Startup Therapy

By Startups.comBusiness

Startup Therapy episodes

May 13, 2024 Will Investors Bail Me Out? Brutal Truth About Startup Investments
In this episode of the Startup Therapy Podcast, hosts Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter talk about sacrifices founders make — accumulating debt and foregone salaries, with the expectation of being reimbursed. They discuss how founders commonly believe that future investments will pay back their personal financial commitments. They emphasize that the only real chances of getting 'paid back' are through a company sale or profit distributions. They put a light on the tough lessons learned through their own experiences and those of others in the startup world.
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Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapy
Website
https://www.startups.com/begin
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/
Join our Network of Top Founders
Wil Schroter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/
Ryan Rutan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/
32 min
May 06, 2024 Is the problem the Player or the Coach? Team Building Hacks
In this episode of the Startup Therapy Podcast, hosts Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter delve into evaluating startup team and management performance. Find out the importance of constant evaluation, highlighting the significance of both recognizing the need for improvement and taking actionable steps towards building a higher quality team.
Sign up for the Startups Newsletter
https://www.startups.com/newsletter
Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapy
Website
https://www.startups.com/begin
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/
Join our Network of Top Founders
Wil Schroter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/
Ryan Rutan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/
36 min
April 29, 2024 Do people really want me to succeed? Founders vs World
In this episode of the Startup Therapy Podcast, hosts Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter explore the harsh reality of seeking support as a founder. Surprising, limited number of people who genuinely want to see a founder succeed. You will hear about receiving superficial praise, the impact of social media on perception, and the psychological reasons behind others' reactions to success — the envy even among those closest to the founder.
Don't walk this narrow road alone, get support from your peers in founder groups at: https://www.startups.com/begin
Sign up for the Startups Newsletter
https://www.startups.com/newsletter
Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapy
Website
https://www.startups.com/begin
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/
Join our Network of Top Founders
Wil Schroter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/
Ryan Rutan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/
38 min
April 22, 2024 You only THINK you work HARD — The Hard Work Illusion
In this episode of the Startup Therapy podcast, hosts Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter talk about the common misconception around 'working hard' within startups. They question the measurement of hard work, arguing that effort does not necessarily equate to progress or beneficial outcomes. The need for clear benchmarks within organizations to truly reward and recognize valuable contributions.
Additionally, they challenge the notion of what constitutes as 'hard work' and the danger of equating all effort with success, proposing a more nuanced understanding that could lead to more effective and rewarding startup cultures.
Sign up for the Startups Newsletter
https://www.startups.com/newsletter
Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapy
Website
https://www.startups.com/begin
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/
Join our Network of Top Founders
Wil Schroter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/
Ryan Rutan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/
What to Listen For
00:17 The Misconception of Hard Work in Startup Culture
02:49 Real Value of Hard Work in Startups
04:29 The Effort vs. Progress Dilemma
06:40 Effort, Progress, and Reward
10:22 Learning from Effort and Reward
15:46 The Misconception of Effort vs. Outcome
17:36 Setting Expectations Across Management Levels
19:30 The Importance of Measurable Outcomes
28:31 Setting the Right Expectations and Rewards
32 min
April 15, 2024 SMALL is the New Big - Embracing Efficiency in the Age of AI
In this episode of the Startup Therapy Podcast, hosts Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter discuss the evolution of startups from the emphasis on scaling and headcount to prioritizing efficiency and output, largely due to advancements in AI. The challenges of the past, such as massive payrolls, investor dependency, and expensive infrastructures highlighting the opportunities AI technologies present for startups.
The conversation covers the changing landscape where small operations can achieve significant impact without the traditional costs, through examples like remote work, AI-driven efficiencies, and low-cost internet companies. They advocate for a shift in mindset where success isn't measured by headcount or office size, but by the value created with minimal resources.
Sign up for the Startups Newsletter
https://www.startups.com/newsletter
Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapy
Website
https://www.startups.com/begin
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/
Join our Network of Top Founders
Wil Schroter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/
Ryan Rutan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/
What to Listen For
00:00 The Evolution of Startups: From Headcount to Efficiency
01:29 AI and the Future of Work: A New Paradigm
05:14 The Unprecedented Scale and Speed of AI Adoption
07:14 AI's Impact on Staffing and Efficiency
09:39 The Ethical Debate: AI and Job Creation vs. Job Displacement
13:17 AI's Role in Democratizing Entrepreneurship
16:00 Historical Shifts in Startup Dynamics: From Match.com to AI
18:41 The Evolution of Startup Funding
19:33 The Dramatic Shift in Startup Economics
20:42 The Rise of Bootstrapping and Ownership Retention
21:24 Case Study: Plenty of Fish's Revolutionary Approach
24:32 The Future of Startup Costs and Ownership
31:55 Embracing Efficiency and Impact in Startups
33:48 A New Era of Startup Valuation and Efficiency
39 min
March 18, 2024This is BOOTSTRAPPED - 3 Strategies to Build Your Startup Without Funding
In this episode of the startup therapy podcast, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter delve into bootstrapping a startup. They address common misconceptions about funding, emphasizing the importance of making do with what you have and prioritizing what's truly necessary for business growth. The conversation covers practical ways to manage expenses without external funding, including strategies for hiring, marketing, and managing operational costs through discipline and creative solutions.

