Advice for Startup Founders: What to Do in Your First 90 Days

The first 90 days of a startup can make or break your momentum. Product direction, team dynamics, and investor confidence all begin to take shape in this critical window. If you’re building your first company, the right advice for startup founders can give you clarity, reduce wasted time, and prevent early missteps.

This isn’t a checklist. It’s a tactical guide based on proven strategies and advice from seasoned founders, operators, and investors who’ve seen what works—and what doesn’t—when a startup is just getting off the ground.

1. Validate the Problem Before Perfecting the Product

One of the most important pieces of advice for startup founders? Don’t overbuild before you’ve validated the need.

What to do now:

• Talk to potential users every week
• Ask “What are you currently doing to solve this problem?”
• Avoid coding before confirming demand

Quote from the field:
“The biggest mistake is thinking you need a product to get real feedback. You don’t.” – Rahul Vohra, Founder of Superhuman

2. Define the Mission—and Actually Write It Down

Startups thrive on clarity. Defining your mission helps you filter noise, stay aligned as a team, and attract the right early supporters.

Ask yourself:

• What are we building?
• Why does it matter?
• Who do we serve—and how?

This is foundational advice for startup founders who want to avoid internal confusion as the company scales.

3. Set “No-Regret” Priorities

You can’t do everything. And you shouldn’t try.

Focus areas for your first 90 days:

• Validate the core problem
• Talk to real customers
• Scope an MVP
• Secure at least six months of financial runway

Every experienced founder will tell you: ignore shiny distractions. Smart prioritization is core to long-term success.

4. Hire Slowly, Document Early

The first 2–3 hires shape your company’s culture more than any mission statement.

Look for:

• Grit over resumes
• Learning ability over domain expertise
• Builders, not managers

At the same time, start documenting your decisions and workflows. This is practical advice for startup founders who want to avoid chaos when onboarding ramps up later.

5. Build Investor Trust Before You Raise

Even if you’re not fundraising yet, now is the time to begin building relationships.

How to do it:

• Send monthly updates to early advisors
• Share real metrics, not hype
• Ask for input—not money

Early transparency earns long-term trust—and increases your odds of getting funded later.

6. Protect Your Health Like It’s a Business Asset

Burnout derails more startups than bad code. The best advice for startup founders often includes something counterintuitive: protect your energy early.

Try this:

• Schedule one day per week with no work
• Avoid checking email first thing in the morning
• Build in mental space to reflect and recover

Your decision-making depends on clarity. And clarity depends on rest.

Final Advice for Startup Founders: Build with Intention

You don’t need to be perfect—but you do need to be intentional.

The best advice for startup founders isn’t about hacks or shortcuts. It’s about staying focused on what matters most—problem validation, lean execution, and a strong mission—so you can build something real that lasts beyond your first 90 days.