Startup Sales — 5 Common Sales Mistakes by Founders
August 12, 2025
Founders are responsible for the first sales a startup will make. For many founders, this is one of their very first experiences of sales and mistakes are often made.
Some companies are like catnip for investors, be it traction, founders, or customers, there are plenty of fundraising rounds each year where demand vastly outstrips supply. In those situations, founders are often faced with the option to push out their earliest investors. Now I’m incredibly biased, but I think this is a mistake. Here’s why:
Regardless of how hot your company is today, there will almost certainly be some tougher times ahead. During those moments, the folks who were interested when you were successful tend to disappear, and you really need your earliest believers to step up.
If you ask investors you pushed out to add more capital in a later round, you will likely struggle, as they will know that if the good times return, you will push them out again.
Most good investors understand this situation, and so they’re less likely to refer other investors and hiring candidates to your company. Which is often how they help most.
Best of luck out there.
