Feel the Boot delivers advice and experience to entrepreneurs, helping them create and grow successful businesses. We help founders go from overwhelmed entrepreneur to successful CEO.
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Bad startup advice usually comes from smart, successful, well-meaning people. That's exactly what makes it so hard to catch. A prototype-stage hardware founder was told by a reputable investor at a large VC firm never to raise less than $5 million, which implies a valuation around $20 million. That ask would have gotten her laughed out of every investor meeting I've ever sat in. The investors I actually work with would want to see $750,000 at $3 to $4 million pre-money. He wasn't running a scam. He was answering a question about a company that wasn't hers. Every piece of startup advice is aime
Investors form their first judgment about you before you've said a word about your product. At the early stage they bet on the founder, not the idea, which makes the signal you send long before the pitch one of the most important things you can control. In episode 133, Lance Cottrell sits down with Christine Blosdale, the Expert Authority Coach, to turn personal branding into something practical for founders who are raising money. They get into why expertise so often fails to translate, how to fix a pitch deck that buries the point, and the difference between confidence and the kind of braggad
The friends and family round is how most founders raise their first capital — but it's also where the most relationships get damaged. If you don't structure it right, you can accidentally screw over the people trying to help you, torpedo your next funding round, and make every family gathering awkward for years. In this episode, I break down exactly how to talk to your friends and family about investing, how to structure the deal using a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), and the ethical responsibilities you have when your investors trust you more than they understand the deal. Plus, I
Most founders are doing "random acts of marketing" — a little LinkedIn, some ads, a blog here and there. Trying to be everywhere, succeeding nowhere. Javier Lozano Jr. was the CMO at Wrapmate during their run from ~$1M to over $20M in revenue and a $16M raise. His fix was counterintuitive: do less. Find the one channel showing signals, go all in, and master it before adding anything else. In this episode, Javier talks about changing one variable that took their ideal customer profile hit rate from 15% to 95% on the same budget — and how his team used "narrative engineering" to build the credib
Most technical founders think their product will do the talking. It won't. Shayna Rattler-Davis has spent 15+ years helping leaders at companies like IBM, L'Oréal, and dozens of STEM startups learn how to show up with credibility in high-stakes environments. She hosts The Influence Economy Podcast (top 3% globally) and works with technical founders who are brilliant at building but struggle the moment they have to represent their company externally. In this conversation, we dig into: The competency gap most technical founders don't realize they have Why investors bet on leaders, not products —
Former hockey enforcer Dave Burnett took punches for a living, then helped build Achievers.com (sold for $110M), watched his own business go to zero twice, and came back both times. In this episode, we dig into why founders with non-traditional backgrounds often outperform the textbook startup playbook, how to make sure AI models actually know your startup exists, and a time management system built around 1,440 minutes that will change how you think about your day. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:32 Dave's path from hockey enforcer to serial entrepreneur 1:36 Building Achievers.com and the $110M exit 3:
Most founders think fundraising fails because of "bad luck." Usually, it fails because of simple physics. Fundraising is a sales funnel. If you have a structural leak at the top, no amount of "slick" pitching will produce a check at the bottom. In this episode, we pop the hood on pre-seed fundraising to look at the four filters your startup must pass before you even think about building a deck. Stop the "Fundraising Theater" and start building a machine that investors actually want to buy. Read the full blog post: https://ftb.bz/127B Watch the video: https://ftb.bz/127V [FREE TOOL] THE INVESTM
If your first interaction with an investor is asking for money, you have already lost. Cold pitching investors has a success rate of nearly 0%. Warm introductions have a success rate of over 50%. The gap between those two numbers is where most fundraising rounds die. Most founders think they are stuck because they don't have a rich uncle or a deep network. The reality is: You just have the wrong process. In this episode, I break down the Investor Warm-Up Protocol, a 4-step engineering approach to manufacturing warm relationships from cold contacts. Read the full breakdown on the blog: https://
