| name | startup-advisor |
| description | Expert startup guidance covering lean startup methodology, MVP definition, product-market fit measurement, funding strategy, key metrics, pivot decisions, and stage-appropriate advice from ideation through scale. Use when the user asks about startup advisor or needs help with related topics. Do NOT use for unrelated domains or when a more specialized skill exists.
|
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| metadata | {"author":"foundry-skills","version":"1.0.0","tags":"entrepreneurship strategy planning analysis","category":"business-strategy","subcategory":"entrepreneurship","depends":"","disclaimer":"none","difficulty":"intermediate"} |
Startup Advisor
When to Use
Use this skill when:
- The user is building a startup and needs guidance on lean methodology, MVP definition, or product-market fit measurement
- The user wants help with funding strategy, key metrics, or deciding whether to pivot
- The user needs stage-appropriate advice from ideation through scale for a venture-backed business
- The user wants to understand startup economics, fundraising rounds, or growth metrics
Do NOT use this skill when:
- The user is bootstrapping without plans to raise funding (use bootstrapper-playbook instead)
- The user wants to write a formal business plan (use business-planner instead)
- The user needs to build a specific pitch deck for investors (use pitch-deck-builder instead)
Process
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Gather requirements. Ask the user clarifying questions about their specific context, goals, constraints, and experience level.
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Analyze the situation. Review the information provided and identify key factors, challenges, and opportunities relevant to startup advisor.
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Develop the framework. Create a structured approach tailored to the user's needs, incorporating best practices and domain-specific considerations.
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Deliver actionable output. Present specific, implementable recommendations with clear rationale, timelines, and success criteria.
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Address edge cases. Proactively identify potential issues, alternative approaches, and contingency plans.
Use this skill when:
- User needs guidance on startup advisor
- User asks about startup advisor best practices or techniques
- User wants a structured approach to startup advisor
Do NOT use this skill when:
- A more specialized skill exists for the specific subtopic
- The request is outside the scope of startup advisor
A comprehensive startup advisory skill that provides stage-appropriate guidance from ideation through scale. Built on Lean Startup methodology, product-market fit frameworks, and real-world startup operating practices. Covers strategy, metrics, fundraising, team building, and decision-making frameworks.
Questions to Ask the User First
- What is your startup idea? (One sentence)
- What stage are you at?
- Ideation (just an idea)
- Validation (testing assumptions)
- MVP (building first version)
- Early traction (first customers)
- Growth (scaling what works)
- Scale (optimizing and expanding)
- Are you a solo founder or do you have co-founders?
- What is your background/expertise?
- Are you working on this full-time?
- Do you have any traction? (Users, revenue, LOIs, waitlist)
- How are you funded? (Self-funded, friends/family, angel, VC, revenue)
- What is your biggest challenge right now?
- What is your target customer?
- What is your timeline / runway?
Startup Stage Framework
Stage 1: Ideation
Goal: Validate that a real problem exists worth solving.
IDEATION CHECKLIST:
PROBLEM VALIDATION:
- [ ] Can you describe the problem in one sentence?
- [ ] Have you experienced this problem yourself?
- [ ] Have you talked to 10+ people who have this problem?
- [ ] Can you quantify the cost of this problem? (time, money, frustration)
- [ ] Are people actively seeking solutions today?
SOLUTION BRAINSTORMING:
- [ ] List 5+ possible solutions
- [ ] Identify which solution is simplest to test
- [ ] Define what "better" means vs. existing alternatives
- [ ] Identify your unfair advantage for building this
FOUNDER-MARKET FIT:
- [ ] Why are YOU the right person to solve this?
- [ ] What unique insight do you have?
- [ ] What resources/connections do you bring?
- [ ] Are you passionate enough to work on this for 7-10 years?
QUICK TESTS:
- Create a landing page describing the solution
- Run a "fake door" test (CTA that measures interest)
- Post in relevant communities and measure response
- Talk to 20 potential customers (do NOT pitch -- just listen)
Stage 2: Validation
Goal: Prove that customers will pay for your solution.
VALIDATION EXPERIMENTS:
EXPERIMENT 1: Problem Interviews (Week 1-2)
Target: 20 customer interviews
Script: "Tell me about the last time you experienced {{problem}}..."
Success metric: 80%+ confirm the problem is significant
Result: [ ] Validated [ ] Invalidated
EXPERIMENT 2: Solution Interviews (Week 2-3)
Target: 15 solution interviews with mockup/prototype
Script: "Here is how we would solve {{problem}}. Would you use this?"
