Founder Testimonials

"The support from you as well as Starve Ups was vital to our success."

I wanted to let you know that we just hit the $10M mark for this year so far. The support from you as well as Starve Ups was vital to our success.

As you know, it can be very lonely as a founder, but support from a community of like minded people makes all the difference.

Thank you!! And thank you for continuing to put so much heart into the cause.

"To put it simply, we wouldn't exist today if it wasn't for Starve Ups."

As a founding member of Starve Ups, we were part of the initial exploration of whether or not other company founders could benefit from being connected to each other. To put it simply, we wouldn't exist today if it wasn't for Starve Ups. The relationships we forged, the lessons we learned from each other, and the long-lasting friendships have been the primary reason we grew from a couple guys with an idea to one of the most broadly used integrated CRM and marketing automation SaaS companies on the market.

When times were tough, I was able to share our struggles and get new ideas on how to solve problems. As we grew, the feedback we received from other founders kept us away from the many pitfalls that come with growth. Knowing we could talk to other businesses about how to best use resources and how to deal with potential investors kept us alive. We learned how to build a positive, cohesive, data-driven culture, and Starve Ups was a primary driver behind that metamorphosis into a "real" company.

"I wouldn't be in business today if not for the support from Starve Ups. "

My time as an entrepreneur has not been easy. It has been a journey of personal growth, growing into the role as CEO by letting go of self doubt. Being in a group of people who have made or are making this journey means the world to me.

It lets me know I'm not alone, and it demonstrates that making dreams materialize is possible. Beyond demonstrating the possibility Starve Ups brings tools to the table to work on each members' business.

Being a part of this group, community and network are so fundamental that I wouldn't be in business today if not for the support from Starve Ups.

"We knew with absolute certainty that we could rely on each other."

There were at least 3 times I was absolutely prepared to quit, but changed my mind after attending Starve Ups meetings. Every gathering was cathartic, educational, and most importantly, it was filled with tenacity and encouragement.

Even though the other company founders had no stake in mine, they all supported me as if they did. The initial Starve Ups members were a family.

We knew with absolute certainty that we could rely on each other. To walk away would have meant walking away from family, not just my venture. I couldn't do that.

"

Like no other organization I've ever experienced, Starve Ups continues to...serve up very critical moments when needed most."

Succeeding with a startup is dependent on being able to piece together enough game changing moments, that continue to move your startup to the next level.

The Dyrt would not be experiencing our current success without the Starve Ups led founder-to-founder conversations and the Starve Ups led fundraising networking.



Like no other organization I've ever experienced, Starve Ups continues to consistently and naturally serve up very critical moments when needed most.

"I can honestly say that Scout Military owes its existence to the Starve Ups community."

Starve Ups' peer mentoring exceeds any level of community we've seen from coworking spaces, incubators, accelerators, and investment funds.

They've been there before (or are going through it currently), and they don't require the sugar coating that many stakeholders need. The specific attention paid to your unique situation is second to none.

I can honestly say that Scout Military owes its existence to the Starve Ups community. During our darkest time, they gave us their time, expertise, and experience to steer us through our challenge.

"After more than a decade in Starve Ups I can conclusively say…that it is real."

The candor, support, successes, failures and life experiences we all share as entrepreneurs is a valuable form of emotional insulation from the extreme pressure cooker that is entrepreneurship. After more than a decade in Starve Ups I can conclusively say that while the value is difficult to articulate in a bullet list, that it is real.

A sense of community and the momentum that can help a person or entity maintain is rare and difficult to sustain for as long as Starve Ups has managed. I'm honored to have been a member, board member and emeritus member of the Starve Ups community and am grateful for the inspiration and support I've been lucky to have given and received there.

"From my first founders happy hour, I was never in a bubble."

Over the years, the passionate, enthusiastic, caring, supportive and frikkin smart Starve Ups entrepreneurs have consistently added value through problem solving, opportunity exploration and encouragement.

When it came time to explore an exit, the insights gained through real conversations about personal and financial objectives, with having different optics than me, resulted in a more much satisfying exit than it started out to be.

From my first founders happy hour, I was never in a bubble.

"…the amount you will learn from others' successes, and stumbles will shock you."

Starve Ups helps entrepreneurs and founders who commit to the community...the amount you will learn from others' successes, and stumbles will shock you.

Starve Ups is a community that ensures nobody has to make the same mistake that somebody else has endured and learned from – which means that together you can benefit from each others' successes and accomplishments.

