Startups.com

Starting a business is tough—we’ve been there. That’s why Startups.com is built to provide everything founders need to thrive: from expert mentorship and funding guidance to exclusive perks and a community that’s got your back. You don’t have to go it alone. With Startups.com, you’ll have the tools and support to take your business further. Find out how we can help you unlock your startup’s full potential.

Raising capital might seem like the solution to all your startup challenges, but here’s the truth: as a founder, you’re the last to get paid. Marketing, development, and rent—all come first. Your negotiating power? Zero. This is your company, and walking away isn’t an option. Are you ready to face this reality? ??? Dive into the #StartupTherapy Podcast with Wil Schroter and Ryan Rutan for more hard-hitting truths about the founder's journey. #startuplife #startupfunding #founderjourney #entrepreneurmindset

?? Struggling to Get Investor Attention with Your Pitch Deck? You’re not alone. With thousands of pitch decks circulating, most end up lost in the shuffle. But that doesn’t have to be the case for your startup. ?? This Thursday, November 21st, at 1 PM US ET, join Wil Schroter, Founder & CEO of Startups.com, for a live, no-fluff session on creating pitch decks that grab investor attention and open doors. ?? Here’s What You’ll Learn: ? Proven strategies that make top-performing decks stand out. ? How startups like Bumble, Instacart, and Laird Superfood nailed their funding with killer decks. ? Exclusive perks: A live Q&A, hands-on resources, and personalized feedback opportunities. This isn’t just another webinar—it’s your chance to transform your deck into a funding magnet and take your startup to the next level. ?? Seats are limited, so secure your spot now! https://lnkd.in/dt3zZmjz #startuplife?#pitchdecktips?#founderjourney?#startupfunding?#entrepreneurmindset?#businessgrowth?#investorpitch?#leadershiplessons?#startupsuccess?#startuptherapy

If your pitch deck isn’t opening doors to investors or meetings like you hoped, you’re not alone. With thousands of decks out there, most get lost in the shuffle. But that doesn’t have to be your story. This?Thursday, November 21st, at 1 PM US ET, join Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter, Founder & CEO of?Startups.com, for a?live, no-fluff session?on what truly makes a pitch deck unmissable to investors. Here’s what’s in store: ?? Proven Strategies:?Wil will break down what separates top-performing decks from the rest. ??? Real Success Stories:?Learn how startups like Bumble, Instacart, and Laird Superfood crushed it with their decks. ??? Bonus Perks:?I’ll be running a live Q&A, offering hands-on access to help you finalize your deck, and even sharing (FREE!) resources AND opportunities for personalized feedback after the event. This isn’t just another webinar—it’s your opportunity to turn your deck into a funding magnet. Seats are limited for this?free?session, so don’t miss out. Take a powerful step toward securing the funding your startup deserves. We can’t wait to see you there!

Who’s working for whom? As founders, we start with a vision: the startup works for us, helping us achieve our goals. But over time, the balance shifts. Investors, employees, and customers take priority, and suddenly, the startup is in control. ?? How founders lose control of their startups ?? Why the balance shifts over time ?? Practical steps to regain control If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I running this company, or is it running me?” this episode is for you.

There’s this belief that every time we start a new venture, it gets easier. More experience = smoother sailing, right? Not exactly. Some lessons make us better founders, but experience doesn’t guarantee success. Having seen the journeys of hundreds of startups—our own and others—we know this: every story is unique, and every path has its challenges. What’s one thing you thought would get easier but didn’t? Let’s share stories and learn together.

Efficacy Over Efficiency: The Key to Early Startup Success ?? In the early days of a startup, what matters isn’t scalability; it’s the efficacy of each connection with your customer. As much as I’d love to streamline everything right out of the gate, the reality is that those first actions need to be hands-on and laser-focused on understanding what the customer truly values. Forget about automating everything. Instead, prioritize learning fast and engaging deeply. Take Airbnb as an example: In their early days, the founders were personally reaching out to hosts, meeting with them, and even going to their apartments to take high-quality photos themselves. The goal? To make sure hosts could effectively showcase their spaces and improve the experience for potential guests. Was this scalable? No. But it was effective. It allowed Airbnb’s team to build a foundation of trust with early users and gain a real understanding of what would make the platform successful. Stripe took a similar approach. Instead of setting up an automated onboarding process, the founders manually signed up their first customers. They even installed Stripe on customers’ websites themselves! This process gave Stripe founders a direct line to customer feedback, insights that helped them refine their product in ways no survey or analysis could. Again, it wasn’t efficient, but it was effective—and it laid the groundwork for Stripe’s explosive growth. So why prioritize efficacy over efficiency? In the early stage, it’s about gathering insights and establishing proof points, not about running a seamless machine. Those early, unscalable efforts bring me closer to what my customers need, showing me where to focus my energy. At this stage, scaling can wait—building the right solution can’t. Efficiency has its time, but in the beginning, my superpower is flexibility and learning through direct action. Are you prioritizing efficacy over efficiency in your startup? #StartupGrowth #CustomerFocus #EfficacyOverEfficiency

As founders, we often find ourselves deeply attached to ideas or ways of doing things. But sometimes, progress means letting go and rethinking. Have you ever had to let go of something that felt core to your startup, only to realize it was the best move?

Have you ever felt like you're no longer working?on?your company, but rather?for?it? As #founders, we start with visions of freedom and #growth, but sometimes find ourselves bound by the very #business we created. It’s a critical reminder to design a business that serves us and aligns with our goals, not the other way around.

Every #entrepreneur has a unique story. What's yours? Tell us—what drove you to start your business? Was it the desire to make an impact, a passion for solving a problem, the pursuit of financial independence, or personal growth? ?? Let's hear what fuels you! ??