Startup Therapy

Startups.com•www.startups.com

The "No BS" version of how startups are really built, taught by actual startup Founders who have lived through all of it. Hosts Wil Schroter and Ryan Rutan talk candidly about the intense struggles Founders face both personally and professionally as they try to turn their idea into something that will change the world.

Last refreshed: June 30th, 2026 at 5:05 PM

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Episodes

$250k is a Life-Changing Exit

When we think about "startup exits" we think about "millions and billions". But how life-changing could an exit of as "little" as $250,000 be? A lot more than you might think, which is important because most people are far more likely to get to a $250k exit than millions or billions. Wil and Ryan unpack exactly how $250k could fundamentally change your life and how trying to get to that milestone first could be a more achievable and powerful goal than holding out for the big Willy Wonka ticket. ...

Apr 08, 2019•40 min•Ep. 8

Your Degree Means Nothing Here

A true startup is a meritocracy where big degrees and titles shouldn't determine how capable your team is or how fast each person can grow. We talk about creating an environment where each team member can put their past accomplishments aside and focus exclusively on what they have contributed to the startup today. Sign up for the Startups Newsletter https://www.startups.com/newsletter...

Apr 01, 2019•49 min•Ep. 7

When to Fold the Tents

If you find yourself focusing more on not losing than winning then it could be time to fold the tents and pack up camp, but when should you make that call? Sign up for the Startups Newsletter https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Mar 18, 2019•41 min•Ep. 6

Optimizing Your Startup for Happiness

What if instead of focusing our startup around our product or revenue - we started optimizing for our own happiness? What if our work hours gave us more time with our kids or who we worked with were only the people we enjoyed the most? It's possible! The key is thinking about your startup differently by using "personal happiness" as a core tenet of how the company works. Sign up for the Startups Newsletter https://www.startups.com/newsletter...

Mar 16, 2019•45 min•Ep. 5

A $1 Million Business is a Home Run

In the age of "unicorn valuations" and giant funding rounds, the world has lost sight of how valuable a startup can be with even a million dollars of revenue. Ryan and Wil do a detailed walk through of exactly how important a million dollar business can be to a Founder and how dangerous it is to be lead astray by big numbers that have very little personal value to a you as a Founder. Sign up for the Startups Newsletter https://www.startups.com/newsletter...

Mar 11, 2019•38 min•Ep. 4

Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Startups

Many of us play a horrible game of comparison, whereby we compare ourselves to other Founders, other startups, and if we're (un)lucky, the press and social media barrage we see of other people's success. It's all BS. The moment we start comparing ourselves to other people's apparent success, we all lose. In this episode we talk about how to "stay in your own lane" and avoid the fallacy of following false idols in the startup world. Sign up for the Startups Newsletter https://www.startups.com/new...

Mar 11, 2019•34 min•Ep. 3

The Emotional Cost of Being a Startup Founder

No one talks about the intense emotional cost of being a startup Founder (so of course we do!) From missing time with your loved ones to putting all of your chips on a single bet (and losing), we talk about the toll this takes on a Founder and what you can do to help alleviate some of this intense stress in your own journey. Sign up for the Startups Newsletter https://www.startups.com/newsletter...

Mar 11, 2019•36 min•Ep. 2

The Problem with Working on Multiple Ideas at Once

Wil and Ryan debunk the myth that startup Founders can work on multiple ideas at once and just pick the best one to run with. We unpack the issues that come with trying to split your focus and how costly that decision can be. Sign up for the Startups Newsletter https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Mar 11, 2019•31 min•Ep. 1

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