Startup CEO Reflections

A blog about building high potential businesses

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  • Communication

    Keep in Touch: Engaging Your Investors in Your Company’s Story

    Jen Baird / July 29, 2020

    The end of July is approaching. It is time to connect with my key investor-stakeholders on our company’s progress. This practice of routinely telling our company’s latest story is an essential component in maintaining my investors’ support.

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    Each is Unique

    January 29, 2022

    Essential Entrepreneurial Enabler: Herding Cats

    October 30, 2021

    The Why Behind

    December 16, 2023
  • Board of Directors,  CEO Essentials

    The Hidden Value of Board Meeting Preparation

    Jen Baird / July 25, 2020

    It is time. Time to work on the board package, again. The effort feels like an interruption to the team. So the key to maximizing the value to the startup is to recognize and leverage the hidden value of the process of Board meeting preparation.

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    Exits Are What Matters

    January 17, 2026

    Dysfunctional Investors Are Real

    March 8, 2025

    A New Era of Board Service

    June 8, 2024
  • CEO Essentials

    Your Company’s Lawyer is NOT Your Lawyer

    Jen Baird / July 22, 2020

    A few weeks ago, another CEO reached out and asked for a referral to an attorney. My first question was for the company or for yourself? I didn’t always realize that there was a difference.

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    The Cost of Context Switching

    March 27, 2021

    Growing into the CEO Role

    January 7, 2023

    I Am Not Your Friend

    February 12, 2022
  • Sweetspot
    Fundraising

    Too Early. Too Late. Finding the VC Fund Timing Sweet Spot.

    Jen Baird / July 18, 2020

    When raising venture capital, understand the venture fund timing sweet spot so you can align your startup’s needs with your potential investor’s needs, or at least realize when it will be hard to fit.

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    You May Also Like

    Fundraising Differences Between Angels and VCs

    May 13, 2020

    How VCs Say “No”

    July 8, 2020

    Breakeven Point: Why It’s Not Actually a Point

    January 31, 2026
  • Founding,  Fundraising

    Getting Baked for Fundraising

    Jen Baird / July 15, 2020

    Building an investable business takes more time and effort than most people realize. Too often, I see people jumping the gun and trying to fundraise too early.

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    Investing in First-time vs. Serial Entrepreneurs

    March 23, 2024
    Delaware C-Corp

    Start with a Delaware C-Corp If Raising VC

    June 3, 2020

    Startup Genesis: Choosing a Problem to Solve

    September 5, 2020
  • Fundraising

    How VCs Say “Yes”

    Jen Baird / July 11, 2020

    When you are raising venture capital, a VC’s most common answer is ‘no.’ Sometimes, if you are lucky, they start to say ‘yes.’ Here is what that looks like.

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    For a Fee, I will Fundraise for You

    June 7, 2025

    Qualifying Angel Investors

    April 3, 2021

    The Risk of Idea Stealing

    May 15, 2021
  • Fundraising

    How VCs Say “No”

    Jen Baird / July 8, 2020

    For a startup, raising venture capital is daunting. The numbers are not in your favor. Learning to recognize "no" gives you a chance to move on quickly to the next opportunity for a great fit.

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    You May Also Like

    Side Hustle vs. All-in

    August 5, 2023

    The Nature of Warm Introductions

    May 11, 2024

    The Risk of Idea Stealing

    May 15, 2021
  • Permission to Innovate
    CEO Essentials,  Management

    Permission to Innovate

    Jen Baird / July 4, 2020

    Realizing the potential for process improvement requires making sure that those who are part of designing the change are empowered to find the best path.

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    A Startup CEO Essential: Optimism

    May 21, 2022

    Choices

    July 19, 2025

    CEO Whispering

    August 31, 2024
  • Beginning,  Founding

    How Do You Start a Company?

    Jen Baird / July 1, 2020

    It does not necessarily start with the idea since you can find a worthy idea. So how does a founding CEO actually begin?

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    How to Get a Job as a Founding CEO

    September 26, 2020

    Are You Ready to Commit to Founding?

    January 25, 2025

    Beginning Again

    January 1, 2022

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Startup CEO Reflections by Jen Baird 2026
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