First-Time Founders

Helpful Articles for First Time Founders

Scaling

Termination Guide: Checklist, Conversation Scripts & Managing Team Morale

Mar 3, 2026

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13 min read

Termination Guide: Checklist, Conversation Scripts & Managing Team Morale

Termination is more than a difficult conversation. Termination is legal prep, team morale, and your own emotions. Here's the termination checklist to do it with integrity.

Kate York

Company Culture

Performance Management for Founders: How to Give Feedback That Actually Works

Mar 2, 2026

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10 min read

Performance Management for Founders: How to Give Feedback That Actually Works

Founders hire great people then don't know how to manage them. Here's how to set expectations, give feedback, and handle underperformance effectively.

Kate York

Scaling

Your First Hire: How to Decide Which Role to Fill First

Feb 27, 2026

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13 min read

Your First Hire: How to Decide Which Role to Fill First

Your first hire should unlock growth, not just cover your weaknesses. Here's how to evaluate which role to fill first based on real business needs.

Kate York

Company Culture

Feb 26, 2026

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11 min read

Decision Frameworks for Startups

Decision frameworks eliminate decision fatigue and preserve energy for what actually matters. Here's how to create one for your startup.

Kate York

Company Culture

Feb 25, 2026

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10 min read

Mental Fitness for Startups

Mental Fitness is trainable capacity to perform under pressure. Here's what it means for startups and how to build it into your company culture.

Kate York

Company Culture

Good Stress vs. Bad Stress: What Startup Founders Need to Know About Their Team's Breaking Point

Feb 24, 2026

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9 min read

Good Stress vs. Bad Stress: What Startup Founders Need to Know About Their Team's Breaking Point

Good stress builds resilient teams. Bad stress burns them out. Here's how to tell the difference and cultivate the kind that makes you stronger.

Kate York

Company Culture

Good Stress vs. Bad Stress: A Solo Founder's Survival Guide

Feb 23, 2026

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12 min read

Good Stress vs. Bad Stress: A Solo Founder's Survival Guide

Solo founder stress is real. But it's not killing you; your mindset about it is. Here's how to transform pressure into growth using science.

Kate York

First-Time Founders

The First 5 HR Policies Every Founder Needs

Feb 20, 2026

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11 min read

The First 5 HR Policies Every Founder Needs

Before You Make Your First Hire

Kate York

First-Time Founders

Your Fifth Policy: Anti-Harassment/Anti-Discrimination Policy

Feb 19, 2026

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11 min read

Your Fifth Policy: Anti-Harassment/Anti-Discrimination Policy

13 Questions to Answer Before Your First Employee

Kate York

First-Time Founders

Your Fourth Policy: Offer Letter Template

Feb 13, 2026

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11 min read

Your Fourth Policy: Offer Letter Template

14 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Creating Your Offer Letter Template

Kate York

First-Time Founders

Your Third Policy: Independent Contractor Agreement

Feb 12, 2026

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8 min read

Your Third Policy: Independent Contractor Agreement

15 Questions to Answer Before You Draft Your Independent Contractor Agreement

Kate York

First-Time Founders

Your Second Policy: Confidentiality/NDA Agreement

Feb 11, 2026

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9 min read

Your Second Policy: Confidentiality/NDA Agreement

Answer These Questions about a Confidentiality/NDA Agreement Before Anyone Learns Your Secrets

Kate York

First-Time Founders

Your First Policy: Intellectual Property Agreement

Feb 10, 2026

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9 min read

Your First Policy: Intellectual Property Agreement

Answer These Intellectual Property Questions Before Anyone Touches Your Code

Kate York

Company Culture

Do You Actually Need an Employee Handbook?

Feb 9, 2026

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10 min read

Do You Actually Need an Employee Handbook?

Ask Yourself These Questions First

Kate York

First-Time Founders

Feb 6, 2026

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8 min read

Your Hiring Plan

Why It's the Most Important Question You're Not Asking Yourself

Kate York

Company Culture

Feb 5, 2026

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7 min read

Accrued PTO vs. Unlimited PTO

What Founders Actually Need to Know

Kate York

First-Time Founders

Feb 3, 2026

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6 min read

Your First Hire

Steps for New Founders

Kate York

First-Time Founders

Termination Guide: Checklist, Conversation Scripts & Managing Team Morale

Performance Management for Founders: How to Give Feedback That Actually Works

Your First Hire: How to Decide Which Role to Fill First

Decision Frameworks for Startups

Mental Fitness for Startups

Good Stress vs. Bad Stress: What Startup Founders Need to Know About Their Team's Breaking Point

Good Stress vs. Bad Stress: A Solo Founder's Survival Guide

The First 5 HR Policies Every Founder Needs

Your Fifth Policy: Anti-Harassment/Anti-Discrimination Policy

Your Fourth Policy: Offer Letter Template

Your Third Policy: Independent Contractor Agreement

Your Second Policy: Confidentiality/NDA Agreement

Your First Policy: Intellectual Property Agreement

Do You Actually Need an Employee Handbook?

Your Hiring Plan

Accrued PTO vs. Unlimited PTO

Your First Hire

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