Eli Rubel

Simple, actionable advice for founders making their first hires: 1. Reach out to your network Your first hire will most likely come from your network. Your closest connections may not come to work with you, but chances are they know someone who will. Start those conversations. 2. Invest in personal branding People will work with you because they believe in your mission and idea. Showcase your “why” by attending speaking engagements and creating a strong online presence. 3. Focus on diversity Referral hires are quick and effective but often result in a lack of diversity. Build a global team from the start or you’ll miss out on great talent in the future. #startup #hiring #recruitmnet #network

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Having the right working capital stack can make a huge difference in your outcomes as a founder. When you have it nailed, you can: 🚀 Take advantage of growth opportunities, instead of being cash poor when that big order arrives. 💸 Minimize dilution over the life of the business, so you're not selling equity to fund inventory purchases (this can be a massive game-changer for you personally) 💤 Give you the breathing room you need to sleep at night and invest in the business with confidence. But building that stack? It's tricky. There are all kinds of different flavors of capital, each with their own set of rates, fees, and terms. And there's no "best" option - it's a personal decision based on what's best for you and the business, at this particular moment in time. To help break down the decision and shed some light on the ecosystem, we've got the leaders of four different working capital providers joining us next week for a discussion on what to look for and what to expect: Deep Ocean Partners Clearco SVB Steel Capital Management You won't want to miss it. Grab a spot now 👇 👇 👇

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Seed Stage Founders, we all know the best CEOs set clear company goals. So how do you get started? I keep it simple at Every, here is how I approach goal setting for my team: 1. Set goals monthly - On the first day of each month, we talk about the goals for this month, and go through a quick post mortem on if we achieved the goals from last month. I highlight goals we hit from last month in green, and highlight the ones we missed in red. Key learning: The key thing here is checking in on the last month's goals, otherwise there is no accountability. 2. Types of goals - The goal of a seed stage company is simple. Build a product and sell it. Not rocket science. So I create two sets of goals, Product and Goto Market. I usually do a single slide for each. 3. How I write Product goals: They key here is to simplify your product strategy and distill this month's roadmap into 1-3 "Big Rocks." Oftentimes, product backlogs have tons of tiny features. While these are important to spend time on, if all you do are these tiny features, in 6 months you will look at your product and not be able to notice if it is any different. This happened to me quite a bit at my last startup. A "Big Rock" is a big enough feature that it would warrant emailing your users about it. I only put Big Rocks on my Product goal slide, and I don't mention the little things. This ensures my product progresses in an impactful way that my users will visibly see. Every.io is an all-in-one where we are building 3 companies in one (Banking + Hr/Payroll + Accounting/Tax), so Big Rocks are key for us to keep adding to our back office stack. 4. How I write Goto Market goals: I start with 1 KPI. For us right now it is "1st Meetings Booked." This is tracked week over week. Then the rest is a list of marketing actions, broken down by channel. Then there are a few ops goals usually that have to do with how we setup hubspot, data providers, etc. 5. Assign owners - this is controversial but I assign 1-2 names next to each company goal, even if others are contributing to it. This is because I want people to see their name on the board explicitly called out when we do a post mortem, for accountability. No names, no accountability. This won't work at a Series B+ company, since so many people work on a Big Rock, but at small companies usually the majority is done by just a few people, so it works out. Hope this is helpful! Follow me for more founder advice.

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Such an Incredibly Freaking Awesome Breakdown of Different Paths to Product-Market Fit... This framework highlights 8 unique paths founders take to reach Product-Market Fit: 1️⃣ Customer Focus: Solve for specific personas (e.g., Canva for non-designers). 2️⃣ Business Focus: Address industry-specific problems (Procore for construction). 3️⃣ Functional Path: Nail a clear use case (Loom for async communication). 4️⃣ Problem Solver: Start with a pain point (Calendly for scheduling). 5️⃣ Category Disruptor: Reinvent existing categories (Uber for transportation). 6️⃣ New Technology: Build with breakthrough tech (OpenAI for AI tools). 7️⃣ New Ability: Unlock new possibilities (Jasper for automated marketing). 8️⃣ Reverse Engineer: Deliver better outcomes (Tesla for sustainability). 👉 No single path is "right." Founders take different routes based on their product, market, and vision. Which path are you on? 📌 Check out my free newsletter and join 85000+ founders and investors community: https://lnkd.in/dV7xTtFB . #startups #founders #investors #pmf #investor #venturecapital #founder #angelinvestors #products #investor

