The Playbook
Blog
Tactical advice, honest essays, and research-backed frameworks from founders who have been in the trenches.
How to Write a Pitch Deck Investors Actually Read (And Don't Just Flip Through)
Most pitch decks die on slide 3. Here's the exact structure that gets investors past slide 10 — and into a follow-up meeting.
Alexandra Chen · May 2, 2026
The Founder Mental Health Crisis Nobody Talks About — Until It's Too Late
67% of founders report symptoms of burnout. 45% say it affected their decision-making. Almost none of them told their board.
Dr. Priya Nair · May 1, 2026How to Write a Pitch Deck Investors Actually Read (And Don't Just Flip Through)
Most pitch decks die on slide 3. Here's the exact structure that gets investors past slide 10 — and into a follow-up meeting.
Alexandra Chen · May 2, 2026The Founder Mental Health Crisis Nobody Talks About — Until It's Too Late
67% of founders report symptoms of burnout. 45% say it affected their decision-making. Almost none of them told their board.
Dr. Priya Nair · May 1, 2026
Product-Market Fit Is Not What You Think It Is
It's not the NPS score. It's not the growth rate. Here's the only signal that actually tells you if you've found it.
James Okafor · Apr 30, 2026
How to Hire Your First 10 Employees Without Destroying Your Culture
Employees 1–10 set the cultural DNA of your company forever. Most founders hire backwards.
Sofia Reyes · Apr 29, 2026
The Only Series A Checklist You Need in 2026
Metrics have shifted. Investor expectations have changed. Here's what actually gets a Series A done this year.
Marcus Webb · Apr 28, 2026
The Most Underrated CEO Skill Is Learning to Say No
Every yes to a distraction is a no to your actual strategy. Here's how the best CEOs protect their time and focus.
Ava Johnson · Apr 27, 2026
Why Your Growth Funnel Is Broken and What to Replace It With
Funnels are linear. Markets are loops. The best growth teams have figured this out — here's how to build your loop.
Leo Santos · Apr 26, 2026
Build in Public: The Underdog Strategy That Got Us to $500K MRR
We shared everything — the wins, the failures, the revenue numbers. Here's what happened to our growth when we did.
Ryan Torres · Apr 25, 2026
7 Cold Email Templates That Actually Get Replies From Investors
We analyzed 200 successful cold investor outreach emails. These 7 templates distill everything that works.
Naomi Blake · Apr 24, 2026