Founder's Framework

Building an AI assistant sounds like the obvious next move in today’s market—but most tools miss the mark. In this episode of the Founder’s Framework podcast, Mark Abbott talks with Ninety’s Head of AI Products, TJ Kneale, about what it really took to build Maz, Ninety’s AI assistant designed to help teams run better.

You’ll learn:
→ The internal problem that sparked the idea for Maz
→ Why Ninety chose to build a purpose-built AI tool from scratch
→ What founders should consider before integrating AI into their product

This episode is full of lessons for founders building AI tools—or thinking about it.

Connect:
→ Follow Mark on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/MarkAbbott
→ Follow TJ on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/tjkneale

→ Try Maz inside Ninety: https://www.ninety.io
→ Subscribe for more conversations on building great companies.

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

It’s one thing to start a business. It’s another to intentionally design a company that can grow and evolve beyond your daily effort.

In this episode, Ninety Founder & CEO Mark Abbott sits down with Michael E. Gerber, author of The E-Myth, to explore what it really means to build a company. They break down the trap of doing the work, the power of the Dreaming Room, and the eight personas every entrepreneur must grow through to build something that lasts.

You’ll learn:
→ Why the founder’s role is to design the business, not just do the work
→ How the 8 personas of entrepreneurship shape your evolution
→ Why clarity of vision matters more than systems alone

Resources:
→ Learn more about the Dreaming Room
→ Read The E-Myth Revisited
→ Connect with Michael on LinkedIn
→ Subscribe to the Founder’s Framework Newsletter
→ Try Ninety free for 30 days

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

Building a mobile app sounds like a natural step for product-led startups, but it’s not always the right move. In this episode of the Founder’s Framework podcast, Mark Abbott talks with Ninety’s Head of Product, Kyle Phillips, about what it really takes to build and maintain a mobile app.

You’ll learn:

• Why timing matters more than ambition when launching a mobile experience
• The surprising tradeoffs startups face between web and native apps
• Lessons learned from building Ninety’s own iOS and Android apps

This candid conversation is packed with insights for any founder or product leader thinking about investing in mobile.

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

In this episode of the Founder’s Framework podcast, Mark Abbott explores the tension between intensity and consistency in high-growth companies. Founders are often wired to push hard, but without consistency, that intensity becomes unsustainable and even damaging. Mark shares insights on how founders can build systems that support sustained growth, prevent burnout, and maintain alignment with their teams.

Whether you're in the middle of a growth surge or trying to create more stability, this conversation will help you reflect on how to pace your leadership and guide your team more effectively.

Resources:
→ Try Ninety free for 30 days: https://bit.ly/TryNinety
→ Subscribe to the Founder’s Framework newsletter: https://bit.ly/FoundersFrameworkNewsletter

Connect:
→ Follow Mark on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/MarkAbbott
→ Follow Cole on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ColeAbbott

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

Join us on the Founder’s Framework podcast as we dive deep with Mark Abbott, author of “Work 9.0: The Evolution of Work”, exploring the profound shifts shaping our workplaces—and our world. We stand at the intersection of two eras: leaving behind the Age of Information (Work 7.0) and embracing the Age of Understanding (Work 8.0), with our sights set on the transformative horizon of Self-Actualization (Work 9.0).

In this episode, Mark unpacks what this transition means for visionary leaders seeking to build enduring, purpose-driven organizations that thrive amidst complexity and uncertainty. We’ll explore how trust, culture, and clarity can guide founders through this critical moment, positioning their companies not only to survive but to significantly matter.

This is more than a conversation; it’s an urgent call to action for enlightened leaders ready to shape the future of Work—one defined by deep human fulfillment, meaningful contribution, and lasting impact.

What you’ll learn:
→ What Work 9.0 is and why it matters
→ How to maintain culture as your company scales
→ Why clarity, trust, and shared systems are the foundation of great work

Resources:
→ Order the Work 9.0 book: Work 9.0: The Evolution of Work 
→ Try Ninety free for 30 days: The Leading Cloud-Based Business Operating System | Ninety
→ Subscribe to the Founder’s Framework newsletter: Founder's Framework | Your Key to Building an Unstoppable Company 

Connect:
→ Follow Mark on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/MarkAbbott
→ Follow Cole on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ColeAbbott

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

When a recession hits, will your company break, survive, or get stronger?

In this episode of the Founder’s Framework podcast, Ninety Founder & CEO Mark Abbott and Brand Strategist Cole Abbott unpack how the most resilient companies prepare for economic uncertainty. From zero-based budgeting and leadership alignment to antifragile culture and high-trust stakeholder relationships, this is your blueprint for weathering any storm and coming out stronger.

