Get Guided Through Building Your Startup

If you know a tonne, what we discuss changes gear. Our calls are orientated toward brainstorming and evaluating what the best option might be to your biggest challenge (There are rarely clear answers if the question is hard). With earlier-stage founders we will possibly discuss 5 topics a week, we will probably deep dive into one.

What you’re hiring is not someone that has answers to common challenges, but someone that can think critically and have informed discussions.

We might discuss how to deal with a tricky board member, or how to deal with a ratchet if you do a down round.

At your level, the fact I’m on your side and everything is confidential is actually a big deal to you.

If you are capable of learning, I can rapidly take you from zero to hero. Starting from a clean slate can be a positive if you just do what I tell you.

You will have a lot to learn, but I’ll give you blogs etc so you can learn what you need to when I want you to learn it.

No. I’m only 100% direct and honest when I know you can take it and understand what I’m saying is to help you.

If you’re delicate then I will know and I’ll manage you. After you get to know me, you’ll get more comfortable with my charms and wiley ways and look forward to our calls.

Typically, people with anxiety just get focused on not letting me down between calls, which is a positive thing, right?

You are precisely who will benefit the most from having someone to mentor you.

You’ll save a tonne of cash doing stupid things, you’ll achieve faster by being focused, and you’ll be a whole lot more confident on a daily basis.

Sort of. It’s complicated.

Yes, I’ve had investors block me back when I did venture building because “we are the ones who will help you“. Investors only say they are ‘value add’ because they want to get into deals. They don’t want to work (that’s why they are investors now). Your board should be leveraged to help you make big decisions, but it doesn’t always work that way.

We are going to talk weekly, so our relationship will become “us vs them”. I will know more about what’s happening than they will. I’ll teach you how to get more benefits out to them.

The dynamic is different because I have no equity stake so I’m on your side, not your ‘startup’s’ side (which investors own part of).

Understand?

Flark no. You’re my client.

Think of me as a lawyer, but more like ‘Better Call Saul’ who problem solves.

I’ll only talk to your investors (or board) because you want me to help you make something happen.

You absolutely do not even need to tell them you talk to me so they won’t know I exist. I do however recommend you say you ‘have a coach’ because they will take you more seriously as a founder as they know every founder needs help. It shows you are mature and are willing to get help

I focus on the CEO founder because they have ultimate control over making decisions (generally speaking) and I know strategic topics best.

If you’re the founder COO/CTO/CMO etc, that’s fine too (Just don’t ask me how to optimise sharding!).

So long as you know you are asking help from a ‘business dude’, sure. COO makes the most sense, but I can’t add enough details to a CTO or CMO on your daily tasks, right?

I understand startups really well. I typically know what you need to focus on. But it’s your call so you can discuss whatever you want so long as you’re getting value talking to me.

No. I typically help with the same topics, so what I haven’t memorised, isn’t really worth remembering within the scope I anticipate helping you with. Also, if I don’t have the answer, it’s because there isn’t a simple answer. Normally there are options to be discussed, and a decision needs to be taken based on the available information.

There are just not many problems I can’t work through logically.

Details on a lot of topics. I am amazing at seeing the trees through the woods. I’m mediocre at most things. I’ve set up customer care departments a few times, but does that mean I can rattle off how many calls per hour an agent can handle? No. I can’t remember all that crap.

I just know what to consider, or how to model it. Ultimately you need to give me the assumptions.

You will have my personal number. If I’m on a date and you message me with something urgent, I’ll break to focus on you. So use your common sense knowing that. We will do weekly calls, so any big topics are to be covered during the call.

You can message me whenever you are having a panic attack, are confused by what to do, have specific questions and want a specific answer.

Just apply the ‘no dick head rule’ and we will have no issues!

Messaging me every day is fine- 20x a day is stalking and frankly disrespectful of our relationship.

I only worth month to month.

Sure, it would be more profitable to tie you into a 6-month contract, but I actually care about helping you.

If I can’t keep you as a client whilst you need help, I don’t deserve to have you as a client.

It’s not really the goal of the structure, but you do you. Talking every week means I know what’s going on so we don’t need to recap. But also, the point is to genuinely support you so I’m happy if you are going to be happy and telling your friends!

Absolutely. We work month to month mainly for convenience but also so I can ensure I have the time to talk you as a client. I also reserve the right to stop working with you if I’m not enjoying it.

We start with me getting to know you and your challenges. The first few calls involve you getting a lot of homework to do and me reviewing it. I also need to get to know your business. Over time (once your outreach starts), we will agree on a set call structure consisting of 1/ updates, 2/ key blockers, and 3/ new things to do/learn.

You can cancel/move calls up to 24 hours before to respect my time so I can manage my time and other clients. Since I’m important to you, you should be making our time a priority, right? Cancelling 10 minutes before is bad behaviour which I will not tolerate. Equally, I will ensure I never cancel on you at the last notice.

I live in Lisbon, Portugal which is GMT (Same as London). I am available between midday and midnight. This is mainly to accommodate Americans since they’re 95% of my client base. If you’re in Australia, sorry mate, I’m not getting up super late or early! What’s the point of having fuck you money then?

Absolutely. What I will teach you is almost exactly the same regardless of where you live. Fundraising is the same. Now, I have a lot of experience in India, Australia, South East Asia etc which are ‘crappier’ markets, so yes, I can relate to you and will be able to give slightly different advice regarding investors.

If you’re in Nepal looking to raise in the USA, then that’s a quick talk, it’s not something we will talk about more than once.

Why do I even have to answer this offensive question!? In my personal life, I only judge people on their intelligence. Now, I will give advice (if you ask) based on your x status. I will teach women to benefit from it. I help ‘older’ people deal with imposter syndrome (I get asked a lot if investors will judge you). I will only discuss these things if you believe you have limiting beliefs and I need to help build your confidence and reprogram you.

Details. Sure. I can give you are a template to fill in. Whatever. I don’t like admin but you’ll get what you need

Nope. It’s just too much work legally for such a small amount (to me) and statistically, you’re going to fail anyway. Just being real. I charge cash upfront every month to keep the dynamic clean and no-nonsense.

I charge one month upfront. It’s for four weeks (4 calls). Messaging is for the month (And FFS, I’m too chill to count days). You pay before we do another call for the next week. I don’t want to chase you etc because it just sets up a negative dynamic and I want us focused on doing.