Fractional AI and Data Lead
From $6,000 a month, fixed, for about four working days of AI and data leadership. Tyler owns the roadmap, makes the call on vendors, oversees builds and analytics, and trains your team. Larger scopes are quoted.
Prefer to skip the call? Get a written proposal
Run by Tyler Kent, who has led the build of two companies' data platforms from zero. His background
Built for
- Organizations of 100 to 1,000 people not ready for a full-time AI or data hire
- Health-tech companies past their first funding round with no AI or data leader yet
- Leadership teams fielding vendor pitches with nobody to check them
- Teams finishing an AI Readiness Sprint
Why it's worth it
Today
Vendor pitches, staff trying AI tools on their own and a board asking for a plan all land on leaders who have other jobs. A full-time AI leader means a senior salary and a search that can take months.
After
One senior person owns the roadmap for about four days a month, gives a written go or no-go on each vendor and build, and trains your team. A year at the starting fee is $72,000.
What you get
First 30 days
Getting started
Interviews and an inventory of the AI tools, data and vendor contracts you already have, then the roadmap, then a 90-day plan by the end of week four.
Every month
Roadmap and decisions
Ownership of the AI and data roadmap, and a written go or no-go on each vendor and build.
Every month
Oversight and training
Sign-off on builds and analytics work, small builds of a day or two, a session with your team, and a written report on what shipped and what's next, ready to forward to your board.
Every week
A standing call
A call at the same time each week, and replies to anything else by the next business day.
Compared with a full-time hire
Read Choosing between a fractional AI lead and a first AI hire for the cost comparison and the two cases where a full-time hire is the better choice.
Who does the work
Tyler Kent
Tyler has advised organizations on how to bring AI into their work, which is much of what a fractional lead does each month. He has led the build of two companies' data platforms from zero, once as director of data science and once as a consultant, and he has managed multimillion-dollar budgets many times.
data platforms built from zero
AI products designed and shipped to production
courses on AI adoption taught to leadership teams and staff
years in data science and analytics, most of it in healthcare
Price
One flat monthly fee, written into your proposal. Nothing is billed by the hour.
Fractional AI and Data Lead
For organizations with no AI or data leader
Price: from$6,000 a month
About four working days a month, with a three-month minimum. Larger scopes are quoted as a fixed monthly fee.
A part-time senior lead who owns your AI and data roadmap, makes the vendor and build calls, and trains your team.
What's included in Fractional AI and Data Lead
- About four working days a month
- The AI and data roadmap, owned and kept current
- A written go or no-go on each vendor and build
- Sign-off on builds and analytics, plus small builds of a day or two
- A weekly call and replies by the next business day
- A session with your team and a written report each month
Not ready to commit three months? Start with the AI Leadership Workshop for $3,500, one time, credited toward your first month if you start within 90 days.
Payment and terms
- Billed monthly in advance, by invoice or purchase order
- Three-month initial term, then 30 days' notice
- Larger builds scoped separately at a fixed price
Questions
How does the cost compare with a full-time hire?
Twelve months at $6,000 is $72,000. The median data scientist earned $120,230 in May 2025 before benefits, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median for computer and information systems managers, the federal job category that includes chief information officers and chief technology officers, was $175,140.
What if we need more than four days a month?
The larger scope is quoted as a fixed monthly fee before it starts.
Is there a minimum term?
Three months, because the first month is mostly inventory and planning.
Do you manage our staff?
No. Managing employees stays with you. The engagement covers leading the AI and data work and training your people.
How an engagement worksQuestions about prices, payment and patient data
Book a 20-minute call
Tell us which AI or data decisions are waiting on someone. If we can help, you'll get a fixed-price proposal within 48 hours.
Prefer to skip the call? Get a written proposal
Or email tyler@kentapplied.com, or connect on LinkedIn.