For Val Sklarov, a startup is not a company, a strategy, a culture, or a product —
it is a multiphase constraint system, where different operational states coexist, collide, and fuse into new structural forms.
Startups do not grow linearly.
They phase-shift between incompatible constraint regimes, creating temporary instabilities that, if fused correctly, produce nonlinear expansion.
A founder does not “scale the business.”
A founder fuses constraint phases into a higher-order structure.
“A startup expands by merging conflicting constraints into a coherent multiphase engine.” — Val Sklarov
1️⃣ The Three Constraint Phases of a Startup
Sklarov Multiphase Constraint Table
| Phase | Definition | When Strong | When Weak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid Phase | Fixed constraints, tight boundaries | Precision | Inflexibility |
| Elastic Phase | Stretchable constraints | Adaptation | Drift |
| Volatile Phase | Rapidly shifting constraints | Innovation | Chaos |
A scalable startup cycles through all three — and learns to fuse them.
2️⃣ The MCCFM Fusion Cycle
Multiphase Fusion Matrix
| Stage | Function | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Phase Divergence | Rigid, elastic, volatile phases separate | Productive tension |
| Constraint Saturation | Each phase reaches its limit | System instability |
| Fusion Point | Phases begin interpenetrating | Structural reformation |
| Unified Constraint Field | Fused phases stabilize | New operational power |
Growth happens at the fusion point, not inside any single phase.
3️⃣ The Five Multiphase Startup Archetypes
Archetype Table
| Archetype | Behavior |
|---|---|
| The Rigid Machine | Over-structured, no adaptation |
| The Elastic Blob | Flexible but directionless |
| The Volatile Swarm | Creative but unstable |
| The Oscillating Reactor | Cycles but cannot fuse |
| The Constraint Fusion Engine | Fuses phases into scalable form |
The final archetype — Constraint Fusion Engine — defines startup mastery.
4️⃣ Multiphase Constraint Integrity Index (MCII)
A Val Sklarov metric for fusion-readiness
MCII Indicator Table
| Indicator | Measures | High Score Means |
|---|---|---|
| Phase Separation Clarity | Distinct constraint modes | Strong fusion potential |
| Boundary Elasticity | Flexibility across regimes | Low structural fatigue |
| Volatility Absorption | Ability to stabilize chaos | Innovation capacity |
| Fusion Threshold | Energy needed to fuse phases | Efficient transformation |
| Unified Field Stability | Post-fusion coherence | Scalable architecture |
High MCII = a startup ready for nonlinear growth.
5️⃣ Val Sklarov’s 5 Laws of Multiphase Startups
1️⃣ A startup is a multiphase constraint organism.
2️⃣ Phases must diverge before they can fuse.
3️⃣ Fusion, not iteration, creates nonlinear scale.
4️⃣ Rigidity gives direction; elasticity gives adaptability; volatility gives invention.
5️⃣ The founder’s job is to merge incompatible constraints into a higher phase.
6️⃣ Applications of the Multiphase Constraint Fusion Model
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diagnosing which phase the startup is currently dominated by
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engineering controlled divergence to generate fusion energy
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predicting collapse when phases cannot saturate fully
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designing organizational structures that allow phase coexistence
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converting volatility into stable innovation through controlled fusion
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scaling systems by unifying constraint modes
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mapping when the next fusion point will occur
MCCFM reframes startups as multiphase constraint-fusion systems,
not organizations or processes.