Success metric: 60%+ express strong interest
Result: [ ] Validated [ ] Invalidated
EXPERIMENT 3: Willingness to Pay (Week 3-4)
Target: 10 pricing conversations
Method: Van Westendorp or direct pricing question
Script: "If this existed today, what would you expect to pay?"
Success metric: Price supports viable business model
Result: [ ] Validated [ ] Invalidated
EXPERIMENT 4: Pre-Sales (Week 4-6)
Target: 5 pre-orders, LOIs, or deposits
Method: Offer early access at discount for commitment
Success metric: Real money or binding commitment changes hands
Result: [ ] Validated [ ] Invalidated
Stage 3: MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
Goal: Build the smallest thing that delivers the core value.
MVP DEFINITION WORKSHEET
CORE JOB TO BE DONE:
{{What is the #1 thing your product must do?}}
MVP FEATURE SET (be ruthless):
MUST HAVE (launch blockers):
1. {{feature}} -- Why: {{it directly delivers core value}}
2. {{feature}} -- Why: {{without it, product cannot function}}
3. {{feature}} -- Why: {{required for payment/onboarding}}
SHOULD HAVE (Week 2-4 post-launch):
1. {{feature}}
2. {{feature}}
COULD HAVE (Month 2-3):
1. {{feature}}
2. {{feature}}
WILL NOT HAVE (explicitly excluded):
1. {{feature}} -- Why: {{distraction from core value}}
2. {{feature}} -- Why: {{premature optimization}}
MVP TYPE:
[ ] Concierge MVP (manually deliver the value)
[ ] Wizard of Oz (looks automated, human-powered behind scenes)
[ ] Single-feature product (one thing done well)
[ ] Landing page + manual process
[ ] Piecemeal MVP (stitch together existing tools)
TIMELINE: {{weeks}} weeks
BUDGET: ${{budget}}
SUCCESS CRITERIA: {{measurable_outcome}}
Stage 4: Early Traction
Goal: Find repeatable customer acquisition and prove product-market fit.
PRODUCT-MARKET FIT ASSESSMENT
THE SEAN ELLIS TEST:
Ask existing users: "How would you feel if you could no longer use {{product}}?"
Very disappointed: {{pct}}% (target: 40%+)
Somewhat disappointed: {{pct}}%
Not disappointed: {{pct}}%
RETENTION ANALYSIS:
Day 1 retention: {{pct}}%
Day 7 retention: {{pct}}%
Day 30 retention: {{pct}}%
Is retention flattening? {{yes/no}} (good = yes, curve flattens)
ORGANIC GROWTH SIGNALS:
- [ ] Users referring other users without being asked
- [ ] Inbound leads increasing
- [ ] Usage frequency increasing over time
- [ ] Users complaining when product is down
- [ ] Users finding creative uses you did not anticipate
NET PROMOTER SCORE:
NPS: {{score}} (-100 to +100, target: 50+)
VERDICT:
[ ] Strong PMF -- Accelerate growth
[ ] Emerging PMF -- Double down on what is working
[ ] Weak PMF -- Iterate on product/positioning
[ ] No PMF -- Consider pivot
Stage 5: Growth
Goal: Scale acquisition channels and optimize unit economics.
GROWTH FRAMEWORK
IDENTIFY YOUR GROWTH ENGINE:
[ ] Viral: Users naturally invite others
Key metric: Viral coefficient (target: >1.0)
[ ] Sticky: High retention drives growth
Key metric: Churn rate (target: <5% monthly)
[ ] Paid: Profitable customer acquisition
Key metric: LTV:CAC ratio (target: >3:1)
CHANNEL TESTING MATRIX:
| Channel | Cost to Test | Timeline | Expected CAC | Status |
|-------------------|-------------|----------|-------------|-----------|
| Content/SEO | ${{}} | 3-6 mo | ${{}} | {{}} |
| Paid Search | ${{}} | 2-4 wk | ${{}} | {{}} |
| Paid Social | ${{}} | 2-4 wk | ${{}} | {{}} |
| Cold Outreach | ${{}} | 2-4 wk | ${{}} | {{}} |
| Partnerships | ${{}} | 1-3 mo | ${{}} | {{}} |
| Referral Program | ${{}} | 1-2 mo | ${{}} | {{}} |
| Community/Events | ${{}} | 2-3 mo | ${{}} | {{}} |
| PR/Media | ${{}} | 1-3 mo | ${{}} | {{}} |
GROWTH PRIORITIES (ICE Framework):
Impact (1-10) x Confidence (1-10) x Ease (1-10) = ICE Score
| Experiment | Impact | Confidence | Ease | Score |
|--------------------------|--------|------------|------|-------|
| {{experiment_1}} | {{}} | {{}} | {{}} | {{}} |
| {{experiment_2}} | {{}} | {{}} | {{}} | {{}} |
| {{experiment_3}} | {{}} | {{}} | {{}} | {{}} |
Stage 6: Scale
Goal: Build organizational capacity and expand markets.
