of an education technology company through its successful acquisition in 2024.
I also advise private equity sponsors with a focus on risk, scalability, and post-acquisition execution. I earned my Private Equity IT Leadership (PE-ITL) certification with the inaugural cohort that finished in October 2025, formalizing years of hands-on experience in diligence, integration, and value creation—work that has sharpened my view of how technology decisions influence enterprise value and transaction outcomes.
Entrepreneurs and founder-led teams often engage me for guidance as they move from early momentum to disciplined growth. I help founders translate vision into operating reality, strengthen organizational foundations, and align execution with the expectations of sophisticated customers, investors, and potential acquirers.
Across all engagements, my role is consistent: to view the organization as a complete system, anticipate second-order effects, and move forward with clarity. I partner with clients through periods of change, turning complexity into structure and strategy into sustained progress.
Why “Holistic” Advisory?
Most business advisors specialize in one area—strategy, marketing, technology, or operations. But your business doesn't operate in silos, and neither should your advisory support.
My holistic approach recognizes that every aspect of your work is interconnected. Your marketing strategy impacts operations. Your technology choices shape client experience. Your financial systems inform strategic decisions. When these elements are addressed in isolation, opportunities are missed and growth is constrained.
With experience spanning enterprise IT, software development, digital marketing, private equity value creation, and business operations, I bring an integrative perspective that few advisors can match. I don't just solve problems—I identify how improvements in one area can amplify results across your entire organization.
In practice, this means I can help launch or modernize your firm through focused engagements, then connect you with the right long-term partners for specialized needs—marketing agencies, IT providers, HR consultants, and more. But my role doesn't end with the handoff. I serve as your ongoing strategist and trusted advisor, ensuring all the pieces continue working together as you grow.
The result is advisory that creates lasting, compounding value—not just quick fixes. Every initiative aligns with your overarching vision for success.
If you're ready for an advisor who sees the whole picture, let's talk.
Advisory Capabilities
Cybersecurity
Cyber is no longer an IT issue—it is a professional obligation. I help firms protect client data, satisfy regulatory expectations, and reduce risk exposure with practical, defensible security strategies aligned to how your practice actually operates. Protect your clients, your reputation, and your license with security that stands up to real scrutiny.
AI
AI should enhance judgment, not replace it. I guide professionals in adopting AI responsibly—improving efficiency, insight, and decision-making while respecting confidentiality, ethical boundaries, and industry-specific risk. Adopt AI with intention—so innovation strengthens your judgment rather than undermining it.
Marketing
Professional credibility is built before the first conversation. I help firms refine positioning, digital presence, and outreach strategies that attract qualified clients, reinforce trust, and convert expertise into consistent demand. Turn your expertise into visible authority that attracts the right clients before the first meeting.
Practice Operations
Operational friction quietly erodes profitability. I help professional firms streamline workflows, clarify roles, and align technology with process so partners reclaim time, staff perform at capacity, and the practice scales without chaos. Design a practice that runs with discipline, clarity, and resilience—even as demands increase.
Compliance
Compliance cannot be improvised. I translate complex regulatory frameworks into operational clarity, helping firms meet legal, ethical, and client-driven requirements without overengineering systems or disrupting daily practice. Move from reactive compliance to confident, defensible alignment with your obligations.
Technology
Technology should serve the practice, not fragment it. I act as a comprehensive technology strategist, integrating systems, data, and tools holistically so technology decisions reinforce operations, compliance, security, and long-term growth. Unify your technology into a strategic advantage instead of a growing source of complexity.
