How to negotiate a non-dilutive grant while keeping your startup roadmap intact

How to build a pricing experiment that proves customers will pay more for your SaaS feature

I remember the first time I suspected a subset of our users would pay more for a premium feature: the support tickets kept coming, product tours showed repeated engagement, and a few customers even asked, “How can we get this faster?” That curiosity is the seed of every strong pricing experiment. If you want to prove customers will pay more for a SaaS feature, you need a methodical, low-risk...

What to include in a founder-friendly vesting schedule to avoid future legal fights

I remember the early days of my first startup — long coffee-fueled conversations about product-market fit, an endless to-do list, and the equally important conversation about equity. We all assumed we'd be together forever, but experience taught me that relationships, priorities and timelines change. A well-crafted, founder-friendly vesting schedule is one of the most powerful tools to protect...

How to turn a single pilot customer into a scalable case study that attracts VCs

Running a pilot with a single customer can feel like a high-stakes interview: one chance to prove your product's value, attract attention, and convince investors that your idea scales. I've led and advised multiple early-stage teams through this exact process, and I’ve learned that the difference between a warm anecdote and a VC-ready case study is how deliberately you design, measure, and tell...

When I first had an idea that felt like it could change the world—or at least my corner of it—I wanted to jump straight into building. I sketched features, drafted wireframes and even paid for a domain. Very quickly I learned that enthusiasm without validation is expensive enthusiasm. Over the years I've developed a compact toolkit for validating startup ideas quickly and cheaply, and I use...

how to negotiate a performance-based term sheet with angel investors without losing control

I’ve negotiated my fair share of term sheets with angel investors, and one lesson keeps surfacing: performance-based terms can be powerful tools for aligning incentives, but they can also be Trojan horses for losing control if you’re not careful. Below I share practical, hands-on guidance on how to accept performance-based terms from angels while retaining strategic control of your...

what 5 SaaS unit economics tell founders when to choose growth over profitability

I often get asked by founders whether they should push for aggressive growth or tighten the belt to protect profitability. The short answer is: it depends. What truly changes the decision are a handful of unit economics that reveal the health and scalability of a SaaS business. Below I walk through five metrics I watch closely and explain what each one tells me about whether to prioritize growth...

I often get asked the same question by aspiring founders: How do I know if my idea is worth pursuing? It’s a deceptively simple question, and I've learned over the years that the answer isn't a single checklist item — it's a process that blends curiosity, disciplined testing, and honest feedback. In this piece I want to walk you through how I validate ideas, avoid wasted effort, and move from...

how to use Stripe Treasury to automate startup cash flow and cut banking fees

I remember the first time I realized banking overhead was quietly eating our runway. As a founder, every pound saved on fees and every hour reclaimed from manual reconciliation felt like oxygen for growth. That’s why when I started experimenting with Stripe Treasury for our startup’s cash operations, I was excited — and cautious. In this article I’ll walk you through how I used Stripe...

I’ve led teams across time zones, through rapid growth and sudden pivots, and one truth keeps resurfacing: management is less about rigid processes and more about human connection. Remote and hybrid work models have amplified this truth. Over the years, I’ve refined a set of practical strategies that help teams stay productive, aligned, and motivated no matter where they sit. Below I share...

how to set up a compliant crypto payroll for remote teams without tax surprises

I remember the first time a team member asked to be paid in crypto. My initial excitement about offering cutting-edge compensation quickly gave way to a slew of questions: how do we stay compliant across jurisdictions, who handles tax withholding, how do we avoid surprises for employees come tax season? If you’re managing a remote team and considering crypto payroll, you’re not alone — and...