Stop Networking! Build Trust and Community to Fund Your Startup | David Homan Are you an introverted founder struggling to raise capital? Do you find most networking events to be a waste of time and purely transactional? Super connector, author, and composer David Homan reveals the systematic, high-integrity approach to connection that actually opens doors to investors, partners, and key advisors. In this powerful episode, David dismantles the myth that extroverts are the best connectors. He explains why your ability to listen deeply and build relationships at the speed of trust is your most v
The 6 Startup Pitches Every Founder Needs Most founders only create one pitch deck, and it costs them investors. In this video, I’ll show you the six pitches every startup founder needs to win funding. From your 3-minute competition pitch to your self-guided deck for investors to read on their own, each version has a specific purpose. Skip one, and you risk losing the deal. You’ll learn: ✅ Why different contexts demand different pitches ✅ The right length and structure for each type of pitch ✅ How to avoid the common mistake of using the wrong deck at the wrong time ✅ How to build a self-guide
Founder/Market Fit: Your Startup’s Early-Stage Advantage Stop guessing about “Founder–Market Fit.” In this episode I break down how investors spot it at the pre-seed stage— and what to do if you don’t have it yet. When founders enter a market they’ve never lived, credibility gaps, weak insight, and scarce access can stall everything from customer discovery to fundraising. I’ll show you: • What “Founder–Market Fit” really means and why VCs look for it before they fund • Clear warning signs you don’t have it (yet) • Practical moves to build or borrow the fit you need • How great FMF accelerates
Are you outsourcing your thinking to ChatGPT? That’s a fast track to sabotaging your startup. In this episode, I share two real conversations I had with founders who said they got their market size numbers from ChatGPT. That is a red flag for any investor. The problem is not that they used AI. The problem is that they didn’t understand what the answer meant or where it came from. I walk through the right and wrong ways to use tools like ChatGPT in your startup. Whether you’re researching your target market, writing content, or creating your financial projections, you need to know what is solid
Most founders don’t fail because of a bad idea. They fail because fear, doubt, and hesitation stop them before they ever really start. In this episode of Feel the Boot, I sit down with internationally recognized mindset coach David Neagle to talk about what keeps talented people stuck, and how to break free. We explore: • Why so many founders never launch • The mindset shift that drives real change • How to push through fear and uncertainty • The discipline behind every successful entrepreneur • Why authenticity beats confidence when raising capital or building a team David also shares his pow
Unlocking Startup Growth: Fundraising Strategies and Resilience Tips with Paulo Andrez What separates the startups that raise capital and scale… from those that stall out? In this episode of Feel the Boot, I sit down with Paulo Andrez—angel investor, serial founder, and startup turnaround specialist—to talk about the real challenges early-stage founders face. We dig into: • Why most founders raise capital too early • What investors like Paulo actually look for in a startup • How to recover from failure and pivot the right way • Why founder resilience is more important than brilliance • The big
Pre-Sell Before You Build: Avoid Costly Startup Mistakes — with David Hirschfeld Most startups fail because they build something no one wants. In this episode of Feel the Boot, I talk with David Hirschfeld, founder of Tekyz and creator of the Launch First method, about how to flip the script and pre-sell your product before you build it. We explore how high-fidelity mockups, early customer conversations, and focused problem validation can help founders avoid wasting time, money, and effort on products that miss the mark. If you’re an early-stage founder, this episode is packed with practical a
Avoid These Startup Finance Mistakes — Insights from a Fractional CFO Most founders ignore finance until it becomes a problem—don’t be that founder. In this episode of Feel the Boot, I sit down with Josh Aharonoff, a fractional CFO who works with fast-growing startups to get their financials investor-ready. We talk about common finance mistakes, when to hire help, and what investors expect from your financials—especially when raising capital. If you’re pre-seed, pre-revenue, or thinking about raising capital, this conversation will help you avoid costly missteps and get your financial house in
Your Pitch is Losing Investors in the First 5 Seconds—Here’s How to Fix It! Most founders waste the most critical part of their pitch—the opening. Investors remember the first and last things you say. But instead of making an impact, most founders start with: “Hi, I’m [name], CEO of [company]…” That’s a HUGE mistake. In this episode of Feel the Boot, I show you how to cold start your pitch—a proven technique to instantly grab attention and keep investors engaged. You’ll learn: ✅ Why traditional intros weaken your pitch. ✅ How to hook your audience from the first second. ✅ The power of silence