SCALING READINESS CHECKLIST:
PRODUCT:
- [ ] Core product is stable and reliable
- [ ] Infrastructure can handle 10x current load
- [ ] Customer onboarding is self-serve or semi-automated
- [ ] Support is scalable (help docs, chatbot, tiered support)
TEAM:
- [ ] Key leadership roles are filled
- [ ] Hiring pipeline is established
- [ ] Culture and values are documented
- [ ] Management structure exists for 3x current headcount
OPERATIONS:
- [ ] Key processes are documented
- [ ] Financial controls and reporting are in place
- [ ] Legal and compliance requirements are met
- [ ] Vendor/partner relationships are formalized
GROWTH:
- [ ] At least 2 acquisition channels are working
- [ ] Unit economics are positive and improving
- [ ] Expansion revenue (upsell/cross-sell) strategy exists
- [ ] International/geographic expansion plan (if applicable)
Key Startup Metrics
Metric Definitions and Benchmarks
CORE METRICS DASHBOARD
ACQUISITION:
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC):
Formula: Total sales & marketing spend / New customers acquired
Benchmark: Varies by industry, but LTV:CAC should be >3:1
Your CAC: ${{cac}}
Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR):
Formula: Sum of all monthly subscription revenue
Growth rate: {{mrr_growth}}% MoM (healthy: 10-20% early stage)
Your MRR: ${{mrr}}
Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR):
Formula: MRR x 12
Your ARR: ${{arr}}
RETENTION:
Churn Rate (Monthly):
Formula: Customers lost in month / Customers at start of month
Benchmark: <5% monthly for SMB, <1% for enterprise
Your churn: {{churn}}%
Net Revenue Retention (NRR):
Formula: (Starting MRR + Expansion - Contraction - Churn) / Starting MRR
Benchmark: >100% (best-in-class: >120%)
Your NRR: {{nrr}}%
ECONOMICS:
Lifetime Value (LTV):
Formula: ARPU / Monthly churn rate
Your LTV: ${{ltv}}
LTV:CAC Ratio:
Formula: LTV / CAC
Benchmark: 3:1 minimum, 5:1+ for healthy businesses
Your ratio: {{ratio}}:1
Payback Period:
Formula: CAC / Monthly gross profit per customer
Benchmark: <12 months
Your payback: {{months}} months
ENGAGEMENT:
Daily Active Users (DAU): {{dau}}
Monthly Active Users (MAU): {{mau}}
DAU/MAU Ratio: {{ratio}}% (benchmark: 20%+ is good, 50%+ is excellent)
BURN:
Monthly Burn Rate: ${{burn}}
Runway: {{months}} months (cash / monthly burn)
Months to default (if declining runway): {{months}}
Pivot vs. Persevere Decision Framework
PIVOT ASSESSMENT
Answer each question honestly:
TRACTION SIGNALS:
1. Are users/customers actively using the product? {{yes/no}}
2. Is there organic growth (word-of-mouth)? {{yes/no}}
3. Are users willing to pay the target price? {{yes/no}}
4. Is usage increasing over time? {{yes/no}}
5. Do users get upset when the product is unavailable? {{yes/no}}
Score: {{count}}/5 -- If < 2, strongly consider a pivot.
PIVOT OPTIONS:
Zoom-in pivot: One feature becomes the whole product
Zoom-out pivot: Whole product becomes one feature of larger product
Customer segment pivot: Same product, different customer
Customer need pivot: Same customer, different problem
Platform pivot: Change from app to platform (or vice versa)
Business model pivot: Change how you monetize
Channel pivot: Change how you reach customers
Technology pivot: Same solution, different technology
Value capture pivot: Change your pricing/revenue model
DECISION MATRIX:
| Factor | Persevere | Pivot |
|-----------------------------|-----------|-------|
| Customer feedback | {{}} | {{}} |
| Metrics trend | {{}} | {{}} |
| Team energy/conviction | {{}} | {{}} |
| Market timing | {{}} | {{}} |
| Competitive landscape | {{}} | {{}} |
| Runway remaining | {{}} | {{}} |
DECISION: [ ] Persevere [ ] Pivot to: {{pivot_type}}
RATIONALE: {{why}}
Funding Options by Stage
FUNDING ROADMAP
PRE-SEED ($25K - $500K):
Sources:
- Personal savings / Friends & family
- Accelerators (Y Combinator, Techstars, etc.)
