I’m not surprised The Garage at Northwestern University was just named the #1 university incubator in the country. And after spending time with their founders, I think I understand one of the reasons why.
They’re not afraid to bring in an outside perspective.
When The Garage invited me to come in...
There’s a quote from Elon Musk that every founder should tape to their bathroom mirror: “Building a startup is like waking up every day and choosing to eat glass.”
He’s not exaggerating.
Because the truth is startups aren’t just about solving problems. They’re about surviving them.
Failure is the...
We’re living in a time where AI can help you design the perfect pitch deck, build a data room in minutes, and even write investor emails. The tools are incredible...
But here’s the truth: AI can’t raise money for you.
Fundraising is still about people. It’s about energy, connection, and trust. Yo...
Somewhere along the way, founders started building companies for pitch decks instead of people. They design their vision around what VCs might fund, not what customers actually need.
But here’s the truth: you don’t win by impressing investors. You win by serving customers.
VCs don’t create market...
Too many founders start building investor relationships when they’re already running out of runway. They hit “fundraising mode” and scramble to meet as many people as possible, hoping for a yes before the money runs out. But that’s not how real relationships work.
Here’s the truth — fundraising s...
We’re excited to share a new partnership with Breakthrough Ventures.
Through this collaboration, Breakthrough Ventures is bringing What VCs Won’t Say directly into its founder program equipping its cohort with an inside look at how venture capital actually works, how investors make decisions, and...
As a founder, confidence is necessary but ego can quietly kill your growth. Early on, I had to learn that lesson the hard way. When you’re trying to prove yourself, it’s easy to start protecting your image instead of improving your work.
In my early days, I thought I had to have all the answers. ...
As founders, we love to move fast. We fill our days with meetings, calls, brainstorms, and updates. We answer every email, react to every Slack message, and feel like we’re working hard — because we are.
But here’s the truth: busyness and progress are not the same thing.
Some of the most exhausti...
We’re excited to share some big news with you.
We’ve officially partnered with Southern Methodist University (SMU) to work more closely with their students, founders, and entrepreneurial community.
This partnership is about expanding access and connecting more early-stage builders with real-world...
When you’re building a company, it’s tempting to chase the most polished resumes. The people with the perfect background, big-name logos, or impressive credentials. But here’s what I’ve learned...
Talent without hunger doesn’t win.
The best team members I’ve ever worked with weren’t always the mo...
If you’re building your company in the Midwest, the South, or anywhere outside the big tech hubs like San Francisco, New York, or Boston, you’ve probably heard the same advice: play it safe. Raise a small round. Grow at a “comfortable” pace. Stay close to what you know.
That kind of thinking keep...
The realest founders always win.
There’s a lie too many founders believe that to win, you have to play a role. Talk like a “founder.” Dress like one. Act like you’ve got it all together, even when you’re barely holding it down.
I get it. When I started Upsie, I tried to fit that mold too. I walke...