Some times you're avoiding pitfalls, sometimes you're taking the "express tunnel" you wouldn't otherwise have known about. And all along the way – and this is important – you have the genuine support of your fellow Starve Ups entrepreneurs.

"No one is a founder unless they've stepped off an edge…Starve Ups is Founders."

Starve Ups are Founders. No one is a founder unless they've stepped off an edge, believed enough in a dream and themselves to risk everything. Founders enter a cutting edge world and cutting an edge means meeting terrifying situations and make or break decisions, almost always without all of the resources readily at hand; decisions that affect family, investors, maybe even the world and definitely the heart of the person making the decision.   

Starve Ups are people who've felt the exhilaration, yet the fear. When my path seems erratic, necessitating new choices every few steps, yet an electrifying force is driving me forward, it is only founders who can truly understand the dynamics. Starve Ups is Founders.

"Starve Ups has provided me consistent guidance...a huge part to creating, building, and then selling my first company."

The life of an entrepreneur can feel unstable; however, the dynamic group within Starve Ups has provided me consistent guidance. Since 2009, I have had the opportunity to meet so many like minded individuals willing to offer feedback, support and friendship.

These connections were a huge part to creating, building, and then selling my first company. As I complete the 4th profitable year of my second company I am certain my experience with in the StarveUps community encourages my continued success.

"I couldn't have finished the SpaceView acquisition without the crucial help from Starve Ups."

Starve Ups stands out as the most valuable peer group. The group was supportive in ways that only fellow founders who had no monetary gain tied to my success could. Understanding, encouragement and help on the highest level.

They were there for me in every step of the way, especially when times got hard and everyone one else gave up. I couldn't have finished the SpaceView acquisition without the crucial help from Starve Ups.

"Starve Ups community is constantly feeding us both as a startup and as individuals."

Whether it is a planned event, one-on-one meeting, or working at HQ, the Starve Ups community is constantly feeding us both as a startup and as individuals. Interacting with other founders who genuinely desire to make a difference with MINIM has helped us in almost every aspect of the business.

Although the community has helped us improve our product offering, optimize our business model, and provide a clearer growth path, the most significant impact Starve Ups has made is with our brand itself. MINIM's "more from less" ethos can be contributed not only to our personal experiences as outdoor enthusiasts, but the Starve Ups community as a whole. And for that, we are incredibly grateful.

"Starve Ups is the ultimate connector…and the lessons learned have been invaluable."

Starve Ups is the ultimate connector.  We've met so many other great companies that have been open and willing to share their knowledge, network, challenges, and solutions.  Nobody has any clue what they're doing when they first start a business and to have access to people who are a year or two ahead of us that have shared their experiences and lessons learned has been invaluable.  There are just some things you can't Google an answer to and the peer to peer aspect has been amazing.

Starve Ups is more than simply creating space and time for founders to connect though.  Starve Ups also connects startups to the people and resources that will help build their businesses.  We've had questions or needs that our peer network may not necessarily have answers for and there is no shortage of connections to the people, companies, and resources that can help drive us forward.

Lastly, we know that as we continue to grow and build our business we'll encounter challenges (and excitement) we never even imagined.  It's truly great to know that no matter what comes along, we're tapped in to a vast network of people who'll be able to help us to reach our goals.

"I have found Starve Ups to be instrumental to Indow's rapid growth."

I have found Starve Ups to be instrumental to Indow's rapid growth. I always enjoy the peer networking and advice. I try to make it to every Hot Seat that I can, not only because I love helping other entrepreneurs, but also because I can learn so much from my fellow CEOs as they go through key inflection points on their own journeys.

Starve Ups has also been exceptionally helpful for our fundraising. We met our Series B lead investor, William Hambrecht, at the first Starve Ups Venture Community event. Indow subsequently received $100,000  from a fund we connected with through Starve Ups networking. 

I highly recommend Starve Ups to every start up CEO. It's a great community and it's fun!

"Starve Ups is a prepackaged set of amazing people that love startup so much, they help other people with their companies too."

I think the toughest thing about startup is that you don’t know what you don’t know. Experience is something gained over time by living through something.

Starve Ups is composed of an amazing set of first-time entrepreneurs and experienced serial entrepreneurs that love what they do. Spark is my second company in the Starve Ups community; the first time was so valuable, I had to do it again. Everyone wants seasoned professionals around them when pursuing something.

