Welcome to The Startup Roadmap

Building a startup is a series of high-stakes decisions and transitions. This isn't a collection of random advice; it’s a structured playbook designed to help you navigate them. Whether you're navigating a challenging round of funding, fixing your gross margins, or setting up an exit, these guides deliver the advice you need to take charge of your startup's destiny.

Funding

• Valuation Makes The Headlines – Liquidation Preferences Allocate The Cash
• Down Rounds and Recaps Part 1 — What, Why, When
• Down Rounds and Recaps Part 2 – Managing Your Key Stakeholders
• Down Rounds and Recaps Part 3 – A Deep Dive into Down Rounds
• Down Rounds and Recaps Part 4 – Navigating the Startup Recap
• Don't Trade Valuation For Structure
• Choose Your Venture Investors Wisely
• How To Steer Your Startup Through The VC Shakeout
• Are You Growing Fast Enough?
• Bridge Rounds Rarely Save Startups
• Getting from Series A to Series B is a Tall Task
• The Rapid Rise of Zombie VCs
• The Series A Squeeze: This is What a Tighter Fundraise Environment Looks Like
• Time Is Killing Venture Returns
• What's Your Ownership Stake Really Worth
• Where Did All the Venture Capital Go
• Why Longer Fundraising Cycles Are Good for Startups

Growth

• Embrace the MVP and Stop Trying To Boil The Ocean
• Headcount Is Not a Vanity Metric
• Lighten Up, Speed Up
• The Pivot – 2 Traps You Must Avoid

Exit Strategy

• Private Equity Won't Save Your SaaS Startup
• The Exit Trap - Why Pausing Your Bridge Round Leads to a Fire Sale
• You Are Ignoring 40% of Your Startup's Acquirers

Profitability

• It's The 60 Percent In The Middle That Will Kill Your Company

Leadership

• Avoid the Selective Board Disclosure Trap
• Don’t Be The Hound – Pick Up Your Head
• Don't Believe The Hype
• Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt Can Be Founder Superpowers
• Go Big or Go Home - Bad Advice Or The Worst Advice
• If All We Have Is Opinions, Let's Go With Mine
• Send It! Bad Advice In Mountain Biking and Startups
• Spaghetti Against the Wall Leaves a Terrible Mess
• The Reality Distortion Field Has Only One Weakness
• Your Board Meeting Isn’t Just an Update—It’s Your Moment to Lead