You didn’t leave your job, drain your savings, and pitch 47 investors just to crash and burn in year one. But 9 out of 10 startups do. And it’s almost always avoidable. Here’s why startups fail — and why you won’t get a second chance to figure it out:
42% of startups fail because they never achieved product-market fit. You thought you knew the customer. You didn’t.
"Customers don't buy tech. They buy outcomes." — Balderton Founders Guide to B2B Sales
29% fail because they run out of money — hiring a VP of Sales before you have a sales process, or dropping six figures on paid ads before you’ve closed five real customers.
“Seed-Strapping” beats spray-and-pray VC burn. Traction buys leverage — not logos.
Most early teams are built for product, not for GTM. But revenue doesn’t just show up. You need execution.
"Founders must become their startup’s first (and best) salesperson." — YC Startup Playbook
Early users churned. Nobody referred you. No one said they’d cry if you shut down tomorrow. You called it a “slow build.” Investors call it “dead on arrival.”
“Lack of growth is not fixable by anything but growth.” — Sam Altman
You hired a fancy CRO to “figure out sales.” You onboarded a marketing agency before you had validated your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and Messaging. Wrong order.
“You cannot outsource the hard part.” — YC Startup Playbook
You waited for the board to say something. You thought you'd figure it out after this next product update. You didn’t. And now your startup is spiraling down.
Startup IQ will help you rewrite your story. You’ll get brutally honest feedback from GTM veterans, before your cap table is a mess and your morale is wrecked.
Startup IQ is not a course. It’s not a coaching program. It’s your GTM execution muscle—on demand. We’re the resource your investors wish you’d called 6 months ago.
Here’s how we help you steer clear of the 90% failure cliff:
Stop guessing what the market wants. In our weekly GTM Office Hours, we pressure-test your ICP, GTM motion, and value prop live - with experts and peers who’ve scaled real companies.
“You’ll know exactly who to sell to, what to say, and when to walk away.”
No more hiring expensive Sales or Marketing execs who “figure it out later.” We help you design your GTM system first—before you light cash on fire.
“Get revenue repeatability before you go big on recruiting.”
— Inspired by Seed-Strapping & YC Playbook
Founders must lead the first 10–50 deals. We’ll help you do it. From sales scripts to objection handling to live deal coaching—we’re your tactical GTM wingman.
“You become a dangerous closer—without turning into a cliché salesperson.”
No more spinning your wheels. Bring your GTM problems to our Office Hours and leave with a tested plan. Messaging. Comp plans. Pricing. Positioning. Investor readiness. It’s all on the table.
“The fastest path to clarity is a founder willing to be coached.”
Your startup's survival depends on speed. We compress months of trial and error into weeks by giving you real-time feedback, curated frameworks, and brutal honesty when you need it.
“You don’t need another strategy doc. You need traction.”
Every wasted quarter hurts your fundraising story. We help you avoid dead quarters by aligning your GTM to outcomes that matter—pipeline, conversion, and revenue.
“Investors don't fund potential. They fund momentum.”
Ready to raise, grow, or scale?
Make sure your GTM plan is, too.
Startup IQ’s Go-to-Market Readiness Assessments are designed for Seed through Series A founders who need fast, high-impact feedback—or a deep diagnostic—on their GTM strategy.
Choose a quick, high-level snapshot across core GTM pillars, or request a tailored deep-dive including: ICP & PMF validation, investor pitch review, customer interviews, channel strategy, and more.
Get clarity. Reduce risk. Accelerate traction.
Let’s make sure your next move is your best one.
Startup IQ’s Office Hours gives early-stage tech founders direct access to weekly live sessions, actionable GTM advice, and a private Slack channel—all led by proven sales and GTM veterans.
Learn what works, avoid what doesn’t, and scale with confidence—without burning cash on premature hires.
Let’s turn your vision into traction.
Who's leading the work
We empower startups with executive mentorship and essential tools to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. Our team is dedicated to providing insights and resources that help founders make informed decisions and drive success.
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