Starve Ups is a prepackaged set of amazing people that love startup so much, they help other people with their companies too. It gives us all energy to help others and watch the group grow as people, and as a set of companies. It can be tough out there, but you don’t have to do it alone.

"What an amazing community Starve Ups provides to us founders...nothing short of remarkable."

What an amazing community Starve Ups provides to us founders! The introductions that are made to other founders (new and experienced alike), startup friendly companies, and investors are phenomenal and the help that comes from the community is nothing short of remarkable.

Whether it’s getting through the day-to-day hustle, major corporate issues and everything in between, there are always multiple people there to prop you up or provide you with the guidance you need. Our company would not be in the great position it is today without our membership in Starve Ups.

"I would not be where I am today without Starve Ups and I do not think I will be able to get where I need to go without them as well."

Starve Ups means never feeling like you are doing it alone. I started a Biotech company and… there are not many of those in Oregon. But in the end it was not the biotech side of the business that was the struggle - it was all the other stuff. And while it was not instantaneous - Starve Ups did become that network of close friends and colleagues that I could turn to when I was struggling.

Struggling with how to hire someone I could not afford. Struggling with raising my first investment. Struggling in the early days when sales were… flat. Struggling with reconciling my own ambition with the pain of a startup.

It was not so much that the Starve Ups members have the right answers. It is more that they, as peers, understood what I was going through and the weight of those struggles. They had experiences and stories of their own struggles. No magic answers but a heap-ton of critical guidance on what worked for them (and what did not). I would not be where I am today without Starve Ups and I do not think I will be able to get where I need to go without them as well.

"I am continually inspired and re-motivated to take my business to the next level. And with Starve Ups help, I am able to do so."

The best thing about Starve Ups is the connections that you make with fellow entrepreneurs. The networking is invaluable and extremely helpful.

I am continually inspired and re-motivated to take my business to the next level. And with Starve Ups help, I am able to do so.

"Starve Ups founders refused to let me quit and instead helped us find a way to sell the company instead."

I can remember my first Starve Ups meetings like it was yesterday (it was four years ago). It was a quarterly catch up where we all shared what our biggest victories and struggles of the past quarter were. Listening to a fellow female founder share her worries about making payroll, getting her product actually on shelves, and manage her small warehouse was profoundly altering. I knew in that moment I wasn’t alone. We all went on to help her problem solve her way through her hurdles with advice she couldn’t have found anywhere else.

Since that meeting I have been coached and mentored through my own struggles as a founder. When we had reached the limits of our abilities, and I was ready to burn the company to the ground, fellow Starve Ups founders refused to let me quit and instead helped us find a way to sell the company instead. Simply having this community meant the difference between a wind down and an exit.

"A genuine environment of trust, combined with unfiltered access to founders at all stages of the startup lifecycle. "

Starve Ups has been an instrumental part of our success as an early stage software company. There's a world of advice and best practices available on Twitter and various startup blogs.

But there's nothing like being surrounded by a group of fellow founders going through the same journey in real time. That's what Starve Ups provides in a very unique way. A genuine environment of trust, combined with unfiltered access to founders at all stages of the startup lifecycle.

Over the past year, I've needed, and received, specific actionable help on hiring, customer success, fundraising, pricing, and marketing strategy. The value is incalculable, but I have no doubt it's made a material difference. Also, it helps you stay sane, which, it turns out, is essential.

"Sharing this journey with others in Starve Ups has given us confidence and energy to push ourselves to be the best company we can be."

Starve Ups has connected us with an eco-system of support, energy and intellect. The entrepreneurial world is amazing, but it isn’t easy. You have to like the roller coaster – full of ups and downs.

Starve Ups has thoughtful, smart and hard working members that help lift you when you’re down and help hold you when you’re up. We have found mentors and partners. We are encouraged and pushed. We grow. Building a company can be lonely.

Sharing this journey with others in Starve Ups has given us confidence and energy to push ourselves to be the best company we can be.

"It’s like a brain trust on steroids. Thanks Starve Ups for already helping us take our business to the next level! "

In the short time since becoming a member of Starve Ups, we have received invaluable insights, guidance, recommendations and more both from our peer group as well as mentors and partners. Being a founders only organization provides a unique environment for founders to express the ups and downs, successes and challenges of our respective businesses, without the feeling of being judged or facing repercussions for stating what we all really want to say all in a value added, reciprocated way. The community and lasting relationships created by this structure are for sure unique to Starve Ups.

