Ishita Kamani’s Post

My last post was about the achievements of my life. But life is not only about the highs but also about the lows. The beauty of the Lows of Being a Startup Founder is found in Navigating the Tough Times. Being a startup founder is often glorified, with stories of success and innovation taking center stage. But behind the scenes, the journey is filled with challenges that test your resilience, patience, and determination. As a first-time founder, I've experienced firsthand the lows that come with the territory. Here are a few that stand out: 1. The Weight of Uncertainty 2. Financial Strain 3. Isolation and Loneliness 4. The Emotional Rollercoaster 5. Sacrificing Personal Life 6. Dealing with Rejection and Criticism 7. The Pressure to Succeed What are other challenges that my fellow startup founders have faced? Lets talk! #etraverse #startupfounder

Here's why I believe founder mode is more than just about founders. Back in the day when we were building Insent (A ZoomInfo Company), Arjun wrote a piece that inspired me a lot about how I run my company today. I even saved the article to re-read it every once in a while. The article was about how the core team of a company(the first few hires) shapes the culture and why they do it. The answer varies from person to person. As I read Paul G's founder mode, I have a different take on it. Every startup is based on an intuition a founder has and eventually navigating the rocky waters to find what's relevant for the market. At the same time, the core team that you're working with is also doing the same. Even though they're following, they go through the rocky waters and follow you. Sometimes it's the belief in the founder. But most often, it's their belief in the problem statement and their ability to solve it for the market. And better than anyone else out there. That belief is what shapes the world we see today. Of course, founders do have to navigate this by being at the helm of the ship. But, it wouldn't be what it is today without the people who leaped with the founders when they had the choice not to. As much as the founder being hands-on as a startup scales up, we should equally think hard to make sure the core team can also be hands-on and has the freedom to move fast, think freely, and execute. Ensuring this will take a lot of load off the founders and that's how you win. I'm blessed to have a rockstar team with us to navigate the ever-changing startup world. #foundermode #paulg #team #startup #coreteam

People always ask me, 'What do you actually do as a founder day-to-day?' And honestly, I get it. We’re so used to having clearly defined roles and responsibilities in our jobs that stepping into a role without boundaries or definitions can feel weird—maybe even a little scary. While many people say they’d love to be their own boss and have the freedom to do whatever they want, I believe we often prefer structure. We like having someone to lead us or a clear 'chain of command'—whether it’s for the ease of decision-making or simply to have someone to consult when needed. Starting a company, though? It’s the exact opposite. No matter what anyone tells you, there’s no playbook. You have to carve your own path. But you know what? That’s exactly what makes it so special. When we first started, I did everything—from pitching repeatedly to even writing code (and yes, the team still teases me about that!). But as we grow, we’re learning to define our own boundaries, creating processes and structures that work best for us. And here’s the best part: we’re never truly alone. The OUTSTANDING team we’ve built, our incredible investors, and our invaluable design partners have been instrumental in guiding us, even through uncertain times. Speaking of teams… This 'startup' we’ve been building (and will soon launch) is going to completely transform the way you and your team work together. Trust me, it’s going to blow your mind. Below is a photo of the whole gang going out to celebrate some of our recent achievements. Oh, and yes, that’s me walking around with my laptop in hand, making sure everything in Production is running smoothly. Startup life, right? #StartupLife #Founders #TooLongDidntRead

What most people think makes the top 10% of startup founders different: > A groundbreaking idea > Having an amazing vision > Elite technical skills or MBAs from top schools. What actually makes them different : > Execution ability - They consistently deliver on what they commit to, shipping iterations every couple of weeks. > Formidability - Their repeated execution creates an intimidating presence where others respect their ability to get things done. > Clear communication - They can explain their business concisely in 1-2 sentences to anyone. It all comes down to execution → earning respect → communication skills, → perseverance. through obstacles. The idea may evolve and change, but those foundational traits determine a founder's ability to actually make it a reality. What's missing for you to be one of the founders in the 10%? #founder #startup

