Phase 1 · Free
Problem and Value
Identify your industry's common beliefs, figure out what contrarian belief you hold, and break down the core problem into smaller, testable sub-problems[1][2].
Startup OS
For first-time founders who skip steps
A rigid operating system for building the company, in the right order.
Name the problem. Talk to buyers without pitching. De-risk with cheap experiments. Then money, team, marketing, and the pitch. The dashboard keeps the current work in front of you and locks what you are not ready for.
The nine phases, uncut
Phase 2 · Free
Validation
Go to where your buyers congregate and conduct unbiased interviews about their lives, problems, and past behaviors without pitching your idea[3][4].
Phase 3 · Premium
Experimentation & De-Risking
Identify your riskiest assumptions and test them in order: Desirability, Feasibility, Viability, and Appropriability[7]. Run low-cost experiments before building an MVP[8].
Phase 4 · Premium
Strategy & Value Proposition
Define exactly who you are targeting, the specific benefits you offer, and how you will establish a brand identity that connects with consumers[11].
Phase 5 · Premium
Competitive Assessment & Business Modeling
Analyze your competitors' feature sets, identify how you will widen the gap between cost and willingness-to-pay, and organize operational mechanics[15].
Phase 6 · Premium
Financial Projections & KPIs
Build a financial model to understand cash flow and establish a runway. Never approach investors without a cash flow projection first[21][22].
Phase 7 · Premium
Team Building & Legal Guardrails
Recruit problem-solvers using behavioral interviewing, deliberately distribute equity with vesting schedules, and file necessary legal documentation[25][26].
Phase 8 · Premium
Marketing & Sales Execution
Design an integrated marketing campaign and build a sales pipeline starting with direct cold outreach[11][33].
Phase 9 · Premium
Pitching & Ongoing Governance
Create a polished pitch deck to secure funding and establish a routine for reporting progress to advisors and stakeholders[37][38].