Startup Mentor Insights
Decisions for founders: customers, capital, growth and exits.
When Customer Interviews Say Yes but Nobody Buys
Customer interviews went well but nobody bought? Check the ask, recent purchases, the current workaround and the budget owner, then test one targeted fix.
ICP Template: Buyer, Trigger, Budget, and Current Alternative
A reusable ICP template with fields for buyer role, buying trigger, budget source and current alternative, plus evidence tags and a hypothetical filled example.
Customer Interview Notes Template for Founders
A customer interview notes template that tags each entry as said, seen, done or assumed, so founders can compare interview findings with buying behavior.
How to Turn Customer Evidence Into a Narrow ICP
Turn interview notes, pilots and lost deals into a narrow ideal customer profile with observable buying signals, an evidence matrix and acceptance tests.
How to Choose Your First Ideal Customer Profile
Choose your first ideal customer profile with an evidence matrix that compares buying triggers, buyer roles, budget and delivery fit before you commit.
How to Run a Customer Interview Without Pitching
Run a customer interview without pitching: what to prepare, what to ask, when to stay quiet and how to compare what buyers said with what they did next.
How to Build a Startup Go-to-Market Strategy by Stage
Use a stage-by-stage decision map to choose the next go-to-market decision for your startup, with evidence checks, worksheets and a hypothetical example.
Investor Meeting Prep Sheet: Fit, Evidence, and Questions
Prepare the investor fit, business evidence, difficult answers and next request for a fundraising meeting, using a practical founder worksheet.
How to Test a US Beachhead Before Opening an Office
Test a narrow US beachhead with an account brief and bounded pilot, then use delivery and support evidence to decide whether an office is needed.
Founder Networking Worksheet: Relationships and Useful Next Steps
Use a founder networking worksheet to track useful interactions, introduction context and agreed next steps before and after a Silicon Valley trip.
Customer Discovery Questions That Reveal Buying Intent
Ask customer discovery questions about purchases, workarounds, and budget owners. Use an evidence map to choose the next commercial test.
Validate a Startup Idea Before Building
Test a startup idea through buyer interviews, existing workflows, and concrete commitments. Use a practical worksheet to decide what to build, narrow, or stop.