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Is There a Line Between Founder Optimism and Delusion?

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Startup Therapy Podcast

The "No BS" version of how startups are really built, taught by actual startup Founders who have lived through all of it.

Hosted by

Wil Schroter

Founder + CEO, Startups.com

Wil is a serial Founder having launched 9 companies over 25+ years, 3 being venture funded and 4 having been sold. He generally argues that Founders need to take a much different view of how to build startups.

Ryan Rutan

Founding Partner + CMO, Startups.com

Ryan is a serial founder with 5 companies spanning 3 continents, 20 years and 2 exits. He generally argues with Wil.

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Past Episodes

Episode 319

November 3, 2025

Prioritize Productivity Over Popularity

Treating visibility as progress is basically doing victory laps before you’ve even built the track.

Episode 318

October 27, 2025

Better is Better Than Bigger

Turns out, chasing growth for growth’s sake can turn your sleek startup into a bloated buffet... more mouths to feed, but less flavor.

Episode 317

October 20, 2025

Founder Authenticity: Use With Caution

Authenticity is great in theory, until your “just being honest” moment turns into an HR case study.

Episode 316

October 13, 2025

Founders, Embrace Your Flaws

What if the flaws you’re desperate to fix are actually your startup’s secret sauce?

Episode 315

October 6, 2025

Is Remote Culture, Actually Culture?

Can a company still have culture when no one shares a desk, or did remote work simply reveal who really thrives?

Episode 314

September 29, 2025

Can I Hire Someone to Run My Startup for Me?

Passing the reins sounds easy until you realize some parts of a startup just don’t run without the founder’s fingerprints all over them.

Episode 313

September 22, 2025

How Founders Get "Fired by Promotion"

When Founders get “promoted” out of the CEO chair, it’s less corner office upgrade and more identity crisis. But with the right moves, it can still be a win.

Episode 312

September 15, 2025

Burnout is a Treatable Injury

Burnout isn’t a rite of passage. It’s a signal to hit pause, recharge, and come back ready to actually enjoy building again.

Episode 311

September 8, 2025

Stop Pretending You Don't Have Enough Time

Why beg for a 25th hour when you can just fire half your meetings and finally get your life back?

Episode 310

September 1, 2025

Are We Aligned With Everyone Around Us?

Perfect alignment is a myth. Success comes from navigating the misalignments with care.

Episode 309

August 25, 2025

Will the Payout be Worth the Sacrifice?

An honest look at the allure of success and the even deeper question: is the payoff truly what you want?

Episode 308

August 18, 2025

How Founders Blow Their Fortunes

You made it! Now here’s how not to lose it: the essential rules for surviving startup success.

Episode 307

August 11, 2025

When Should We STOP Asking for "More"?

An honest look at why Founders struggle to say ‘enough,’ and how balancing ambition with fulfillment can be the ultimate growth hack.

Episode 306

August 4, 2025

Can Entrepreneurship Help Alleviate Poverty?

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about startups — it’s about starting over, lifting up, and building futures where none seemed possible.

Episode 305

July 28, 2025

Should Startups be a Family?

Running a startup isn’t a group hug. Keep the vibes real but the roles clear. Authority fades fast when everyone’s “family.”

Episode 304

July 21, 2025

Can Founders be Replaced by AI?

Founders: AI’s here to steal your tasks, not your title. Adapt, lead, or get left behind.

Episode 303

June 30, 2025

What if We Run Out of Goals?

What happens when you reach the top and it’s quieter than you thought?

Episode 302

June 23, 2025

Reinvention is the Only Constant

Founders aren’t meant to stay in one lane. Reinvention isn’t risky, it’s required.

Episode 301

June 16, 2025

Founder Isolation is Getting Worse

Despite endless digital tools, Founders are facing record levels of isolation, and only real human connection can fix it.

Episode 300

June 9, 2025

Forging Founder Confidence

Confidence isn’t born. It’s built through curiosity, bold questions, and the guts to fail forward.