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Quick update on The Runway Ventures's website. (exclusive partner deals for you) Throughout my startup journey as a founder, I learned that using the right tools and joining the right communities are the biggest leverage any founder could possibly get. ❌ I’ve tried tons of tools and joined tons of communities. I’ve also quit tons of tools and communities because they’re simply not useful to me (or not valuable enough for the long term). ✅ At the end, there are a few tools and communities that I can’t live without and I’m using them every day because of the huge productivity and revenue boosts to me. 🎁 Because of that, I’m working with these partners to bring exclusive deals to you and give you the leverage to 10x your productivity and revenue. 1. beehiiv: The only newsletter platform built for growth (The Runway Ventures is built entirely using Beehiiv) 2. Angel School: The best program to learn angel investing in 10 hours (learning directly from Jed N. is the real deal) 3. Fathom - AI Meeting Assistant: The best AI notetaker for all my meetings (never take notes again) 4. Notion: My Second Brain to 10x my productivity (seriously) Steal the partner deals here: https://lnkd.in/gYEyQf4Z Are you using any of these tools or platforms? 🤝🏻 #startup

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Struggling to scale your mid-market business? Scaling isn't just about getting bigger – it's about getting smarter. In this week's The Wise Exit newsletter, we're diving deep into scaling strategies for mid-market firms. You'll learn: - The difference between growth and scaling (most get this wrong). - 5 key strategies to scale your business without losing your shirt. - Common mistakes to avoid (we see these all the time). - Case Study: How Zapier scaled without traditional VC funding. Whether you're planning to scale, sell, or just curious about what's next, this issue is packed with insights you can't afford to miss. Read the full newsletter here: https://bit.ly/3LHo7Ra Don’t miss out. P.S.: Follow me for more content like this.

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🔎Investing in Deep Tech? Not yet...🤦‍♂️ Check below why you should consider investing in Deep Tech startups and VC funds🤝 💡Hint: Deeptech VCs achieved an IRR of 17% in comparison to traditional Tech VCs IRR of 10%, according to a McKinsey & Company survey of 115 Deeptech VCs and 1,572 traditional Tech VC funds Thanks to Francesco Perticarari for sharing ✅ Looking to invest your capital into #VC funds?   🤝 Need warm #GP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments (Series A/Series B)?   ▶ G+QUANT's link for inquiries: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE     #VentureCapital #VentureFunding #VentureDebt #Fundraising #Innovation #Technology #Entrepreneurship #Investing #Network #Investors #LPs #GPs #EmergingManagers #FamilyOffice #Markets #Economy #Business #Founders #Startups #StartupFunding #ai #artificialintelligence #unicorn #secondaries #secondarydeals

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𝗗𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿? If you can afford it, the answer is YES. Outsource fundraising prep just like you’d outsource coding, design, or hiring—but never outsource pitching. Why? Because investors want to talk to the founder, the person they’re betting on. Here’s a quick breakdown of the 3 types of fundraisers: 1️⃣ Success Fee Only (1-10%): - Share your pitch deck with their network of 20-30 investors. - No additional outreach if their network isn’t interested. - Often juggle 50+ clients at a time. - Results? Rarely worth your time—your pitch sits in cold mode. 2️⃣ Success Fee (1-10%) + Fixed Fee ($2k–$15k/month): - Rely on both their warm network and cold outreach. - Main focus is still on their existing connections. 3️⃣ Fixed Fee Only ($2k–$15k/month): - Primarily depend on cold outreach. - Rarely leverage warm network connections. What Makes a Good Fundraiser? - They never pitch for the founder—that’s your job. - They evaluate your chances upfront and flag potential issues early. - They review your entire dataroom to identify red flags before you start fundraising. Fundraising is a marathon, not a sprint. The right support can make a huge difference, but it all starts and ends with you—the founder. —— To automate the entire fundraising process, we’re building the AI Fundraising Copilot. Join the waitlist here: https://taskinfinity.com

