In this episode, Kristina Subbotina sits down with Kate McAndrew, founder of Baukunst, to talk about what really separates great founders from the rest. From the hiring decisions that make or break a startup, to what VCs actually think about founder salaries—this one doesn't hold back.

What you'll learn:

→ How your first hires reveal everything about you as a founder

→ Why the best investors see potential before the world catches on

→ What's a reasonable founder salary at pre-seed and seed? ($120K–$225K range breakdown)

→ The traits that make Kate write a check when no one else will.

About Kate McAndrew:

Kate is the founder of Baukunst, a pre-seed fund that backs exceptional founders at the earliest stage. She's invested in 100+ companies and is known for betting on people before anyone else sees what she sees.

Follow Kristina:

https://lexsy.ai

Instagram: @kristinasubbotinaesq

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinasubbotinaesq/

Follow Kate:

Instagram: @kate__mcandrew

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateprestonmcandrew/

#startupstory #founders #venturecapital #preseed #hiring #foundersalary #podcast #lexsy