What is StartupStage?

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StartupStage is a founder-first community providing coordinated expert support without taking equity. For $297/month, you get access to pre-vetted fractional executives (CMO, CTO, CFO, legal, funding experts) who work together like an enterprise team - but focused entirely on YOUR business.

Unlike traditional accelerators that take 7% equity for 12 weeks of cohort-based classes, we provide ongoing 1-on-1 support, weekly strategy sessions, blind spot diagnosis, and implementation help for as long as you need it. No cohorts. No classes. No equity.

We've helped 900+ founders collectively, with new members joining every week. Our community includes everything from pre-seed founders validating their MVP to growth-stage companies scaling to enterprise.

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How is StartupStage different from Y Combinator and other accelerators?

The differences are fundamental:

Y Combinator/Traditional Accelerators:

• Takes 7% equity (worth $7M at $100M exit)
• 12-week cohort program
• One-size-fits-all curriculum
• Theory and pitch practice focused
• Support ends after Demo Day
• Accepts less than 5% of applicants
• Focused on preparing you to raise VC funding

StartupStage:

• Takes 0% equity (you keep 100% ownership)
• Ongoing support, month-to-month
• Custom 1-on-1 strategy for YOUR business
• Execution and implementation focused
• Support continues as long as you're a member
• Accepts all serious founders
• Focused on revenue generation and sustainable growth

The cost comparison is stark: Y Combinator's 7% equity could cost you $7 million at a $100M exit. StartupStage costs $297/month ($3,564/year, $35,640 over 10 years). Even at a modest $10M exit, you'd save $665,000 by choosing us.

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Who founded StartupStage and why?

StartupStage was founded by Jeremy Holland, a serial entrepreneur with 2 successful exits. StartupStage is his third startup.

The origin started organically on Twitter (now X) around 2019-2020, where Jeremy was engaging with founders, celebrating innovation, and building connections. He saw founders everywhere building incredible solutions but struggling to find their audience and the right support.

Traditional accelerators demanded equity for guidance that should be accessible. Jeremy knew there had to be a better way - one that empowered founders without compromising ownership.

He acquired StartupStage in its earlier iteration (StartupStage.app) almost 2 years ago and transformed it into the comprehensive founder-first platform it is today at StartupStage.com.

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How It Works

What exactly do I get for $297/month?

The Founders' Circle membership includes:

1. Weekly 1-on-1 Strategy CallsMeet with your dedicated fractional cofounder every week. These aren't generic advice sessions - we diagnose your blind spots, create actionable plans, and help you implement solutions specific to YOUR business stage and industry.

2. Coordinated Expert TeamWhen you need specialized help, we bring in the right experts: CMO for marketing strategy, CTO for technical architecture, CFO for financial planning, CHRO for team building, legal for contracts and IP, funding specialists for capital raising. All experts work together in coordination - no disconnected advice.

3. Private Founder CommunityAccess to our gated community (built on Circle.so) where you can engage with experienced founders, fractional experts, and serial entrepreneurs. No tire-kickers. No salespeople. Just serious founders helping each other.

4. $1M+ in Software SavingsOver 500+ apps with exclusive discounts updated monthly. Most members save $3-5K annually on their tech stack - AWS, Google Cloud, HubSpot, and hundreds more. Existing users and new users both get deep discounts.

5. Full-Stack MVP DevelopmentNeed to get from idea to deployed MVP? We can build your entire functional, MVP-ready app in just 2 weeks (additional cost applies - approximately $14K).

6. Funding SupportAccess to non-equity funding options, angel and private investor matching, and funding strategy guidance. We help you understand which funding path fits your goals.

7. Additional ServicesPayroll and tax services, cofounder matching, media placement through Featured.com API, and ongoing support for M&A, IPO prep, or global expansion.

Everything is backed by our 90-day money-back guarantee.

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How does the onboarding process work?

It's designed to be fast and focused:

Step 1: Sign Up (2 minutes)Join at community.startupstage.com/checkout/founders-circle. You'll need a credit card (this keeps out tire-kickers), but we don't charge until after your 3-day trial.

Step 2: First 24 HoursGet immediate access to the Founders' Circle community, browse software discounts, and schedule your first 1-on-1 blind spot diagnosis call.

Step 3: Diagnosis Call (First Week)We meet with every founder individually to understand where you are, where you're going, and what's blocking you. This isn't a sales call - we hand-vet every member to ensure we can actually help.

Step 4: Implementation BeginsBased on what we discover in your diagnosis, we immediately start bringing in the right experts and creating your custom strategy. Most founders identify their first blind spot or opportunity in this first call.

