Startup Therapy Startups.com
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- Business
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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 Founders face both personally and professionally as they try to turn their idea into something that will change the world.
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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-therapyWebsitehttps://www.startups.com/beginLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/
Join our Network of Top Founders Wil Schroterhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/Ryan Rutanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/ -
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 Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter
Resources:Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapyWebsitehttps://www.startups.com/beginLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/
Join our Network of Top Founders Wil Schroterhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/Ryan Rutanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/ -
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 Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter
Resources:Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapyWebsitehttps://www.startups.com/beginLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/
Join our Network of Top Founders Wil Schroterhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/Ryan Rutanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/ -
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 Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter
Resources:Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapyWebsitehttps://www.startups.com/beginLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/
Join our Network of Top Founders Wil Schroterhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/Ryan Rutanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/
What to Listen For00:17 The Misconception of Hard Work in Startup Culture02:49 Real Value of Hard Work in Startups04:29 The Effort vs. Progress Dilemma 06:40 Effort, Progress, and Reward10:22 Learning from Effort and Reward15:46 The Misconception of Effort vs. Outcome17:36 Setting Expectations Across Management Levels19:30 The Importance of Measurable Outcomes28:31 Setting the Right Expectations and Rewards -
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 Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletter
Resources:Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapyWebsitehttps://www.startups.com/beginLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/
Join our Network of Top Founders Wil Schroterhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/Ryan Rutanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/
What to Listen For00:00 The Evolution of Startups: From Headcount to Efficiency01:29 AI and the Future of Work: A New Paradigm05:14 The Unprecedented Scale and Speed of AI Adoption07:14 AI's Impact on Staffing and Efficiency09:39 The Ethical Debate: AI and Job Creation vs. Job Displacement13:17 AI's Role in Democratizing Entrepreneurship16:00 Historical Shifts in Startup Dynamics: From Match.com to AI18:41 The Evolution of Startup Funding19:33 The Dramatic Shift in Startup Economics20:42 The Rise of Bootstrapping and Ownership Retention21:24 Case Study: Plenty of Fish's Revolutionary Approach24:32 The Future of Startup Costs and Ownership31:55 Embracing Efficiency and Impact in Startups33:48 A New Era of Startup Valuation and Efficiency -
This 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 Rutan00:00 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
Customer Reviews
Love your podcast but ditch the recurring ad
The podcast content is absolutely amazing, great job! But whenever ad for groups comes on I just go lalalalalalaaaa. It's engrained in my brain forever already. You mentioned you don't want to have ads in your podcasts but honestly I wouldn't mind as long as it's not the same one every time, 3 times a show. I will still continue listening of course, the actual content is pure gold. I'm actually running an agency not a startup but almost all of what you're talking about is still relevant and interesting.