About Stratifier and how it works
Stratifier is an AI strategy, planning and execution platform for small and mid-sized B2B businesses, built by NextRock Advisors. It learns how a company actually operates, researches its market and competitors, builds a multi-year strategy, and runs the annual, quarterly and weekly cadence that delivers it — guided by a Certified Stratifier.
The method: Train, Assess, Strategize, Execute
Train. The company profile and assessments teach the system how the business works, who it serves and who it is not.
Assess. Sales, marketing, technology, finance, operations and people are scored against best practices, and the market, competitors, website and customers are researched.
Strategize. A written executive strategy is built from that evidence — SWOT turned into decisions with a TOWS matrix.
Execute. Strategy becomes initiatives with business cases, an annual plan, quarterly priorities with owners, a weekly scorecard and a Quarterly Business Review. Finished priorities can be replaced straight away, without waiting for the next planning session.
How Certified Stratifiers are certified
- A role assessment and profile review before approval.
- A ten-track training curriculum covering the platform, client delivery, compliance and practice building.
- A server-graded certification exam.
- The signed Certified Stratifier Agreement covering conduct, confidentiality and client work.
- Periodic renewal to stay listed as certified.
- An optional Quarterly/Annual Planning Certification for those who facilitate planning sessions, shown as a badge on their profile.
Every certificate can be checked on its public verification page.
How tools score and research
Scores come from fixed formulas in code, so the same inputs always give the same result. Unmeasured items are left out rather than guessed. AI explains the results; it does not set them.
Deep research plans its questions, reads live sources, runs structured search and then writes — with sources linked and confidence labelled, and dated so findings aren't stuck at a model's training cutoff.
How AI is governed
AI-generated content is labelled, provenance is recorded, and incidents are tracked. Each company's own "who we are / who we are not" is enforced on every AI output.
How the directories are vetted
Stratifiers appear only once approved, and are shown as certified only when certified; others may show a clear "Coming soon" ribbon. Service providers sign a partner agreement, and peer groups are published by their chair. Test and practice accounts never appear.
Common questions
Who makes Stratifier?
Stratifier is built by NextRock Advisors, a United States advisory firm that also certifies the fractional executives who deliver engagements on the platform.
What is a Certified Stratifier?
A fractional executive (CMO, CRO, COO or CFO) who has passed a role assessment, completed the Stratifier training curriculum and a graded certification exam, and signed the Certified Stratifier Agreement.
Does AI decide the scores?
No. Assessments, website scores, competitor threat rankings and market opportunity scores use fixed, published formulas in code. AI only explains the results and writes narrative.
Where does research come from?
Deep research plans the questions, reads live sources, runs structured search and then writes — every claim links to a source and carries a confidence label.
How are the directories vetted?
Stratifiers must be approved and certified (or clearly marked Coming soon). Service providers sign a partner agreement. Peer groups are published by their chair. Test and practice accounts never appear.
Explore the rest of the network
Certified Stratifier directory
Vetted fractional CMOs, CROs, COOs and CFOs, listed by sector and role.
Service provider directory
Partner firms for marketing, web, recruiting, bookkeeping and IT work.
Executive peer groups
Chair-led groups with published format, cadence and location.