Step 5: Weekly CadenceFrom there, you have weekly strategy sessions with your fractional cofounder, access to all experts as needed, and ongoing support in the community.

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What does "coordinated expert support" actually mean in practice?

This is where we're fundamentally different from hiring fractional executives separately.

The Traditional (Broken) Way:You hire a fractional CMO for $5K/month. They work independently, create a marketing strategy, and plan a June product launch. They spend $30K on ads, PR, and webinars.

Launch day arrives: "Is the product ready?"

Your CTO (working separately): "We pushed that to August. Nobody told me about the marketing launch."

Result: $30K wasted, angry prospects, damaged credibility, and your CMO's strategy is now outdated.

The StartupStage Way:All experts work together on YOUR business. Here's the same scenario:

Your fractional CMO plans a launch. Before spending a dollar, they check with the team.

CMO: "When's the feature ready?"CTO: "June 15 confirmed, but Q3 is safer for full launch."CFO: "Budget is aligned for Q3 campaign."Go-to-market strategist: "Let's soft launch June to beta users, full campaign Q3."

Everyone coordinates. Everyone's aligned. Zero waste. The strategy adapts to reality in real-time.

This coordination prevents an average of $30K+ in annual waste and saves 5-10 hours per week previously spent trying to coordinate everyone yourself.

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Revenue Blind Spots

What are revenue blind spots and why do they matter?

Revenue blind spots are hidden revenue opportunities you can't see because you're too focused on your original plan or too close to your business.

Most founders fixate on ONE revenue model and miss 2-3 other significant opportunities sitting right in front of them.

Real Example - Sarah's Story:Sarah spent 5 years and $350K building a HIPAA-compliant sonogram app for pregnant women. She had 10,000 users paying $5/month (B2C model). She was broke and thought she needed 70,000 users to break even.

We asked her ONE question: "Who else wants access to your customers?"

She'd never thought about B2B partnerships. Within our first conversation, we identified:

• Pampers wanted week 36 moms (preparing for birth)
• Formula companies wanted week 38 moms (hospital bag prep)
• Stroller brands wanted week 20 moms (starting to shop)
• Maternity clothing brands wanted weeks 12-20
• Birth photographers wanted weeks 35-37

Within 2 weeks: She signed 12 baby brand partnerships at $2-5K/month each.

90 days later: Recovered her entire $350K investment. Became profitable for the first time in 5 years. Zero equity given up.

The revenue was always there. She just couldn't see it.

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How do you identify blind spots so quickly?

Through experience and strategic questioning.

Our founders and experts have collectively built dozens of companies. We've seen these patterns hundreds of times. What's invisible to you is obvious to us because we're not emotionally invested in your original vision.

We ask questions like:

• "Who else wants access to your customers?"
• "What else could you charge for using the same asset?"
• "Who has the same customers but sells something different?"
• "What would the premium version look like?"
• "Are you focused on the right ICP, or is there a better one?"

Another Example - The SMS Marketing Pivot:A founder came to us 6 months ago with a beautiful SMS marketing tool using AI to craft personalized brand messaging. Engagement was great. The product worked.

In our first call, I asked: "What are you going to do when iOS 26 comes out and starts filtering these types of SMS messages?"

He looked shocked. He had no idea Apple was building that filtering system.

He immediately pivoted his entire model. Two weeks of potential failure prevented. He's now thriving with a different approach that won't be filtered.

That's a blind spot.

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Do all founders have blind spots?

Yes. Everyone does, including us.

The question isn't whether you have blind spots - it's whether someone has helped you find them yet.

Three indicators you likely have blind spots:

1. You're generating revenue but not as much as you need
2. You've been focused on ONE primary revenue model
3. You haven't asked "Who else wants access to my customers?"

If you answered yes to any of these, you almost certainly have 2-3 significant blind spots costing you $50K-$350K in unrealized revenue.

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Results & Guarantees

What results can I expect in the first 90 days?

Most members see tangible results within the first 30 days:

First Call (Week 1):

• Blind spot diagnosis complete
• 1-3 specific opportunities identified
• Initial strategy framework in place

First 30 Days:

• Implementation of first strategy begins
• Common outcomes: Turn rate reduction, AI implementation, customer experience improvements, ICP refinement, revenue opportunity identification
• Most founders identify specific next actions that generate revenue or prevent waste

90 Days:

• Measurable outcomes: New revenue streams, prevented waste, systematic growth established
• This is why we offer a 90-day guarantee - serious founders implementing our guidance see clear ROI by day 90

Long-term (6-12 months):

• Multiple revenue streams established
• Scaled operations
• Expert support system in place
• Significant equity preservation vs accelerator path

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What's the 90-day money-back guarantee?

