Head of Learning Design and Content Creation, HBS Accelerate

Common Funding Mistakes when Scaling

Many founders conflate raising a significant amount of venture capital or getting a high valuation as validation of their current business model. But as you scale, past behaviors stop working effectively and often processes are strained and break. How do you avoid the most common scaling mistakes?

3 Hacks for Calculating How Much Your Startup Needs to Raise

Many startups make fatal mistakes when calculating how much they need to scale. These 3 essential things can help you figure out how much capital you need to raise to scale effectively, without getting overwhelmed by options and opinions, or swayed by offers.

Should You Bootstrap?

Some legendary entrepreneurs advise startups to raise a minimal amount to retain more equity. Is bootstrapping the best bet for your business? Before you raise, be aware of the risks that come with raising too little money.

How to Build a Great Pitch that Hooks Investors

It’s easy to find templates, checklists, and techniques that promise to improve your pitch. But even the majority of good pitches fail to raise venture capital. What drives investors’ interest? How do VCs make decisions? How can you turn your pitch into a great one that has investors eager to hear more about your startup?

4 Scaling Myths That Could Impact Your Startup

During scaling, the role of CEO differs dramatically from that of an early-stage startup. Your focus will shift from proving your idea works, building your product, and getting others on board, to hiring a competent leadership team, creating processes, and being the face of your startup’s mission and culture.

5 Mistakes Founders Make with their Boards—and How to Avoid Them

Just closed a round of financing? Funding carries expectations and one of the most important things you can do is learn how to leverage your board. This guide offers 5 practical tips on how to manage relationships with investors and your board, helping you to avoid common missteps.

Man and woman seated at conference table, writing a formal founders' agreement

Reasons to Write a Formal Founders’ Agreement

Research shows that establishing a founders’ agreement prematurely often generates founder conflict—a leading cause of startup death. Can writing a founders’ agreement help you mitigate future conflicts and save your business? Before you rush into an agreement, understand the underlying mechanics and learn how to customize them to strengthen your co-founder relationship.

Choosing a Co-Founder? How to Find the Right Person

Asking someone to co-found your business is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make as a founder. How do you identify and choose the right person?