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Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of SaaS founders wrestle with pricing strategy—and let me tell you, it’s not just about the numbers. It’s about psychology, design, and knowing your audience inside out. I’ve pulled together seven of the top insights I’ve picked up along the way when it comes to your pricing page. Whether you’re refining your current pricing page or building one from scratch, these tips will help turn browsers into buyers.👇 #PricingStrategy #SaaS #ConversionOptimization #CustomerExperience #BusinessGrowth

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Founders face a critical choice: invest heavily in acquiring new customers or double down on retaining existing ones. Choosing acquisition? Great move if you want to expand quickly and capture market share. But this path can drain resources and put your sustainability at risk if you neglect those already using your product. High churn rates can wipe out your progress before you even get a chance to establish a loyal customer base. On the flip side, focusing on retention means ensuring long-term viability. Strengthening relationships with existing customers can lead to reliable MRR and even upsell opportunities. However, the risk here is stagnation. While your current clients may be happy, neglecting new markets can mean missing out on potential growth. So, what's the best strategy? Marrying the two approaches can yield powerful results. By balancing acquisition with retention, you create a robust pipeline that not only attracts new users but also turns them into lifelong advocates. To implement this hybrid approach, invest in customer success teams that deliver exceptional onboarding and ongoing support, while also creating targeted marketing strategies that reach new clients. Finding the right balance between these two strategies is invaluable. It's not just about growing; it's about growing smartly.

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I file this under founder education. It’s important that founders understand what motivates investors and how these motivations manifest in the terms and conditions of an investment agreement. While I wouldn’t obsess about it, it’s good to ask because many founders are not aware of the assumption that there will be an eventual exit. #founder #venturecapital #startups

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The average SaaS growth rate is a statistic that every founder should keep front and center. Did you know that startups can see growth rates between 15% and 45% year-over-year? If you're opting for anything less, you might as well hang up your entrepreneurial hat. The article dives into more than just numbers; it breaks down the critical importance of understanding your company's growth rate, especially when vying for investment. Investors aren't just looking for a good story; they want to see solid numbers proving your potential. If you can't articulate your growth rate, you're running on borrowed time with investors. Additionally, while early-stage companies often ride high on initial momentum, this growth is deceptive. Many will experience a slowdown as they mature. Thus, founders need to set realistic expectations, and it’s crucial to anticipate future growth based on solid financial forecasting. How are you measuring and planning for your company's growth? Let's hear your thoughts. https://lnkd.in/eSrmqagz

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I created Five Four because I saw a gap in the market for early stage founders in need of growth strategy and implementation. Pre-seed/seed stage startups need a team that knows how to grow revenue AND can do the work. Too many advise and consult, but can't implement. This leaves founders left with tons of ideas but no ability to execute on them. Five Four does both. Determining the buyer journey AND building email campaigns in Hubspot Identifying your beachhead market AND executing on the GTM plan Identifying your product's value props AND creating sales decks to convey them It started last October when I decided I didn't want to be one head of marketing for just one startup. I like to figure out what to do AND do the work. But the need became more than I could handle alone. Five Four has grown from me to a team who have supported 19 founders and CEO's all across the US. We build and launch products. We help you get funding. We grow revenue. And we love it all. I owe you all more updates on what this business is and examples of our work. But until then, please reach out if any of this resonates with you. Or, follow me on beehiiv where I rant about all of the above!