Simple: If you don't see ROI within 90 days, we refund everything. No questions, no hassle.

We've never paid out the guarantee.

Why? Because every serious founder implementing our coordinated expert guidance sees clear value:

• Revenue blind spot discovery alone often generates 10x-100x the membership cost
• Coordination preventing waste pays for itself
• Software savings often exceed the membership cost
• The ongoing expert support is worth far more than $297/month

We make this guarantee because we've proven it works 900+ times. We know it works. You should expect results, and we back that up with our money.

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Can I really save $3-5K per year on software?

Yes, and often more.

We have exclusive partnerships with 500+ apps, updated every single month with new offers and discounts. Most of these are for existing AND paying users, not just new signups.

Common savings examples:

• AWS credits and discounts
• Google Cloud credits
• Google Workspace discounts
• HubSpot premium deals
• AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and others)
• Development tools
• Marketing platforms
• Analytics software

The only reason a founder wouldn't save $3-5K annually is if they're not using many apps yet. As they build, there's no reason to pay retail when we have enterprise-level discounts.

Even if the software savings alone covered your $297/month membership, you'd still be winning - because you also get all the expert support, community access, and blind spot diagnosis.

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Pricing & Commitment

How much does StartupStage cost?

$297 per month, month-to-month. No contracts. No long-term commitment.

You can cancel anytime. If you do cancel, you lose access to the annual software discounts (they're spread monthly), but there's no penalty or hassle.

Is there really a 3-day free trial?

Yes. You get 3 days to explore the Founders' Circle community, schedule your first call, access software discounts, and see if it's the right fit.

We do require a credit card at signup (this keeps out tire-kickers who aren't serious), but we don't charge until after your 3-day trial ends.

Why is it so much cheaper than hiring fractional executives?

Because we operate differently.

Traditional Model:

• Fractional CMO alone: $5K/month (works in isolation)
• Fractional CTO alone: $8K/month (works in isolation)
• Fractional CFO alone: $6K/month (works in isolation)
• Total: $19K+/month with zero coordination

StartupStage Model:

• $297/month for access to ALL experts working together
• Coordination included
• Community included
• Software savings included

We can do this because:

1. We're membership-based, not hourly billing
2. Our experts work with multiple founders (efficiency)
3. We've built systems and frameworks that scale
4. We're founder-first - we want this accessible to founders who actually need it

Most fractional executives charge $5K+ per month because they're selling their time individually. We're selling access to an entire coordinated system.

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What if I need implementation help beyond the weekly calls?

That's where our custom implementation services come in.

The $297/month membership includes:

• Weekly strategy sessions
• Blind spot diagnosis
• Expert coordination and advice
• Community access
• Software savings

If you need us to actually IMPLEMENT the strategy - build your marketing campaigns, execute your go-to-market, develop features, etc. - that's available at additional cost.

Why we structure it this way:Some founders want to implement on their own (they have the team/resources). Others want us to do it for them (they want to stay focused on being the founder).

All additional services are:

• Negotiated ahead of time (no surprises)
• 100% backed and guaranteed (they work)
• Priced based only on what you need
• Faster than hiring (we already know your business)

For example: Full-stack MVP development (idea to deployed product in 2 weeks) runs approximately $14K on top of your membership.

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Who Should Join

Who is StartupStage for?

Serious founders building real businesses who want to scale without giving up equity.

Ideal members:

• Pre-seed to Series A+ founders ($0-$5M ARR)
• Bootstrapped founders tired of conflicting advice from free communities
• Founders considering accelerators but wanting to avoid dilution
• Founders with fractional executives who aren't coordinating
• Companies stuck at a revenue plateau
• Founders who've "tried everything" but still can't break through
• Ideally: End of alpha stage / beginning of beta (some users/traction)
• Mindset: Open to learning, willing to implement, "all grit no quit"

We also welcome:

• Pre-alpha founders with well-vetted ideas (we can build MVP in 2 weeks)
• Growth-stage founders scaling to M&A or IPO
• Anyone serious about building a sustainable business

Who should NOT join?

