Mats Forsgren’s Post

Is Your Startup Ready to Scale? Strategic Planning is the Key Growing a startup is exhilarating, but let’s be honest—it’s tough to navigate the strategic decisions that come with it, especially when you’re prepping for funding or experiencing rapid growth. For pre-seed and seed-stage founders, here are some common struggles I’ve seen in my career advising founders: - Balancing investor expectations while keeping your core vision intact. - Struggling to set clear, actionable goals that truly align your team. - Feeling the pressure to make the right strategic moves to avoid stagnation. These challenges can make or break your early-stage startup. But they can be overcome with the right strategic planning and OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) in place. I specialise in working with founders to create customised strategic plans that align growth with your vision and investor goals. The right plan can be the difference between feeling overwhelmed and scaling with confidence. Who am I? Throughout my career, I’ve empowered startups to scale strategically and sustainably by developing robust, organisation-wide OKRs and tailored growth strategies that deliver lasting impact. With extensive hands-on experience in startups and scaleups, my true passion is helping early-stage founders transform their vision into strategically focused, high-growth, high-performing pre- and post-Seed and Series A businesses. My mission is to align every part of the organisation to accelerate growth, unlock potential, and set the foundation for long-term success. 🚀 Let’s talk about how you can align your team and strategy for the next phase of growth. DM me or comment below if you want to connect! #Startups #PreSeed #SeedStage #StrategicPlanning #OKRs #GrowthMindset

All founders are the same! I said what I said... As a content creator for founders on LinkedIn, I've had the privilege of working with incredible leaders from across industries – eCommerce, health and wellness, cosmetics, and D2C. Despite their diverse journeys, industries, and personalities (narcissistic tendencies aside!). I have realized all of them do the same thing when they are stuck and nothing seems to work, That is- return to fundamentals. There's a powerful truth here: success isn't about constant innovation or chasing the next shiny object. It's about mastering the groundwork. These brilliant founders remind us that entrepreneurship, for all its challenges, offers a consistent path. The key lies in getting the basics right. This principle applies universally.  Whether you're a startup or an employee, focusing on basics is always a good idea. Can you recall any founder who lacked basics but did great in startup ecosystem? #startups #founders #fundamentals

Co-Founders need to align their visions. Or they will fail. ❌ Early-stage startups often fail because the team isn't aligned. My previous startup faced this too. A shared vision is crucial. When you find your niche and product-market fit, a new question arises: What kind of company do you want to become? Our company, Scripe, could be: - 🚲 a small profitable business - 🚀 a hyper-growth VC-backed business - 🔎 a tool focused on LinkedIn content creation - 🌐 a general-purpose content creation tool for all platforms - 💼 a bootstrapped content creation platform for B2B corporate influencing There are many options. You need to find your path as co-founders. I’m grateful to have Eva and Carmen as my co-founders. We share a vision and have complementary skillsets. Here's what drives us every day: - Eva Johanna Egg: Building a 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 that changes how people think about content and creating a place where people love to work. - Carmen Jenny: Empowering professionals to use their voice and be heard, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 of happy and authentic Scripers. - Me: Creating the 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 for content creation, focusing on design, usability, performance, and user experience. So, my two cents for aspiring founders: - Ask your co-founders early what motivates them and what they want to build. If one wants to build a small tool and flip it, while the other wants to scale a large company over a decade: IT. WILL. FAIL. #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Leadership

🚀 Cracking Founder's Code: Insider Insights from the Startup Frontlines 🚀 Diving deep into the trenches of startups across EdTech, Media, and Entertainment, I've had the privilege to closely collaborate with visionary founders. Here's a glimpse into what makes them tick—and why I could be your ideal partner in the journey ahead. Ownership: The North Star of Founders 🌟 Founders don't just lead; they own their vision, their team, and the path to success. This deep sense of ownership fuels their drive and inspires those around them to give their all. Problem-Solving: Turning Roadblocks into Runways 🔍 Faced with challenges aplenty, founders approach them with a unique blend of creativity and resilience. Every obstacle is an opportunity in disguise, waiting to be uncovered. Optimism: Fueling the Startup Engine 🌈 Founders are eternal optimists, seeing possibilities where others see pitfalls. This infectious optimism not only drives their own efforts but also rallies their team to reach for the stars. Confidence with Humility: The Founders' Balancing Act 💼 Confidence is key, but so is humility. Founders exude confidence in their vision while remaining open to feedback and growth. This blend fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation. Stubbornness and Eccentricity: The Quirks of Brilliance 🎩 Yes, founders can be stubborn and eccentric—but it's these very traits that fuel their relentless pursuit of excellence and set them apart from the crowd. As someone who intimately understands the founder's journey, I bring a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for driving startup success. If you're a founder seeking a trusted partner—one who "gets it" and can seamlessly integrate into your team—let's connect. Together, we can turn your vision into reality and chart a course to greatness. Whether you're looking to fill critical roles in your startup or simply want to bounce ideas off a seasoned collaborator, I'm here to help. Reach out, and let's embark on this exhilarating adventure together! 🚀 #FounderInsights #StartupSuccess #CollaborationGoals #FoundersLife #Founder #startups #unicorn #insights #success

