Startup Secrets

img.wp-smiley,img.emoji{display:inline !important;border:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;height:1em !important;width:1em !important;margin:0 .07em !important;vertical-align:-.1em !important;background:none !important;padding:0 !important;}body{--wp--preset--color--black:#000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray:#abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white:#fff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink:#f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red:#cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange:#ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber:#fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan:#7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan:#00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue:#8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue:#0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple:#9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,#9b51e0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan:linear-gradient(135deg,#7adcb4 0%,#00d082 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,#cf2e2e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray:linear-gradient(135deg,#eee 0%,#a9b8c3 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum:linear-gradient(135deg,#4aeadc 0%,#9778d1 20%,#cf2aba 40%,#ee2c82 60%,#fb6962 80%,#fef84c 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffceec 0%,#9896f0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux:linear-gradient(135deg,#fecda5 0%,#fe2d2d 50%,#6b003e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffcb70 0%,#c751c0 50%,#4158d0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean:linear-gradient(135deg,#fff5cb 0%,#b6e3d4 50%,#33a7b5 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass:linear-gradient(135deg,#caf880 0%,#71ce7e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight:linear-gradient(135deg,#020381 0%,#2874fc 100%);--wp--preset--duotone--dark-grayscale:url("#wp-duotone-dark-grayscale");--wp--preset--duotone--grayscale:url("#wp-duotone-grayscale");--wp--preset--duotone--purple-yellow:url("#wp-duotone-purple-yellow");--wp--preset--duotone--blue-red:url("#wp-duotone-blue-red");--wp--preset--duotone--midnight:url("#wp-duotone-midnight");--wp--preset--duotone--magenta-yellow:url("#wp-duotone-magenta-yellow");--wp--preset--duotone--purple-green:url("#wp-duotone-purple-green");--wp--preset--duotone--blue-orange:url("#wp-duotone-blue-orange");--wp--preset--font-size--small:13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium:20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large:36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large:42px;}.has-black-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;}.modal{display:none;position:fixed;padding-top:50px;left:20%;top:20%;width:40%;height:30%;background-color:#000;background-color:rgba(0,0,0,.5);font-family:"Roboto",sans-serif !important;}.modal-show{display:inline;position:fixed;padding-top:50px;left:0;top:0;width:100%;height:100%;background-color:rgba(0,0,0,.5);z-index:9999;border:.5px solid black;}.modal-header{color:#292b2c !important;font:400 18px/26px "Roboto",sans-serif;font-style:italic;font-size:2em;padding:0px 1vw 0px 1vw;}.modal-content{position:relative;background-color:#f4cd11;padding:10px 0px 0px 0px;margin:auto;width:50%;max-width:500px;max-height:400px;-webkit-animation-name:animateright;-webkit-animation-duration:.8s;animation-name:animateright;animation-duration:.8s;z-index:10000;}.modal-body{height:fit-content;border-top:1px solid black;border-bottom:1px solid black;padding:5px 0 10px 0;background-color:#f8f7f0 !important;text-align:center;display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;box-shadow:1px 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,.7);}.close-btn{position:absolute;top:2px;right:2px;color:gray;font-size:24px;font-weight:bold;background-color:transparent;border:none;margin:2px 2px 5px 0px;cursor:pointer;}.close-button{margin:5px 0px 0px 0px;background-color:transparent;border:none;color:#2a2b2c;font-family:"Roboto",sans-serif !important;font-style:italic;z-index:99;cursor:pointer;font-size:15px;}.modal-content > h1{text-align:center;}.modal-text-right{position:absolute;top:62%;right:2%;font-size:20px;}.progress{color:white;text-align:center !important;height:300px !important;width:fit-content !important;padding:5px 0 5px 5px !important;margin-bottom:10px;margin-top:4%;}.progressbar__label{color:#2a2b2c !important;font-family:"Roboto",sans-serif !important;font-weight:bold;}.close-btn:hover{color:#2a2b2c;}@-webkit-keyframes animatetop{from{top:-300px;opacity:0;}to{top:0;opacity:1;}}@keyframes animatetop{from{top:-300px;opacity:0;}to{top:0;opacity:1;}}@-webkit-keyframes animateright{from{right:-500px;opacity:0;}to{right:0;opacity:1;}}@keyframes animateright{from{right:-300px;opacity:0;}to{right:0;opacity:1;}}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.mfp-bg{opacity:0 !important;}.copyright p{color:#5d5e61;font-size:12px;padding-top:0 !important;}

