Announcing Manual Override, a 6 week summer 2025 accelerator
For exceptional tech leaders who want to grow their independent, skill-based businesses
Way back in the olden days of 2022 when I started Hello Generalist, I wanted to solve a very particular problem.
I wanted to make independent work more sustainable by solving what I felt was the very hardest problem: It’s voodoo witch science, pain in the ass hard to get in front of the exact right companies, who need your exact help, at the exact moment they need it.
HG’s done a solid job at this in our first 2 years: We’ve connected over 100 operators to fractional, project based and advisory work, paying out several million dollars through the platform.
But — like every online platform — we’re constrained by the jobs that come through our doors. We’ve had thousands of operators apply to join us, and can only help a few at a time (many of you are on this list, and have patiently, though rightfully frustratingly, sat on our waitlist). Ultimately, as a platform, we’re sugar on top of an operator’s growth strategy.
So, we’re launching a new program to solve the same problem HG solves, just with a very important twist: Instead of our platform (or any platform) controlling your intros, we want to empower you to take the wheel, giving you all the tools to do it yourself.
I’m thrilled to share we’re running Manual Override, a 6 week accelerator this summer. It’s our inaugural cohort, and I’m positively pumped to put this into the world.
Inaugural online cohort: July 7 – Aug 15, 2025
Over 6 weeks, our goal is to help you clarify your offerings, and get you in front of people who can hire you.
We’ll help you get there with weekly group workshops, small peer pods for support and accountability, plus make direct introductions to mentors and hiring managers. The accelerator culminates with Demo Day, a chance to get in front of VC Platform Teams, founders, and other super connectors.
Unlike a typical online course, our KPI is the size of your pipeline, and the revenue you book from working with us. This is a live, 6 week program that’s driven by direction introductions, not just content.
Applications are open today through June 20th, and we’re hosting two info sessions if you’d like to meet us and learn more before applying.
A bit more on our thesis
In an era where careers are increasingly programmed by companies, by platforms, and by expectations, we know that the most meaningful work comes from deliberate intervention.
Manual Override is for leaders who have already taken steps to work independently, but seek the connections and community to build something enduring.
We are deeply inspired by the tech startup accelerators, like YC and Techstars. Our big reflection point was, “What would the best of those programs look like for an independent business?” We think you’ll find that Manual Override gets at that same spirit, bringing together a curated, exceptional group of entrepreneurs, teaching you what we know, anchoring on critical introductions, and leading with a loving, and candid, approach.
I’ve never been more convinced that independent work is the future, especially as tech reaches an inflection point: Full-time jobs are the not reliable path they used to be, and if you’ve got the energy, there’s just too much opportunity out there to stay in a full-time job.
Reply to this email, or leave a comment on Substack if you want to chat directly ✌️