In the chaotic world of startups, action is everything. I’ve been guilty of 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫-𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 too—taking all the notes, crafting the perfect pitch deck, and obsessing over getting everything "just right." But here’s what experience has taught me: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐢𝐧. 💡 Over-documenting? That’s just procrastination in disguise. It feels safe to stay in planning mode, but trust me, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 (𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬) 𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. And in that mess, you’ll find the insights that move you forward. 🔹 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?  Get it out there. 🔹 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩?Take it anyway—then pivot if needed. 🔹 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲?You’ll find it through execution, not endless brainstorming. Startups are anything but tidy and predictable. They’re fast-paced, messy, and full of unknowns. Every time I’ve taken action—whether it led to a win or a stumble—𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝. ⚡ That’s why I’ve come to live by this mantra: 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐀𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐲. Some of the most brilliant founders I know operate this way—and it’s a mindset that’s pushed me to build GTM Unbound, work with bold ideas, and thrive in the middle of uncertainty. So, if you’re sitting there still organising your thoughts… stop. 𝐆𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧. You'll thank yourself later. #StartupLife #BiasForAction #Growth #LearnByDoing #FoundersJourney #GTMUnbound

In my 30+ years working with tech companies, I've seen countless startups come and go. But here's something that might shock you: Many entrepreneurs fixate on metrics like revenue and user growth but often miss the true drivers of startup success. This focus often leads to misaligned strategies. In my opinion, the 2 most important metrics for a startup are 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦. Let me explain why these are so important. Acceleration isn't just about speed - 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. From a business standpoint, acceleration is about optimising every aspect of your operations. If your team develops a product in 9 months instead of the industry standard of 12, you're not just saving time - you're gaining a competitive edge. Faster development translates to: • Quicker market entry • Rapid customer feedback loops • Earlier monetization opportunities • Increased investor confidence Now, let's talk about momentum. It's not just about keeping pace - 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞. Think of it like this: momentum = mass x velocity. In startup terms, that's your team size and customer base multiplied by your speed of execution. As your business grows and accelerates, your momentum increases exponentially. With strong momentum, your startup becomes an unstoppable force. Now, you might be thinking, "Yogesh, this all sounds great, but how do I apply it?" Here's my advice: 1. Start with speed: From day one, focus on moving faster and more efficiently. Even small improvements compound over time. 2. Fail fast: Use your acceleration to experiment quickly, learn from mistakes, and pivot before it's too late. 3. Build strategically: Grow your team and customer base in tandem with your increasing speed. 4. Monitor your momentum: Are you tackling bigger challenges? Is your impact growing? These are signs you're on the right track. Remember, in the startup world, you're either accelerating or decelerating. There's no standing still. I've seen businesses triple their chances of long-term success by focusing on these two metrics. So ask yourself: Are you accelerating? Are you building momentum? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡? Source: Forbes #Startup #TechLeadership #BusinessGrowth

