Wil Schroter

About

Wil Schroter is the Founder + CEO @ Startups.com, a startup platform that includes Bizplan, Clarity, Fundable, Launchrock, and Zirtual. He started his first company at age 19 which grew to over $700 million in billings within 5 years (despite his involvement). After that he launched 8 more companies, the last 3 venture backed, to refine his learning of what not to do. He's a seasoned expert at starting companies and a total amateur at everything else.

Articles

Is Networking a Waste of Time?

Most networking is a waste of time. That's not because having a useful professional network isn't helpful, it's because how we often go about it is really unfocused.

Can Doing Non-Startup Stuff Help My Startup?

Sometimes the best way to grow our startups is to spend some time doing stuff that has nothing to do with our startups!

When Should My Side Hustle be Full Time?

Now that we're getting some traction on our side hustle, the real question is, when do we go all in?

Do Founders Need to be Good Managers?

Sometimes Founders do grow into great managers — and sometimes they were great managers already. But the real question is: "Do Founders need to be good managers?"

I've Lost Interest In My Startup — What Do I Do?

Nothing lasts forever — even the interest in our own startups.

How To Bounce Back From Startup Failure

Startup failure isn't about just losing money — it's personal.

How Do I Get People to Take Me Seriously?

As Founders, no matter who we are, we all have to fight for our ability to get taken seriously.

Why Do I Feel So Alone?

We've all heard the phrase, "it's lonely at the top." But as Founders, we do far more than hear it...we live it.

What Should I Never Say to an Investor?

More often than not, what we avoid saying to investors is as valuable as what we do say.

What's a Cap Table and Why do I Care?

For many of us who have no idea what a cap table is, here's a quick primer.

Does it Matter if I Own 51% of my Company?

We all have heard that "just getting 51% of the company will help us control the board and rule the world!" But in startup companies, that's often not the case.

How much is Founder Freedom Worth?

They say freedom isn't free. As startup Founders, we know this price wholeheartedly and pay it, well, for what feels like forever!

Everyone Says My Idea is Dumb. Is It?

"I've got this idea that I'm super passionate about, but my friends and colleagues are all telling me it's a bad bet. How do I know if I should listen to everyone or go with my gut?"

How Do I Quit My Own Startup?

This startup is a good for everyone but me! How do I put my 2 weeks in when I'm the person who owns or runs this thing? Here are some creative ways of doing it!

Do I Really Need "Employees" These Days?

As Founders, would we be better off just working with contractors versus taking on the burden of having staff? What are the pros and cons of creating staff these days?

Will Investors Want to Run My Company?

If I take on investors, will they push me aside and run the company?

Can I Go Back to Having a Boss?

After being a Founder, the thought of becoming the employee once again may feel like a monumental step backward. But being an employee again does have it's advantages.

My Startup is Tanking, But am I Safe?

In order for Founders to stay sane, we have to separate "my startup is failing" from "personal safety."

Will Investors Fund Just an Idea?

There's a commonly-held myth that startups get funded with great ideas. But how much truth to that is there, really?

Focus On What You DON'T Want to Do

What happens when instead of worrying about the things we want to do, we focus on the things we never, ever want to do again? How can that start to take huge steps in reducing our overall stress?

What's the Cost of a Toxic Employee?

Nearly every startup deals with a "toxic employee." And every minute we wait to address the issue, we create an even bigger organizational challenge that will be way too hard to tackle down the road.

How Do I Get More Equity Back?

Giving equity away is easy. Getting it back is super hard. So while we can get some stock back into our coffers, we have to focus more on how quickly we give it away than how we get it back.

Will Investors Let Me "Cash Out" on a Future Funding Round?

How do Founders go about getting cash out of their startups long before the startups ever cash out themselves?

What Are The Pros/Cons of Work From Home?

Over the past few years we've developed a significant work from home policy at Startups.com. Here's what we've learned from our experience.

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