Startup Planner: The Steps, Programs & Services for Your Startup
Tell us what you need, your business type and budget, and get the build steps to take with the startup programs, accelerators and founder services for each.
Your plan: 5 steps for network
Work through them in order. Every step links to its guide and to the programs and services that help.
Split equity and sign a founder agreement Hard
Agree who owns what, how shares vest and what happens if someone leaves, while everyone still gets along.
Why this step matters Co-founder disputes are one of the most common reasons early startups fall apart. Most of them come down to equity, roles and what happens when someone stops contributing. Settling these questions in writing while everyone is optimistic is far easier than… Read the step →
Launch on Product Hunt and launch sites Medium
Put your product in front of early adopters on Product Hunt and launch directories, and turn one day of attention into users and links.
Why this step matters A launch gives you a fixed date, a reason to contact everyone you know and a crowd of early adopters who actually try new tools. Product Hunt is the best known launch site for software, and a good day there brings… Read the step →
Get press coverage Medium
Pitch a real story to the right journalists and newsletters to earn credibility, links and a burst of qualified traffic.
Why this step matters Coverage in a trade publication, a respected newsletter or a podcast does three things a startup struggles to do alone. It borrows trust, because an independent writer chose to mention you. It sends a concentrated burst of the right readers. And… Read the step →
Join an accelerator Hard
Trade a slice of equity for funding, mentors, perks and a network, and pick the programme whose terms and alumni fit you.
Why this step matters An accelerator is a fixed-length programme, usually around three months, that invests a small amount in a batch of startups in exchange for equity, then pushes them hard with mentors, peer founders and a demo day in front of investors. The… Read the step →
Raise funding Hard
Choose the right money (grants, angels, SAFEs or venture capital), prepare your story and close a round on fair terms.
Why this step matters Outside money can buy time, hires and speed, but it is not required for every startup and it is never free. Equity investors own part of your company and expect a large outcome; grants and revenue cost no equity but come… Read the step →
How the planner works
Each build step carries what it gets you, a typical cost and the kinds of startup it matters most for. The planner scores every step against your answers, drops anything your budget cannot fund, and shows the best programs, accelerators and services for each step that remains. It is a starting point: read each step, then claim the credits you qualify for before you spend money.