Episode 299

June 2, 2025

Is College a Waste of Time for Founders?

College may no longer be the smartest route for aspiring Founders.

Episode 298

May 26, 2025

Are We Preventing Our Startup From Evolving?

There’s a moment in every Founder’s journey when nothing feels like it’s working. But what if it’s not the startup that’s failing — it's us?

Episode 297

May 19, 2025

Building a Startup That Loves You Back

Turns out, building a startup *and* staying sane is harder than it looks.

Episode 296

May 12, 2025

When Our Friends Resent Our Success

Success can trigger insecurities in others, but managing how we share it (without minimizing or bragging) lets us be proud without being alienating.

Episode 295

May 5, 2025

When Our Startup Outgrows Us

Sometimes the most Founder move you can make... is letting go.

Episode 294

April 28, 2025

When Being in the 1% Feels like Failure

Founders are so wired to chase the next milestone that we forget to high-five ourselves for how far we’ve already come. This is a reminder to zoom out and give yourself some damn credit.

Episode 293

April 21, 2025

We Need Outside Interests that Consume Us

If you can’t sit still without spiraling, you’re not broken. You just haven’t found the right non-work challenge to recharge you.

Episode 292

April 14, 2025

If You're Not Terrified, You're Doing it Wrong

Fear’s always in the room when you’re building something that matters. The key is figuring out how to stop avoiding it and start using it as fuel.

Episode 291

April 7, 2025

Make Money First, Then Build a Product

Turns out you don’t need millions in funding to build a real business, just something people will actually pay for.

Episode 289

March 24, 2025

Does LOCATION Matter for Your Startup?

Startup success used to be all about location. Now, it’s about connection, no matter where you are.

Episode 288

March 17, 2025

Are The Sacrifices Worth It?

Startup freedom isn’t free. Let’s talk about the price Founders actually pay.

Episode 282

January 20, 2025

Can Founders Find Contentment?

Contentment or complacency: can entrepreneurs find peace without losing their hustle cred?

Episode 281

January 13, 2025

Why do Investors FIRE Founders?

Ever wondered why investors boot Founders? We’ve got the juicy details and tips on how not to get ghosted out of your own startup.

Episode 280

December 2, 2024

The Burden of Unrealistic Expectations

The only thing faster than startup growth? Founder burnout.

Episode 279

November 25, 2024

How Do I Stay Positive In Tough Times?

If your startup feels like a never-ending dumpster fire, allow us to offer clever ways to keep the flames of productivity burning without roasting your sanity.

Episode 278

November 18, 2024

Are Investors Trying to Push Us Off a Cliff?

Think VCs are just helping startups? Think again — find out why their focus on quick returns could leave Founders stranded.

Episode 277

November 11, 2024

What Previously Funded Founders Do Differently

The road to startup funding is paved with pitfalls — get insider tips to navigate it like a pro.

Episode 276

November 4, 2024

Are Startups Easier for Experienced Founders?

The myth of the "easy second startup" is busted: discover why experience doesn't guarantee success.

Episode 275

October 28, 2024

Who's Working for Who?

The unspoken reality of startup life: why Founders are constantly torn between their vision and the relentless demands of their companies.

Episode 274

October 21, 2024

Let's Get Back to Our Why

Don't let operational hurdles cloud your mission — Discover why staying true to your startup's core mission is key to long-term success.

Episode 273

October 14, 2024

How We Secretly Lose Control of Our Startups

As Founders, we're so worried about losing control of our startups to investors that we completely overlook how we secretly lose control to everyone else.

Episode 272

September 16, 2024

Should Kids Follow in our Founder Footsteps?

Do we want our kids to follow the same path as us? Or should we just provide the tools and support to foster independent choices rather than push entrepreneurship?

Episode 271

September 9, 2024

The Evolution of Entry Level Workers

There's an evolving landscape of entry-level hiring for startups. With AI on the rise and global talent a click away, building efficient teams under tight budgets is a true balancing act.