💡 I've noticed something interesting: the most crucial founder decisions aren't about complex financial models or fancy metrics. They're about answering one fundamental question: "Where should we focus our limited time and money RIGHT NOW to reach our next milestone?" 🚗 Think of your startup like a car with a small petrol tank. You can't drive everywhere at once. You need to pick the route that gets you to your next destination before running empty. Sometimes that means challenging assumptions or spotting blind spots. Last week, a founder came to me with six exciting growth opportunities - from geographic expansion to new product lines. Rather than saying no, we transformed these ideas into a clear roadmap. Now they're executing their first initiative with focus, knowing exactly what success looks like before moving to the next. That's the power of turning "we could do everything" into "we will do these things, in this order." ✨ That's what gets me excited - finding paths to growth while keeping you safe. Together, we: - 🎯 Map out what success looks like for your next milestone - 📊 Break down which activities truly move the needle - 💰 Calculate how long your money will last with different choices - 🚀 Build momentum by focusing your team's energy where it matters most The best part? When we get this right, everything else becomes clearer. Your team aligns around priorities. Your runway makes sense. Your progress becomes measurable. I've seen too many brilliant founders burn out trying to do everything at once. You don't have to. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is say no to good opportunities so you can say yes to the great ones. 🎯 Got multiple paths to growth but limited resources? Message me to explore how we can turn your opportunities into a focused roadmap for momentum. #StartupFounder #SeedStage #StartupCFO #FounderJourney #UKStartups

Growth Isn’t Always Glamorous—And That’s Okay Hey, I want to share something with you that most people don’t talk about when it comes to growing a startup: It’s messy. Really messy. Growth isn’t a straight line—it’s more like a rollercoaster with unexpected loops and turns. Here’s what I’ve learned: 1️⃣ You’ll Have Bottlenecks: As you scale, new challenges pop up—hiring fast enough, managing cash flow, keeping up with demand. Instead of getting overwhelmed, tackle one problem at a time. Progress is progress. 2️⃣ Not Everything Will Scale: What worked when you had 10 customers won’t always work at 100 or 1,000. Be ready to rebuild processes and systems as you grow. It’s not failure; it’s evolution. 3️⃣ Your Team is Everything: Scaling isn’t about you doing more—it’s about building a team that can grow with the business. Invest in people who share your vision and can help you get there. Growth isn’t always glamorous, but it’s rewarding when you embrace the journey. Celebrate the wins, learn from the chaos, and keep moving forward. 🚀 #StartupLife #GrowthJourney

From Idea to IPO: 3 Secrets No One Tells You!" 1️⃣ Nobody cares about your idea—until you execute. 🛠️ 2️⃣ Your first product won’t be perfect. Launch it anyway. 🚀 3️⃣ Culture > strategy. Great teams build great companies. 🤝 The startup world isn’t for the faint-hearted, but the rewards? 🌟 Next level. Which of these resonates most with you? Let’s discuss!

Ever feel like you're building your startup in a vacuum? You're not alone. Many founders find themselves: ◾Overwhelmed by the steep learning curve ◾Unsure what to prioritize day-to-day ◾Craving experienced guidance and support But what if you had a trusted circle of peers and an experienced advisor in your corner?🤔 Imagine having a space where you could: ✔️ Get personalized coaching on your specific challenges ✔️ Tap into the collective wisdom of fellow founders ✔️ Gain clarity on your next strategic moves This is the power of a founder mastermind. In our weekly roundtables, founders tell me it's like having a board of advisors and a support group rolled into one. You're no longer navigating the startup journey solo. Curious if a mastermind could accelerate your progress? Let's chat (no pressure, no obligations). I'd love to learn about your startup and see if our group could be the missing piece in your founder toolkit. Drop a "👋" in the comments or DM me if you'd like to explore further. I'd love to learn what your goals are and see if the group can help you get there. #EarlyStage #StartupLife #Founders #LeanStartup #TheFoundersForge

We've invested in 450+ startups in Startup Wise Guys I've personally met and worked with thousands. It still fascinates me how many founders never have the real talk and align on expectations, aligning on building their team culture intentionally. - Why do you do what you do? (The purpose) - What do you want to achieve? (The vision)  - How do we operate day-to-day? (The values) One of the reasons we wrote PERFORM (with my co-author Stoyan Yankov) was to emphasize the importance of setting the fundamentals right. Your team will be your biggest asset. Do not underestimate it.  Make time to have the important conversations early on. Trust me it will help you later on the journey. Our book PERFORM has turned 3 years old.  We are giving away 300 free PDF copies of the book (link on the comments) Claim your copy and learn proven strategies on how to address your culture and set the fundamentals for building a strong (startup) team. 

This quote from Stewart Butterfield, Slack's visionary founder, reminds us that the secret to scaling a startup is teamwork and simplicity. 💼💡 👥 Startup founders: Is your team culture empowering innovation or holding it back? 💸 Investors: Invest in companies that prioritize collaboration and culture—it pays dividends. Let’s build workplaces where everyone looks out for each other. 🙌 #MondayMotivation #StartupSuccess #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipMatters #InvestInPeople #FutureOfWork #StartupLife 🌱✨