- Angel investors
- SAFE notes or convertible notes
- Government grants (SBIR/STTR in US)
What investors expect: Team + idea + initial validation
SEED ($500K - $3M):
Sources:
- Angel groups and syndicates
- Seed-stage VC funds
- Revenue-based financing (if revenue exists)
- Crowdfunding (Republic, Wefunder)
What investors expect: MVP + early traction + clear market
SERIES A ($3M - $15M):
Sources:
- Institutional VC funds
- Corporate venture capital
What investors expect: Product-market fit + $1M+ ARR + growth rate
SERIES B+ ($15M+):
Sources:
- Growth-stage VC
- Private equity
- Strategic investors
What investors expect: Proven unit economics + scalable growth engine
ALTERNATIVE FUNDING:
- Bootstrapping: Fund from revenue
- Revenue-based financing: Percentage of revenue until repaid
- Venture debt: Debt alongside equity raise
- Grants: Non-dilutive government/foundation funding
- Strategic partnerships: Advance payments or joint ventures
Common Startup Pitfalls
Top 20 Reasons Startups Fail (and How to Avoid Them)
| Rank | Pitfall | Prevention |
|---|
| 1 | No market need | Validate before building. Talk to 50+ customers. |
| 2 | Ran out of cash | Know your runway. Raise before you need to. |
| 3 | Wrong team | Co-founder alignment on vision, values, and commitment. |
| 4 | Got outcompeted | Focus on speed and customer intimacy, not features. |
| 5 | Pricing/cost issues | Test pricing early. Know your unit economics. |
| 6 | Poor product | Ship fast, get feedback, iterate weekly. |
| 7 | No business model | Know how you make money from Day 1. |
| 8 | Poor marketing | Find one channel that works before diversifying. |
| 9 | Ignored customers | Talk to customers weekly. Build feedback loops. |
| 10 | Bad timing | Study market readiness. Why now matters. |
| 11 | Lost focus | Say no to 90% of ideas. Do one thing well. |
| 12 | Team disharmony | Written co-founder agreement. Regular check-ins. |
| 13 | Pivot gone wrong | Pivot based on data, not desperation. |
| 14 | Lack of passion | Work on problems you genuinely care about. |
| 15 | Bad location | Remote-first or relocate to where your customers are. |
| 16 | No financing | Build relationships with investors before you need money. |
| 17 | Legal challenges | Get legal advice early on IP, contracts, and compliance. |
| 18 | No network | Join communities, attend events, help others first. |
| 19 | Burnout | Pace yourself. This is a marathon, not a sprint. |
| 20 | Fail to pivot | Set kill criteria before experiments. Be honest. |
Founder Operating System
Weekly Startup Cadence
WEEKLY OPERATING RHYTHM
MONDAY:
- Review key metrics dashboard (30 min)
- Set 3 weekly priorities with team (30 min)
- Customer outreach / check-ins (1 hr)
TUESDAY-THURSDAY:
- Heads-down execution on priorities
- Daily standup (15 min max)
- Customer interviews or sales calls (scheduled)
FRIDAY:
- Week in review: What worked? What did not? (30 min)
- Update investors / advisors (if applicable)
- Plan next week
- Reflect: Are we closer to product-market fit?
MONTHLY:
- Full metrics review and trend analysis
- Board update or advisor call
- Financial review (burn rate, runway)
- One strategic deep-dive (pricing, positioning, roadmap)
QUARTERLY:
- OKR review and reset
- Competitive landscape review
- Team retrospective
- Fundraising status assessment
Output Checklist
Output Format
Deliver the response as a structured document with clear headings and actionable content. Use tables for comparisons, numbered lists for sequential steps, and bullet points for options. Include specific examples where applicable.
[Startup Advisor deliverable]
1. Context and objectives
2. Analysis or framework
3. Specific recommendations with rationale
4. Action items with timeline
Example
Input: "Help me with startup advisor for a mid-size project."
Output: A complete startup advisor framework tailored to the specific context, with actionable steps, relevant considerations, and measurable outcomes.
Edge Cases
- Incomplete information: Ask clarifying questions before proceeding rather than making assumptions
- Conflicting requirements: Identify trade-offs explicitly and present options with pros and cons
- Scale mismatch: Adapt recommendations to match the user's context (individual vs. team vs. organization)
- Domain crossover: When the request overlaps with other skill domains, address what falls within scope and reference specialized skills for the rest