Episode 270

September 2, 2024

Assume Everyone Will Leave in Year One

Employee turnover (whether untoward or amicable) is inevitable in the startup world.

Episode 269

August 26, 2024

Was Mortgaging My Life Worth it?

Want to avoid a future riddled with regret? (of course you do!) You'll need these specific goals and timelines.

Episode 268

August 19, 2024

What's My Startup Worth in an Acquisition?

Many startup Founders have unrealistic expectations when it comes to selling their business — yes, this means you probably do, too.

Episode 267

August 12, 2024

Is My Ambition My Enemy?

Ambition, while necessary for building innovative companies, can become more detrimental than beneficial — but where's the tipping point?

Episode 266

August 5, 2024

Are Startups in a "Silent Recession"?

Despite economic indicators suggesting otherwise, many startup Founders are struggling with reduced capital flow and stagnating customer acquisition.

Episode 265

July 29, 2024

Do Founders Deserve Their Profit?

First of all, success should be celebrated not vilified. So why do Founders get the short end of the stick when it comes to earning what they've worked so hard for?

Episode 264

July 22, 2024

The Utter STUPIDITY of "Risking it All"

There's a huge gamble in the 'bet it all' startup mentality.

Episode 263

July 15, 2024

Why Most Founders Don't Get Rich

There are many common struggles of making money in the startup world. Join us to explore what those are and what to do about it.

Episode 262

July 15, 2024

Investors will be Obsolete, The End of Venture Capital

These two details might reshape the future of funding in the startup ecosystem as we know it.

Episode 261

July 1, 2024

Why is a Founder so HARD to replace?

Removing a Founder often leads to failure for a startup. Some could say they're irreplaceable — and they'd be right!

Episode 260

June 24, 2024

We Can't Grow by Saying "No"

Here's a secret: startups thrive by committing to new challenges, even if the path isn't immediately clear.

Episode 257

June 17, 2024

This is WHY More Money Means MORE Problems

There's a BIG misconception that reaching revenue milestones in startups will solve all problems. In reality, each milestone brings new challenges.

Episode 256

June 10, 2024

Committees Are Where Progress Goes to Die

Founders should avoid relying on committees for critical decisions. Consider yourself warned. And here's why.

Episode 255

June 3, 2024

Giving Up Equity? Press Pause First

The most expensive decisions we will ever make as a Founder all come at the beginning — when we are most vulnerable.

Episode 254

May 27, 2024

Why Do 99% of Founders Suck at Asking for Help?

Tune in for tips on how to develop the muscle for asking the right questions — Founders do not need to reinvent the wheel with all the untapped wealth of knowledge available.

Episode 253

May 20, 2024

The Value of Actually Getting Paid (Avoid This Big Danger)

If we don't make money, it doesn't make sense. See the importance of paying yourself regularly, even when building a high-potential startup.

Episode 252

May 13, 2024

Will Investors Bail Me Out? Brutal Truth About Startup Investments

Founders commonly believe that future investments will pay back their financial commitments. When in reality, the chances of getting 'paid back' stem from other outcomes completely.

Episode 251

May 6, 2024

Is the Problem the Player or the Coach?

Should we be constantly evaluating our team's performance? Short answer: YES. Tune in to discover why, and learn how to take actionable steps toward building a higher-quality team.

Episode 250

April 29, 2024

Do People Really Want Me to Succeed?

Let's explore the harsh reality of seeking support as a Founder. Surprisingly, a limited number of people genuinely want to see a founder succeed. And this is the reason why.

Episode 249

April 22, 2024

You Only THINK You Work HARD — The Hard Work Illusion

There's a common misconception about 'working hard' within startups. Let's challenge the notion of what constitutes 'hard work' and the danger of equating all effort with success.

Episode 248

April 15, 2024

SMALL is the New Big — Embracing Efficiency in the Age of AI

Is AI the startup Founder's dream come true? Short answer: absolutely. Let us explain...