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𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿? Here's how the ICP Grid revolutionizes customer targeting: 1️⃣ Focus Quadrant These are your dream clients. They align with your vision like stars in a constellation. Invest here. The ROI isn't just probable; it's promised. 2️⃣ Respond Quadrant Good fit, but they're not knocking on your door? They're your passive prospects. Keep the communication lines open, but don't chase. 3️⃣ Ignore Quadrant Low Product-Market Fit? Hard to reach? Don't let the sunk cost fallacy drain you. Your energy is better spent elsewhere. 4️⃣ Research Quadrant They're hard to get but worth the effort. They're the tough nuts that crack open to massive potential. Innovate your outreach. So, here’s the game plan: ✅ Double down on the "Focus". ✅ Stay alert on the "Respond". ✅ Sidestep the "Ignore". ✅ Dive deep into the "Research". Because when you know who to pursue, The chase isn’t just exciting. It's exponential. Visual from Chris Tottman

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Dear founders, building an investor funnel isn't just about quantity—it's about being strategic with your time and resources. Better to have 30 highly qualified prospect VC you can properly engage with than 300 cold leads. Quality prospects come from focused relationship building, not casting the widest net possible.

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Nuggets of wisdom from my convo with Nick Doyle — Part 1: "Trust is purely emotional, but results are rational." Nick shared a powerful insight with me from his new book about the parallel tracks of marketing: - Performance marketing drives short-term results through clear calls-to-action - Brand marketing builds long-term trust through emotional connection You need both. Performance without brand becomes a race to the bottom. Brand without performance is a beautiful story nobody hears. Find more insights in his book, “Outmarket the Competition,” which drops February 18th.

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Series A Term Sheet Template

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I read a lot of pitch decks and I’m frequently surprised to see a glaring omission. We’re taught that pitch decks should follow a conventional formula: - Who you are and the team you’ve built around you - Who your customers are and size of market - What problem you solve - What solutions you offer and your commercial proposition - How you’re going to overcome your competition - How you’re going to grow and spend your budget But rarely do you see the most important message of all: WHY. ‘Why’ isn’t your mission or vision. Those are business goals, expressing your direction of travel. The ‘whats’ and ‘hows’. It’s your purpose. The thing that puts the fire in your belly. Of all the things you could be doing with your life, it’s the reason you’re doing this. The reason you’re willing to make sacrifices to achieve this particular goal. After a good presentation your audience should be able to pitch your key messages back to you. But it doesn’t matter if they remember the whats and the hows. Those things they can read later. What matters is they remember the WHY. That’ll be the reason you stay in their consciousness and they’ll want to be on the journey with you. They need to feel it. I’ve pitched Sharesy countless times to angel investors. Of course, I’ve heard ’no’ more often than I’ve heard ‘yes’. And yet, when they say yes they are fully invested. We have 20 angels on our cap table who have invested 2 or more times. When I ask them why they keep coming back, I consistently hear that they are excited by why we do what we do. Sharesy’s why is to enable local people and businesses to utilise neighbourhood venues knowing their money is going back into their community. To give back and use those funds for good. Working with community leaders who share these values, like Andrew Johnston at The Engine Room in Tottenham, is so rewarding for me. Andrew wears his heart on his sleeve (even if it’s the sleeve of Spurs shirt!). His Why is plain to see. When you look back over your recent presentations, whether a pitch deck, an all-hands update, a partnership proposal or anything else, ask yourself whether your purpose comes through? If not, make it your slide 2 or 3. Right up front. Write your why in one sentence and drop it in the comments. Don’t hide it and assume people know why you do what you do. Be proud of it and shout it out! #impact #startups #techforgood

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As a founder, hiring your first sales rep is a pivotal moment. It's the bridge between your initial traction and scalable growth. But it's also fraught with risk. Here's how to nail this critical hire: 1. Look for a builder, not just a closer Your first sales rep needs to be comfortable with ambiguity. They're not just selling - they're building your sales process from the ground up. 2. Prioritize industry knowledge At this stage, deep understanding of your market is more valuable than a rolodex of contacts. They need to speak your customers' language fluently. 3. Assess their ability to wear multiple hats Can they handle everything from prospecting to closing to customer success? In the early days, your sales rep might be your entire go-to-market team. 4. Test their resilience Early-stage sales are tough. Rejection is constant. Look for someone who can stay motivated without a big team around them. 5. Align on metrics Be crystal clear on what success looks like. Is it revenue? New logos? Close rate? Make sure you're on the same page from day one. Remember: This hire can make or break your growth trajectory. Take your time, run a rigorous process, and don't settle. What other traits do you think are crucial for an early sales hire?

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