You’ll learn:
→ How to assess if your company is truly built to withstand a downturn
→ Why antifragility—not just resilience—should be your goal
→ How to use Forever Agreements to stay aligned when pressure hits

Resources:
→ Try Ninety free for 30 days: https://bit.ly/TryNinety
→ Subscribe to the Founder’s Framework Newsletter: https://bit.ly/FoundersFrameworkNewsletter

Connect:
→ Follow Mark on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/MarkAbbott
→ Follow Cole on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ColeAbbott
→ Follow Ninety on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/NinetyLinkedIn

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

One team uses Asana. Another’s on Monday. A new hire swears by ClickUp.
Everyone’s “getting work done,” but no one’s aligned.

This is what we call OS Anarchy — when every department runs its own tools and processes, creating friction, fragmentation, and a whole lot of rework.

In this episode of the Founder’s Framework podcast, Ninety Founder & CEO Mark Abbott and Brand Strategist Cole Abbott dig into what happens when you don’t have a Unifying Operating System. It’s a conversation about systems, scaling, and the subtle ways misalignment slows you down.

Whether you're leading a team of 10 or 1,000, the principles here can help you simplify, clarify, and unify as you grow.

What you’ll learn:
→ Why tool sprawl becomes a silent bottleneck in growing companies
→ How siloed systems lead to confusion, duplication, and cultural drift
→ What it means to build a Unifying Operating System and where to start

Resources:
→ Download the Vision Builders Workbook
→ Subscribe to the Founder’s Framework newsletter
→ Try Ninety free for 30 days: The Leading Cloud-Based Business Operating System | Ninety 

Connect:
→ Follow Mark on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/MarkAbbott
→ Follow Cole on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ColeAbbott
→ Follow Ninety on LinkedIn for more insights and updates: https://bit.ly/NinetyLinkedIn

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

Raising money is one thing. Choosing investors who truly align with your company’s values, strategy, and long-term vision is another.

In this episode, Ninety Founder & CEO Mark Abbott and Brand Strategist Cole Abbott explore why investor relationships often outlast everything else and what founders need to consider before signing a term sheet. From alignment on Forever Agreements to spotting red flags, this is a conversation about choosing the right partners for the journey ahead.

What you’ll learn:

→ Why investor relationships often last longer than your founding team
→ How to assess compatibility across character, competency, and connection
→ The role of Forever Agreements in choosing the right investors

Resources:

→ Lean more about Forever Agreements
→ Explore the Vision Builders Workbook
→ Subscribe to the Founder's Framework Newsletter
→ Try Ninety free for 30 days

Connect:

→ Follow Mark on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/MarkAbbott
→ Follow Cole on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ColeAbbott

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

You can’t scale what you can’t define, and few things test that truth more than Brand Drift.

In this episode, Ninety Founder & CEO Mark Abbott and Brand Strategist Cole Abbott unpack one of the most common challenges growing companies face: the slow, often invisible slide into brand misalignment. Vision starts clear. Messaging feels right. But as the team expands, the offering matures, and the world shifts, you realize the story you're telling no longer matches the company you're building.

So what do you do? Scrap it all? Start over?

Not quite. This episode is about how founders can recognize brand drift, re-anchor the business without abandoning its essence, and realign their messaging with the Work that truly matters.

What you’ll learn:
→ Why Brand Drift is a natural part of company growth and a signal, not a failure
→ What changes and what doesn’t as your Vision evolves
→ Why consistent messaging starts with internal alignment, not just marketing
→ The founder’s role as the Keeper of the Vision, especially in high-growth seasons

Resources:
→ Explore the Vision Builders Workbook: Vision Builders Workbook 
→ Subscribe to the Founder’s Framework Newsletter: Founder’s Framework | Newsletter
→ Try Ninety free for 30 days: The Leading Cloud-Based Business Operating System | Ninety

Stay Connected:
→ Follow Mark Abbott on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/MarkAbbott
→ Follow Cole Abbott on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ColeAbbott

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

In a world of constant change, great companies stay grounded by knowing what should never change.

In this episode, Ninety Founder & CEO Mark Abbott and Brand Strategist Cole Abbott dive into the concept of Forever Agreements—the core commitments that define who you are as a company and act as the throughline across every stage of growth. These aren’t strategies or tactics. These are the foundational agreements that shape your culture, your identity, and your future.

What you’ll learn:

• What Forever Agreements are and how they differ from everything else
• The four foundational commitments: Compelling Why, Core Values, Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), and Compelling Value Proposition
• Why making these agreements explicit helps your company scale without losing its identity

Resources:

→ Read more on Forever Agreements: 6 Ingredients Founders Use to Build Damn Good, If Not Great, Companies 
→ Explore Compelling Why: 7 Reasons Founders Need a Compelling Why
→ Learn about Core Values: Grow or Die #6: Culture Matters 
→ Subscribe to the Founder's Framework Newsletter: https://bit.ly/FoundersFrameworkNewsl...
→ Get the Founder Mode Workbook: https://bit.ly/FounderModeWorkbook

Connect:

→ Follow Mark on LinkedIn
→ Follow Cole on LinkedIn

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!