Episode 247

March 18, 2024

This is BOOTSTRAPPED — 3 Strategies to Build Your Startup Without Funding

In a world fixated on funding, could the real path to startup growth lie in resourcefulness and astute expense management?

Episode 246

March 11, 2024

The Spectrum of Investor Advice

There are many dangers of acting on investor feedback without considering its relevance, potential bias, and the investor's qualifications. Let's discuss the importance of understanding the context and motivation behind their advice.

Episode 245

March 4, 2024

$10K Per Month isn't Just Revenue — It's Life Support

Earning at least $10,000 per month is one of the most important milestones in your startup career. Here's why.

Episode 244

February 26, 2024

Why Do VCs Keep Giving "failed" Founders Money?

Maybe investing in Founders who have shown they can bounce back and learn from failure can ultimately change how we think about startup success — tune in to find out why.

Episode 243

January 27, 2025

When Can I Afford to GAMBLE?

Risk is a luxury disguised as hustle. The less runway you have, the smarter your bets need to be.

Episode 243

February 19, 2024

If It Makes Money, It Makes Sense

Generating revenue and being willing to do whatever it takes to move a startup forward is essential for startup success. But how do we overcome challenges in achieving financial sustainability?

Episode 242

February 12, 2024

The Hidden Treasure of Failed Startups

Let's talk about the hidden treasure of failed startups and uncover the secrets of success amidst startup wreckage.

Episode 241

February 5, 2024

My Competitors Just Raised Funds — Am I Screwed?

What's the most common concern of competitors securing funds? Tune in for valuable perspectives on why this might not be a cause for panic.

Episode 240

January 29, 2024

Can Having Zero Experience Be a Huge Asset?

Having zero experience means you're new to something, and surprisingly, that can be a good thing. But for startup Founders, could a lack of experience help you succeed or fail?

Episode 239

January 22, 2024

What If I Build a Startup That Just Makes Money?

Ever thought about ditching the whole fundraising craze and simply building a startup that puts money in your pocket? It's not just about surviving in the business jungle, it's about thriving on YOUR terms.

Episode 238

January 15, 2024

How to Get Rockstar Startup Advisors

Navigating the advisor landscape is like treading a fine line between wisdom and well-intentioned faux pas. Let's decipher whether your startup needs an advisor's touch or if all you need is some solid advice.

Episode 237

January 8, 2024

Job vs Startup — What Should I Do?

Choosing between a regular job and starting your own business is a life-changing decision. Let's unpack the realities behind each choice to weigh out what is best for YOU.

Episode 236

December 4, 2023

Founders Need a Steady Hand in the Storm

Founders must stay calm and focused amid the chaos, juggling priorities and tackling problems as they arise. Ultimately, a Founder's ability to handle the daily whirlwind defines their success in the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship.

Episode 235

November 20, 2023

So You Think You Need a Co-Founder?

A co-founder can offer numerous benefits to a business. However, finding the right co-founder whose values align with yours and who complements your strengths and weaknesses is crucial for a successful partnership.

Episode 234

November 13, 2023

Can I Scale My Impact Without Scaling My Team?

Making a significant impact doesn't always mean having a large team. Let's delve into the strategies that empower a small team to make a substantial difference, proving that size isn't the only measure of success.

Episode 233

November 6, 2023

Grind or Guilt, the Founder Dilemma

How can we achieve a harmonious equilibrium that allows us to pursue our entrepreneurial dreams while also nurturing our mental and physical health and maintaining meaningful relationships?

Episode 232

October 30, 2023

Are Founders Driven by Fear or Greed?

What really drives Founders? Is it the fear of failure, or is it the pursuit of wealth and success (often labeled as greed)?

Episode 231

October 23, 2023

What if I'm Building the Wrong Product?

Have you ever had an idea, but you're just not sure if it's good? Welcome to the club. How does any entrepreneur know if they’re building the right product?