StartupStage isn't for everyone:

NOT a fit for:

• Founders optimizing solely for VC fundraising (choose an accelerator)
• Companies over $10M ARR (need different support)
• Founders not willing to implement advice
• Tire-kickers wanting free advice
• People building AI wrapper micro-SaaS products to flip quickly
• Anyone just in it for quick money vs building something meaningful

We have a vetting process (the initial call) specifically to ensure mutual fit. We want to help founders who want help.

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Why do you require a credit card for the trial?

Two reasons:

1. Keeps out tire-kickers: Free trials without payment info attract people who aren't serious. They browse, take what they can, and disappear. That dilutes the community for serious founders.

2. Ensures serious intent: If someone's not willing to put a credit card down (with zero charge for 3 days), they're probably not ready to invest in their business growth.

Our community is gated for a reason - like a gated neighborhood. The gate keeps out people who don't belong, keeps the environment safe, and maintains exclusivity for members.

You can cancel anytime during the trial with zero charge. But putting down a card shows you're serious about evaluating whether we're the right fit.

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Implementation & Support

What if I don't have time to implement?

That's exactly why we offer implementation services.

Many founders come to us because they're wearing too many hats. They don't need more advice - they need someone to execute alongside them.

Our approach:

1. Weekly calls: We identify what needs to happen
2. You choose: Implement yourself OR have us do it
3. If we implement: We handle execution while you stay focused on being the founder

Most implementation tasks we recommend take 1-2 hours per week if you do them yourself. If you don't have 1-2 hours per week for high-ROI activities that could generate $50K-$350K in new revenue, the timing might not be right.

But if you're currently spending 7+ hours per week in free communities getting conflicting advice, redirect that time to implementing coordinated strategy instead. Better ROI, same time investment.

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Do you guarantee specific revenue results?

No, and anyone who does is lying.

Here's what we DO guarantee:

• Results! We have never needed to pay out a guarantee and we don't plan to.
• Expert coordinated strategy specific to YOUR business
• Blind spot diagnosis in your first call
• Ongoing weekly support as long as you're a member
• $1M+ in software savings access
• 90-day money-back guarantee if you don't see ROI

What we DON'T guarantee:

• "$100K in new revenue in 90 days"
• Specific dollar outcomes
• Results without your implementation

Why? Results depend on your implementation, your market, your stage, and dozens of other variables we can't control.

What we CAN promise: We'll give you the strategy, coordination, and support. Most members exceed their expectations (Sarah recovered $350K, 100x the annual cost). But ultimate results depend on you executing.

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How is this different from just reading blog posts and watching YouTube?

Three critical differences:

1. Custom strategy for YOUR specific business: Blog posts and YouTube videos give generic advice for everyone. We diagnose YOUR specific situation, YOUR blind spots, YOUR opportunities.

Sarah read hundreds of articles about growing a SaaS business. None asked "Who else wants access to your customers?" That one question, custom to her situation, generated $350K in 90 days.

2. Coordinated experts implementing WITH you: Reading gives you knowledge. We give you implementation support and coordination. Knowledge without execution is worthless.

3. Accountability and ongoing support: A blog post can't answer your questions, adapt to your changing situation, or hold you accountable. We can.

You can't get custom strategic questions tailored to your specific blind spots from YouTube. You need someone who understands YOUR situation and asks the questions you haven't thought to ask.

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Comparisons

How is StartupStage different from free founder communities?

Free founder communities cost you more than you realize:

Hidden costs of "free" communities:

• 7+ hours per week reading conflicting advice
• Opportunity cost: $1,200+/month in lost productive time
• No coordinated strategy (one person says paid ads, another says content, another says cold outreach)
• No expert implementation help
• No accountability
• No one responsible for your success
• Often filled with people trying to sell you something

StartupStage:

• $297/month (LESS than your opportunity cost)
• Coordinated experts who all align on YOUR situation
• Implementation help, not just opinions
• Weekly accountability
• Gated community (no salespeople, no tire-kickers)
• We're responsible for helping you succeed

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What about incubators and startup studios?

Incubators:

• Usually take 5-10% equity
• Provide workspace and basic resources
• Cohort-based programs
• Limited expert access
• 3-6 month programs

Startup Studios:

• Build companies from scratch as founding team
• Take 50%+ equity
• You're essentially an employee of the studio
• They control major decisions

StartupStage:

• Zero equity
• You maintain full control
• Month-to-month commitment
• Expert support without giving up ownership
• You're building YOUR company, not theirs

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Getting Started

How do I get started?