Startup Secrets Resources

A Simple Template for Your Seed Funding Pitch Deck

Underscore VC

What Should Be in a Series A Data Room? (Checklist and Template)

How to “Nurture” a VC Relationship (And What That Actually Means)

How to Create a Differentiated Competitive Landscape Slide

How to Hire and Retain the Right Startup Talent

7 Tips to Help Early-Stage Startups Close Candidates (From Experienced Hiring Managers)

How to Design an Effective (and Efficient) Interview Process

How Salsify Defined Their Hiring Principles

How to Hire and Retain the Right Startup Talent

How to Build a Unique and Authentic Startup Culture

Underscore VC

Culture as a Product: How HubSpot Built its Famed Startup Culture

How to Build a Unicorn: 5 Lessons From the Founders of ezCater, Acquia, and Actifio

How to Manage the Emotional Rollercoaster of Selling Your Company

3 Simple (But Often Overlooked) Tips to Drive Startup Momentum from GitHub’s COO

What’s Your Roadmap to Success?

Underscore VC

Why Startups Fail: 6 Painful Patterns to Avoid

Featured

How to Design an Effective (and Efficient) Interview Process

How to Manage the Emotional Rollercoaster of Selling Your Company

Culture as a Product: How HubSpot Built its Famed Startup Culture

Raising a Series A: How to Streamline Your Process and Fuel Investor FOMO

How Intercom Co-founder Des Traynor Uses “Clusters of Demand” to Find Product-Market Fit

How to Outline Important Milestones for a Series A Round

Underscore VC

Partners

Startup Secrets Resources

A Simple Template for Your Seed Funding Pitch Deck

Underscore VC

What Should Be in a Series A Data Room? (Checklist and Template)

Article Contributors

Richard Dulude

Chris Gardner

Lily Lyman

James Orsillo

Underscore VC

How to “Nurture” a VC Relationship (And What That Actually Means)

Article Contributors

Brian Devaney

James Orsillo

Lily Lyman

Underscore VC

How to Create a Differentiated Competitive Landscape Slide

Article Contributors

Richard Dulude

Lily Lyman

Brian Devaney

James Orsillo

Luke Thomas

How to Hire and Retain the Right Startup Talent

Article Contributors

Kathy Breslin

Gabriela Serret-Campos

Underscore VC

7 Tips to Help Early-Stage Startups Close Candidates (From Experienced Hiring Managers)

Article Contributors

Brian Devaney

Robert McDonald

Chris White

Shannon Braley

How to Design an Effective (and Efficient) Interview Process

Article Contributors

Underscore VC

Stefanie Bishop

Reed Hallowell

How Salsify Defined Their Hiring Principles

Article Contributors

Rose Pino

Underscore VC

How to Hire and Retain the Right Startup Talent

Article Contributors

Kathy Breslin

Gabriela Serret-Campos

Underscore VC

How to Build a Unique and Authentic Startup Culture

Underscore VC

Culture as a Product: How HubSpot Built its Famed Startup Culture

Article Contributors

Lily Lyman

Dharmesh Shah

Underscore VC

How to Build a Unicorn: 5 Lessons From the Founders of ezCater, Acquia, and Actifio

Article Contributors

Stefania Mallett

Ash Ashutosh

Dries Buytaert

Underscore VC

How to Manage the Emotional Rollercoaster of Selling Your Company

Article Contributors

Claire Crowther

Michael Skok

Rana El Kaliouby

3 Simple (But Often Overlooked) Tips to Drive Startup Momentum from GitHub’s COO

Article Contributors

Underscore VC

Erica Brescia

What’s Your Roadmap to Success?

Underscore VC

Why Startups Fail: 6 Painful Patterns to Avoid

Article Contributors

Underscore VC

Tom Eisenmann

Startup Secrets Newsletter

Featured

How to Design an Effective (and Efficient) Interview Process

Article Contributors