The hosts share personal experience on how to navigate the challenges of bootstrapping, highlighting the importance of being resourceful, making money to spend money, and avoiding typical startup traps.

Sign up for the Startups Newsletter
https://www.startups.com/newsletter
Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://groups.startups.com/
Join our Network of Top Founders
Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan

00:00 Welcome to Startup Therapy
00:08 The Realities of Bootstrapping
01:35 Navigating the Bootstrapping Journey
04:50 Mastering the Art of Compensation in Bootstrapping
22:00 Innovative Marketing on a Shoestring Budget
26:50 Leveraging Vendor Terms and Historical Examples
28:18 The Power of Deferred Payments in Business Growth
33:20 Strategic Use of Credit Cards for Business Expenses
42:20 The Path to Efficient Startup Growth
54 min
March 11, 2024The Spectrum of Investor Advice
In this episode of the Startup Therapy Podcast, Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter discuss the complexities of handling feedback from investors, emphasizing the critical need for founders to properly qualify and assess the advice they receive. They highlight the dangers of acting on feedback without considering its relevance, potential bias, and the investor's qualifications. The discussion covers the spectrum of investor types, from well-meaning but inexperienced individuals to top-tier venture capitalists, and the importance of understanding the context and motivation behind their advice.

You will find how to advocate for a balanced approach that involves questioning, verifying, and thoughtfully considering advice before taking action.

Sign up for the Startups Newsletter
https://www.startups.com/newsletter
Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://groups.startups.com/
Join our Network of Top Founders
Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan
44 min
March 04, 2024$10K Per Month isn't Just Revenue. It's Life Support
In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talks about why earning atleast $10,000 per month is one of the most important milestones in your startup career. They stress the need to do whatever it takes to keep your business alive. Hitting this milestone gives you room to handle setbacks and shows that you're making real progress. Tune in for tips on managing startup finances and staying resilient in the ever-changing business world.

Sign up for the Startups Newsletter
https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/begin
Join our Network of Top Founders
Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan

What to Listen For
00:00 Intro
01:08 The most important milestones in your business
06:20 Everybody’s number is different
10:27 The existential costs of both a business and its founders
12:28 Do whatever it takes to reach the basic milestone
16:12 Your startups should survive restarts
19:50 The importance of having a backstop
24:45 Maybe it’s not your year
26:05 Finding value in small milestones
32 min
February 26, 2024Why Do VCs Keep Giving "failed" Founders Money?
In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talks about why investors choose to invest on “failed” founders. They debunk the myth that failure marks the end of a founder's journey and shows why giving people a second chance is the best investment. Tune in as they explore the investor mindset, focusing on why they prefer to invest in founders who have shown they can bounce back and learn from failure, ultimately changing how we think about startup success.

Sign up for the Startups Newsletter
https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/begin
Join our Network of Top Founders
Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan

What to Listen For
00:00 Intro
01:03 Why giving people a second chance is the best investment
02:29 Redefining failure
04:59 “One failure doesn’t make the person a failure…”
09:30 If you’re making mistakes, you’re also learning
10:05 Spotlight on failure
13:59 The value of experience
16:49 Before the failure, there was a success
20:33 Trust and familiarity in investor-founder relationships
23:21 Challenge of investor decision-making
27:14 Focusing on building relationships
30:42 Investing in the founder’s mindset rather than ideas
34 min
February 19, 2024If It Makes Money, It Makes Sense
In today's Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talks about the importance of generating revenue and being willing to do whatever it takes to move a startup forward. They discuss why it's crucial for entrepreneurs to prioritize generating income and share insights on how to overcome challenges in achieving financial sustainability.

Sign up for the Startups Newsletter
https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:
Startup Therapy Podcast
https://www.startups.com/begin
Join our Network of Top Founders
Check in with us on LinkedIn | Wil Schroter | Ryan Rutan

What to Listen For
00:00 Intro
00:18 Difference between good and bad revenue
01:34 Unexpected opportunities
05:22 Prioritizing cash flow in the startup journey
08:43 The importance of runway
11:43 Focusing on startup survival
13:31 Reality of startup timelines
15:00 Why surviving matters more than speed
17:03 Overcoming self-imposed barriers
18:53 The value of paid product discovery
22:00 Learning through services
24:18 Building MVPs that truly deliver value
26:10 How side gigs can propel your startup forward
30:36 Sacrifice and success
35:13 Willingness x Hard Work = Cash
39 min

About Startup Therapy

From the publisher's feed

The "No BS" version of how startups are really built, taught by actual startup Founders who have lived through all of it. Hosts Wil Schroter and Ryan Rutan talk candidly about the intense struggles…