Startup CEO Reflections

A blog about building high potential businesses

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  • Team Building

    Vetting Prospective Hires

    Jen Baird / August 29, 2020

    Recruiting team members is always a high stakes process. And that is especially true in a startup. Hiring mistakes are costly, so it is worth taking care to vet prospective new hires well.

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    It Takes a Village to Build a Startup

    November 26, 2022

    Hire When It Hurts

    February 1, 2025

    Managing the Wounded

    May 7, 2022
  • Leadership,  Team Building

    The Shift from Hiring Generalists to Hiring Specialists in a Startup

    Jen Baird / August 22, 2020

    At inception, the founding team of a startup must be small, but mighty. As the company grows, a shift occurs as the team reaches critical mass, and it becomes feasible to start hiring specialists. Recognizing this new stage of growth is essential.

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    What We Choose to Invest Our Time In

    January 4, 2025

    Driving for Speed with Finesse

    March 13, 2021

    Focus. Execute. Panic is Unhelpful.

    January 2, 2021
  • Fundraising,  Team Building

    My Prospective VC Is Asking For Personality Tests?

    Jen Baird / August 15, 2020

    “They want us to take personality tests?” My team looked appalled. “Yep,” I said, “And we might even learn something ourselves from the process!”

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    Hard Fundraising Market Drivers

    September 7, 2024

    Walking Away from Potential Investors

    June 1, 2024

    Considering Grants

    June 22, 2024
  • Fundraising

    Startup Fundraising is All About Trust

    Jen Baird / August 8, 2020

    Some startup founders approach fundraising as a series of transactions. Think of fundraising as relationship-building -- and remember that the foundation of a good relationship is TRUST.

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    Fundraising Differences Between Angels and VCs

    May 13, 2020

    Feeling Nibbled

    April 22, 2023

    Funding Foundations

    September 2, 2023
  • Mindsets
    Leadership,  Team Building

    For Today’s Startup Problem-Solving, Are We Cooking or Baking?

    Jen Baird / August 5, 2020

    The work of building a startup varies. Sometimes it is more like cooking. Sometimes it is more like baking. Pick the right skill set for the job at hand.

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    Focus. Execute. Panic is Unhelpful.

    January 2, 2021

    Intentionally Empowering Each Other

    March 20, 2021

    Entreprenurial Leadership

    April 5, 2025
  • Risk & Decision-Making

    Watch Out for Fresh, Hot Data

    Jen Baird / August 1, 2020

    As company leaders, we want to be well informed about what is happening in our startup. Yet fresh, hot data is fraught with challenges. Treat it with care.

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    Are You Ready to Make the Decision?

    October 2, 2021

    In-sourcing and Outsourcing

    September 28, 2024

    Fear of the Uncontrollable

    June 11, 2022

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Startup CEO Reflections by Jen Baird 2026
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