From data to dollars: build a one-page growth dashboard that proves product-market fit

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

Securing non-dilutive grant funding can feel like finding a golden ticket for your startup: it doesn't take equity, it can validate your technology, and it gives you runway to hit meaningful milestones. I've negotiated a handful of these grants myself, and I’ve seen teams both thrive and stumble when grant terms collide with their product roadmap. Here’s a practical, first-person guide on how...

When to use revenue-based financing instead of VC and how to structure the deal

I remember the first time a VC pitch felt like the only way forward. We had rapid top-line growth, aspirations to scale internationally, and a roadmap that looked great on a slide. But as we dug deeper into the options, revenue-based financing (RBF) began to look like a smarter, more flexible path for that stage of the business. Over the years I’ve helped founders weigh these choices, and I...

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I often get asked how entrepreneurs and busy professionals — people who travel, juggle meetings, and prize efficiency — can still enjoy sports that give them both a physical outlet and networking opportunities. For me, padel has become that perfect blend, and one question comes up more than any other: where do I find the right padel racket uk that matches my level, playing style, and budget?...

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...