  What I Have Learned Working with Startups 🚀 This past week, I spent some time reflecting on the incredible experiences I've had working with startups. For context, I am a startup advisor. Working with early-stage companies is a high-stakes game, where many ideas fail, but the successful ones can revolutionize industries. Here are a few golden nuggets I've picked up along the way 🧠✨ One startup I worked with had a groundbreaking concept. They were on fire! But challenges lurked around every corner. They pivoted brilliantly, achieving phenomenal growth. But then, the market shifted, and they weren't ready. It was a wake-up call for everyone. 🆘 So, what did I take away from this? 🤔💡 👉 Stay nimble, stay alive: Even in times of great success, it's crucial to slow down and mitigate risks. 👉 Prepare for the falls: Sometimes, even the best startups hit turbulence. Be prepared to weather the storm. 👉 Revenue is real when it's in the bank: Revenue projections are exciting, but money isn't real until it’s secured and sustainable. 👉 Keep your finger on the pulse: market monitoring is essential. 👉 The power of mentorship: Never assume you’re the smartest person in the room. Surround yourself with experienced advisors and mentors. 👉 Ego check: Ensure there's someone who can provide candid feedback and keep egos in check. 👉 Resilience: Financial setbacks are part of the journey. Focus on the lessons learned and future opportunities. 👉 Gratitude is your fuel: Appreciate the journey, even during tough times. 👉 Never give up: No matter how hard the fall, get back up and keep moving forward. Opportunities are always around the corner. 🌟 Let's expand this list! 🌟 What are your hard-won lessons? Let's build a great list to help future founders navigate this exciting, challenging world. 🧐 Hit the 🔔 to follow me for more insights on thriving in the startup ecosystem and achieving success. #Startups #LessonsLearned #Entrepreneurship #GrowthMindset #Innovation

As a Startup #founder, you've poured your heart and soul into building an innovative solution. But now the real challenge begins - transforming that vision into a thriving, sustainable business. Growth doesn't happen by itself. • It requires laser-focused strategy, • efficient processes, and • unwavering execution. Too many startups get mired in a frustrating cycle of false starts and missed milestones. Raise your hands if you can relate 😅 Me: 🙋🏾♂️ If your company is struggling to hit ambitious goals, struggling to connect with the right customers, or struggling to cut through the noise - you're not alone. But it's time to break free from that rut for good. I've helped dozens of #startups just like yours unlock their true #growth potential. Through a tailored consultation, I'll work closely with you to: ✅ Clearly define your 6-12 month business objectives ✅ Identify and overcome your most critical scaling challenges ✅ Gain crystal-clear insights into your target audience ✅ Optimize your content, marketing, and sales strategies ✅ Amplify your personal brand and online visibility The difference between companies that thrive and those that stagnate often comes down to EXECUTION. Let's ensure you have the right strategies and systems in place to turn your big ideas into tangible results. Click the link below to secure your Free consultation spot today! Yes this one 👇🏼 click it now not tomorrow! https://lnkd.in/dtnRUMHq #startups #barrymartin #personalbranding #businessgrowth

My startup journey a few years back might not have had the storybook ending, with COVID-19 and other challenges ultimately leading to the tough decision to close our doors. But despite the setbacks, those years transformed me into the marketer I am today, with lessons that fuel current and any future ventures: ROI obsession: Startups demand laser-focus on results. That experience ingrained a relentless drive to track, analyze, and optimize every campaign to maximize impact. Creativity beyond media planning: My startup experience hammered home the lesson that creative messaging is a key driver of ROI. It's not just about impressions, but about inspiring action that supports growth. The Versatility Advantage: Startups force you to roll up your sleeves. I embraced opportunities beyond marketing - from business development, sales, HR and finance to operations - making me a more adaptable person. Ownership Mindset: As a co-founder, there was no hiding from the impact of my decisions. This inspired an unshakeable sense of accountability, ensuring every strategy serves the big picture. That chapter closed, but the fire it ignited burns brighter than ever. The lessons learned are invaluable. If you're building something from scratch, fighting for growth on a tight budget, or believe in data-driven creativity, let's connect! #startups #digitalmarketing #creativity #accountability #datadriven #adaptability

Most founders overlook this one crucial investment - their personal brand. What’s the hidden ROI? Don’t worry, it’s never too late to start. I only started realizing the power of this a few months ago, and now feel compelled to share this insight with the rest of you. As founders we find ourselves focused on growing our startup, we often forget: You are your startups biggest marketing tool In this short time of investing into my personal brand I have: - Offered 5 jobs (respectfully had to turn down) - Formed incredible relationships on LinkedIn - Connected with 15 new angel investors - Established 5 partnerships - Discussing with 2 VC firms What’s more amazing, is the community I am building and the individuals I get to learn from each day. Founders remember, investing in your personal brand will help you: - Opportunity for diverse revenues stream - Become a magnet for hiring top talent - Enhanced Customer loyalty - Increase negotiating power - Increased adaptability - Build trust When did you start building your personal brand? What has it benefited for you? Follow me for startup insights, click the bell 🔔 and repost if you think it can help a fellow founder 🚀 #startups #entrepreneurship #founders #StartupLife