Episode 230

October 16, 2023

How Startups Actually Get Bought

It's easy to get confused about how much a startup is really worth, and people sometimes have high hopes that don't match reality. To succeed in this startup world, it's important to understand these details and be realistic about what to expect.

Episode 229

October 9, 2023

Am I Quitting My Startup, Or Letting Go?

Quitting isn't always a failure. Sometimes it's a strategic move toward a brighter entrepreneurial future.

Episode 228

October 9, 2023

How long do we ACTUALLY have?

It's easy to get sidetracked by short-term goals and immediate survival mode. But here's the deal: it's not about chasing quick wins; it's about building something that stands the test of time.

Episode 227

September 25, 2023

Can I Replace Myself as a Founder?

Founders struggle to step aside in a company because their deep commitment and personal connection to the company's mission are hard to duplicate. So, can Founders ever replace themselves?

Episode 226

September 18, 2023

Who am I Really Competing Against?

Founders are often never satisfied because they constantly set new, self-imposed benchmarks and goals. Is it possible to find a balance between ambition and recognizing achievements?

Episode 225

September 11, 2023

Investors are NOT on Our Side of the Table

In the startup world, it's important to recognize that investors and Founders don't always see eye to eye (big surprise there). Good communication and finding common ground are key to ensuring the startup's success in the long run.

Episode 224

September 4, 2023

Plan for Bad Times — Budget in Good Times

It's not all sunshine during the good times, and not all doom and gloom during the bad times. It's about striking that perfect balance in your startup's strategy. So, what's the secret to achieving longevity in the ever-shifting landscape of entrepreneurship? Tune in the find out.

Episode 223

August 28, 2023

When a $40M is More Than a $200M Exit

Let’s delve into the maze of startup exits, exploring the delicate interplay between exit values, ownership, and the real-world implications.

Episode 222

August 21, 2023

Don't Fear the Reaper (AI Edition)

Founders shouldn't fear changes in technology because embracing advancements can bring various advantages, ultimately fostering growth and success.

Episode 221

August 14, 2023

Don't Let Investors Become Your Customers

When you prioritize investor demands over customer needs in pursuit of additional funding, you risk eroding customer trust and loyalty, negatively impacting your long-term business sustainability.

Episode 220

August 7, 2023

We Can't Stay Out Of The Game For Too Long

Startup Founders can't afford lengthy breaks from the game because the skills and mindset crucial for entrepreneurship can weaken over time. Here's why.

Episode 219

July 31, 2023

What if Our Dreams Are an Illusion?

Sometimes, the startup journey is more important than the final outcome, so it's crucial to think about whether the sacrifices are really worth it for your long-term happiness and sense of purpose.

Episode 218

July 24, 2023

What if this isn't a "Big Business"?

By reevaluating goals and priorities, Founders may discover the benefits of a steady and enduring approach that aligns with their vision and values, which can be mountains better than just "scaling rapidly" with no direction.

Episode 217

July 17, 2023

Founders, Not All Problems Are Apocalyptic

While running a startup can be challenging and bring various obstacles, not every problem leads to failure or signifies the end. Tune in to hear how Founders can view problems as opportunities for growth and improvement.

Episode 216

July 3, 2023

Stop Listening to Investors

While investors can provide valuable insights and expertise, Founders should exercise caution when relying too heavily on their advice. Here's why.

Episode 215

June 26, 2023

Can You Build a Startup in Less Than 40 Hours a Week?

Building a startup typically requires a significant investment of time and effort. While it's theoretically possible to work on a startup for less than 40 hours a week, it may significantly impact the chances of success.

Episode 214

June 19, 2023

Are Bootstrapped Startups Less Valuable Than Venture-Funded Startups?

The value of a startup isn't only determined by its funding source. It depends on things like its potential in the market, how much it's growing, how well its product fits the market, and the skills of its team, etc. — regardless of how it's funded.