Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt Can Be Founder Superpowers

Fear. Uncertainty. Doubt. As a founder, it’s easy to believe these feelings are weaknesses. They lay the foundation of imposter syndrome. But when properly channeled, fear, uncertainty, and doubt are founder superpowers. They help you find the path to profitable, scalable growth. They allow you to stay in control

Embrace the MVP and Stop Trying To Boil The Ocean

You’re trying to boil the ocean. You had a simple idea for a startup. One problem to solve. A solution to a common pain point that would attract customers and keep them coming back. You were targeting a small market at first. But that’s ok. You had a

Are You Growing Fast Enough?

2023 is in the books. Your 2024 budget is sitting in front of you. The start of a new year is the perfect time to reassess whether your startup is still on the venture path. Here is a simple question: Is your revenue growth strong enough to attract a round

Don't Believe The Hype

The Scooter company Bird filed for bankruptcy yesterday. Another high-flying unicorn falls to earth. This is an important reminder that you can’t believe the hype in the startup press. Let me show you what I mean. Take a look at the photo above. Wait! Don’t scroll down to

Down Rounds and Recaps Part 4 – Navigating the Startup Recap

Welcome to part four of our series on down rounds and recaps: * Part 1: A Guide to Down Rounds and Recaps * Part 2: Managing Your Key Stakeholders * Part 3: A Deep Dive Into Down Rounds * Part 4: Navigating the Startup Recap <- You are here Let’s get on

Down Rounds and Recaps Part 3 – A Deep Dive into Down Rounds

Welcome to part three of our series on down rounds and recaps: * Part 1: A Guide to Down Rounds and Recaps * Part 2: Managing Your Key Stakeholders * Part 3: A Deep Dive Into Down Rounds <- You are here * Part 4: Navigating the Startup Recap Let’s get into

Down Rounds and Recaps Part 2 – Managing Your Key Stakeholders

Welcome to part two of our series on down rounds and recaps: * Part 1: A Guide to Down Rounds and Recaps * Part 2: Managing Your Key Stakeholders <- You are here * Part 3: A Deep Dive Into Down Rounds * Part 4: Navigating the Startup Recap Let’s get into

Down Rounds and Recaps Part 1 — What, Why, When

Welcome to part one of our series on down rounds and recaps: * Part 1: A Guide to Down Rounds and Recaps <- You are here * Part 2: Managing Your Key Stakeholders * Part 3: A Deep Dive Into Down Rounds * Part 4: Navigating the Startup Recap Let’s get into

Staying True to Your Values: Learning from Substack's Crowdfunding Decision

Exploring the consequences of prioritizing short-term gains over long-term trust and transparency in the startup world, as illustrated by Substack’s recent fundraising approach. Reading time: 4 minutes In a startup’s journey, founders face many challenges and difficult decisions. While it’s easy to maintain integrity and transparency when

From DTC to AI: Lessons in Navigating Business Model Shifts

Reading time: 3 minutes What business are you in? What’s the business model? What is the real TAM, and can you efficiently scale to reach it? We are in a period of accelerating change and innovation. The explosion of AI over the past six months is just the start.

The Ripple Effects of SVB's Failure: Navigating the New Normal for Startup Funding

The recent failure of Silicon Valley Bank will lead to fewer lending options and more onerous terms for startups. Here’s what you should do. Reading time: 5 minutes In my last post, I covered the risk of a mass extinction event for startups in the next 12 months because

Mass Extinction Event for Startups? Are You Default Investable or Default Alive?

For many startups, the next 12 months will be challenging. Default Investable or Default Alive. Know which path you are on. A few weeks ago, Tom Loverro of the venture fund IVP tweeted that we are on the verge of a mass extinction event for startups. Carta shared data showing