Three simple steps:

1. Start your 3-day trial: Visit community.startupstage.com/checkout/founders-circle

2. First 24 hours: Access the Founders' Circle community, browse software discounts, schedule your blind spot diagnosis call

3. First call: We'll meet 1-on-1 to diagnose your blind spots, understand your situation, and create your initial strategy

Most founders find their first opportunity in the diagnosis call itself.

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What happens after I join?

Week 1:

• Blind spot diagnosis call scheduled and completed
• Meet your fractional cofounder
• Initial strategy framework created
• First action items identified
• Access to all software discounts
• Introduced to the community

Ongoing:

• Weekly 1-on-1 strategy calls
• Access to coordinated experts as needed
• Community engagement with other founders
• Implementation support
• Continuous blind spot identification
• Strategy refinement based on results

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Can I cancel anytime?

Yes, absolutely.

No contracts. No commitments. No cancellation hassle.

We're confident in the value - that's why we don't lock anyone in. Most members stay long-term because:

1. The coordinated expert support becomes essential
2. They continue finding new opportunities
3. The cost is negligible compared to value
4. Alternative (hiring fractional executives separately) costs $5K+ per month

But if it's not working for you, cancel anytime. No hard feelings.

We built this for serious founders who see the value, not for people who need to be convinced.

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Common Concerns

I'm already in an accelerator. Can I still join?

Yes, and many do.

Accelerators are time-limited (usually 12 weeks). StartupStage provides ongoing support that continues after your accelerator program ends.

Many founders join us specifically because their accelerator's cohort approach isn't giving them the custom 1-on-1 guidance they need.

I'm pre-revenue. Is StartupStage right for me?

Yes, if you're serious about building a revenue-generating business.

Pre-revenue founders benefit most from:

• Blind spot diagnosis BEFORE wasting years going in the wrong direction
• Coordinated expert team helping you avoid expensive mistakes
• Strategic guidance on fastest path to first revenue
• Connections to right resources at right time

The $297/month is negligible compared to the cost of 5 years in the wrong direction.

We've helped dozens of pre-revenue founders find their first revenue streams within 30-90 days.

The key is being serious about implementation, not just consuming information.

What if I've already been rejected by accelerators?

Perfect - you're exactly who we love to work with.

Traditional accelerators reject 95%+ of applicants. But that doesn't mean those founders aren't building great businesses.

Many were rejected for reasons that don't matter:

• "Not the right fit for our cohort"
• "Too early/too late stage for our program"
• "We already have a company in your space"
• "Geographic restrictions"

We accept all serious founders. No application process. No rejection. Just a mutual conversation about whether we can help you.

Some of our most successful members were rejected by Y Combinator and Techstars. They're now building great companies with 100% equity ownership.

How do I know if I'm a "serious" founder?

Ask yourself:

• Am I willing to implement advice I receive?
• Do I want to build a real, sustainable business?
• Am I open to discovering what I don't know?
• Am I willing to invest in my company's growth?
• Do I have "all grit, no quit" mindset?

If you answered yes, you're serious.

If you're just looking for free advice, want someone to do everything for you without any effort, or are building something you plan to flip in 6 months without caring about quality, you're probably not ready.

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Final Thoughts

Why should I choose StartupStage?

Because we're the only platform that provides:

✅ Coordinated expert team (CMO, CTO, CFO, legal, funding) working together on YOUR business✅ Zero equity (keep 100% ownership forever)✅ 1-on-1 custom strategy (no cohorts, no classes, no one-size-fits-all)✅ Ongoing support (not time-limited like accelerators)✅ Fast ROI (blind spot diagnosis in first call)✅ Founder-first approach (we scale at YOUR pace, toward YOUR goals)✅ $297/month (less than opportunity cost of free communities)✅ 90-day guarantee (we've never paid it out)

Traditional accelerators take 7% equity ($7M at $100M exit) for 12 weeks of theory.

We give you ongoing expert implementation for $297/month with zero equity.

The math is simple. The choice is clear.

What's the one thing I should know about StartupStage?

We're not about transactions - we're about partnerships.

When you join, we're in this together for as long as you want us to be. We don't win unless you win. We don't succeed unless you succeed.

Every founder is different. Every business is different. Every blind spot is different.

That's why we meet with every single founder individually. That's why we provide custom strategies. That's why we coordinate all experts around YOUR specific needs.

We built the model that should have existed all along: expert help without the equity cost. A partnership, not a transaction. A community, not a cohort.

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Ready to Find Your Blind Spots?

Start your 3-day trial today: community.startupstage.com/checkout/founders-circle

Questions? Connect with Jeremy Holland on LinkedIn or email us at support@startupstage.com.

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