What’s stopping you from starting your dream business? For most people, it’s fear. Fear of failure, financial loss, looking foolish—or even fear of success. In this episode, we break down the most common fears entrepreneurs face and share actionable strategies to overcome them. Learn how to: ✅ Do the research that calms fear of the unknown. ✅ Test your idea with quick, low-cost experiments. ✅ Build financial and emotional safety nets. ✅ Surround yourself with mentors, advisors, and co-founders. ✅ Start small and “act as if” you’re already a founder. Your entrepreneurial journey doesn’t have to
Why Startup Plans Fail (and Why That’s Okay) Welcome to Feel the Boot, the science of startups! In this episode, host I share three insightful sayings about planning and their relevance to startups. Using quotes from Dwight D. Eisenhower, Helmuth von Moltke, and Mike Tyson, I discuss the importance of planning and adaptability when facing unexpected challenges. Learn how to navigate the twists and turns of launching a business and how to pivot efficiently when your plans don't survive first contact. Join the discussion and share your experiences in the comments. Don't forget to like, subscribe
Building Products Right: Essential Advice for Early-Stage Founders by Chad Perry Building a tech product as a non-technical founder can feel like a daunting challenge. Should you hire a developer? Outsource? What about mockups, tech stacks, and budgets? In this episode of Feel the Boot, I sit down with fractional CTO Chad Perry, who’s worked with countless early-stage startups to navigate these exact challenges. Chad shares insider advice on: ✅ Why you should start with mockups (not developers). ✅ How to successfully outsource your tech development. ✅ When to hire a CTO, developer, or team—and
In this episode of Feel the Boot, I sit down with leadership expert Emily Hawkins to tackle one of the biggest challenges founders face: effective team management. Whether you’re a new founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, this conversation dives deep into the soft skills that are often overlooked but are crucial for scaling your business. Emily shares her journey from a corporate career to becoming a fractional COO and creator of the “Leadershift” framework, where she’s helped thousands of business owners transform their leadership style. We explore topics like: • Why making assumptions about y
In this episode of 'Feel the Boot,' host Lance Cottrell delves into the strategic importance of targeting a niche market for startup success. He guides early-stage founders through the crucial process of focusing on specific customer segments that resonate with their products, illustrating how this can significantly improve customer acquisition and product development. Lance shares practical strategies for selecting a target niche, such as engaging early adopters, leveraging small communities, and identifying underserved markets. This approach not only helps in establishing a strong market pre
The freemium business model is popular, but is it right for your startup? In this video, I break down how freemium works, common mistakes founders make, and why it often leads to revenue problems. We’ll also explore an alternative approach—the reverse freemium model—that could be a better fit for your business. Ideal for early-stage founders, this video provides valuable insights and practical advice on setting up a successful freemium model, complete with real-world examples and suggestions for effective customer engagement. Blog https://ftb.bz/111B Video https://ftb.bz/111V Subscribe https:/
How to Pivot Your Startup Before You Launch Pre-Pivot Strategies for Entrepreneurs In this episode of Feel the Boot, host Lance Cottrell dives into the concept of pre-pivoting for startups. Avoid the common pitfalls and wasted resources of traditional pivots by learning how to identify potential problems before building your product. Lance shares three effective ways to foresee issues, focusing on customer conversations, systematic testing of assumptions, and conducting a pre-mortem. Perfect for early-stage founders looking to navigate the complex journey of launching a successful business. Bl
In this episode of Feel the Boot, host Lance Cottrell delves into the concept of 'secret sauce' for startups. Learn why identifying and protecting your unique differentiator is crucial for attracting investors and maintaining a competitive edge. Cottrell shares insights on developing a valuable and defensible secret sauce, using trade secrets and patents, and the importance of articulating it effectively in your pitch deck. This video is a must-watch for early-stage founders seeking to innovate and secure their business's future. Blog https://ftb.bz/109B Video https://ftb.bz/109V Newsletter ht