In our case specifically, we have already received guidance and referrals/introductions for an open capital raise as well as direction for a potential acquisition we are exploring. On the flip side, having the ability to give/receive direct feedback from peers provides additional viewpoints into our business from perspectives we likely wouldn’t have otherwise had or at least without paying for it.

During our regular peer group meetings, conversations are had across multiple industries ranging from tech, to clothing, to food, and more with each bringing unique challenges to the table that we all collectively help troubleshoot. It’s like a brain trust on steroids. Thanks Starve Ups for already helping us take our business to the next level!

"I am so grateful and wouldn't be here today, were it not for Starve Ups."

Starve Ups came to me via Mark Frohnmayer, founder of Arcimoto. He highly recommended it and explained that one must apply to get in. I have participated in other accelerators and similar groups. They all bring something to the table as far as what they offer and I am grateful for all of those experiences! I applied and got in to Starve Ups. I started going to the events and I was struck by something: every single time I met up with the group, in whatever configuration, for whatever purpose, I walked away feeling like I had just received a serious vitamin B shot.

I am a serial entrepreneur, having started seven ventures. My current company is a clothing company - but it's WAY more than a clothing company. I want to start a revolution around conscientious consumerism, less is more, inclusivity, environmental awareness, slow fashion, high quality - timeless basics made in the USA.

Being a founder of a startup is incredibly intense, rewarding, hard, lonely, exciting, challenging, thrilling... Starve Ups has been, without question, my main lifeline. It has helped me in my darkest moments. The people have inspired me, supported me, encouraged me and rallied! And, it is my hope, that I have given this back to them. This is my entrepreneurial family and I am incredibly loyal to this family.

I am now on the board of Starve Ups and I couldn't be more honored to be a player in taking Starve Ups all the way to the stars. We genuinely support one another in this AMAZING pursuit - this thing called being a founder of a startup. I am so grateful and wouldn't be here today, were it not for Starve Ups. Thanks, guys, from the bottom of my heart.

"Thank you for creating and building such a needed force in the business building business."

Being able to share best practices, challenges and opportunities with a group of like minded entrepreneurs is something anyone starting a business needs to do. As a fourth time founder who has participated in other accelerators, I found this group dedicated and engaged. I also found the terms of engagement "spoke to me" as they focus on your personal success knowing the halo affect takes care of everything else. It's an altruistic, "let's all be successful" endeavor. Thank you for creating and building such a needed force in the business building business.

"Knowing that the model was created by founders for founders allowed us a level of trust and transparency that we would not have had anywhere else. "

Starve Ups has been an essential part of our success at Slumberkins. As two educators turned entrepreneurs we did not have a community of peers until we connected with the Starve Ups community.

Knowing that the model was created by founders for founders allowed us a level of trust and transparency that we would not have had anywhere else. This allowed us to grow faster, make smarter decisions and find the right network of investors, mentors and strategic partners. We feel so lucky to be part of an innovative group that is changing the game for founders.

"Starve Ups to me personally, to my company, is like the Force to a Jedi!"

Starve Ups to me personally, to my company, is like the Force to a Jedi!

It is just freaky, the number of times I have gotten exactly the right bit of advice or encouragement from other founders. It just boggles the mind. Whether, it was at Launch Pad, quarterly catch-ups, M&A breakfasts, or just a quick call and coffee with another founder, Starve Ups has been a life saver for our company.

No matter the product or service you are creating with your company, there is a smart, dedicated member of your start up family to help connect you to someone, pump you up or just let you vent so you can get back at it. Knowing what I do now... I would start a company just to hang with the amazing group of people that are Starve Ups... may the force be with you!

"Starve Ups founders are open, honest, and will fight for you and your company..."

At our very first Starve Ups meeting we knew this was going to be the team to help us launch our brand. The camaraderie, genuine interests, and generosity of sharing of knowledge and connections from founders who have had success in exiting as well as many learning experiences, aka failures, from which they have gained a wealth of knowledge that they pass down to us, makes us feel very fortunate.

Starve Ups founders are open, honest, and will fight for you and your company—plus they feed you! Joining Starve Ups gave us the insight and knowledge to help us strategize and think big.

We are very grateful that they are here to pick us up when we are feeling defeated or exhausted. They always hold the light at the end of the tunnel, plus we always get a good laugh at every meeting!

"Peer to peer mentoring flat out works, and I can't recommend Starve Ups enough. "

Starve Ups is like a second family that's along for the ride during my startup journey. A family of fellow founders, who get the struggle, the highs and the lows that come with building a successful startup. But they aren't just along for the ride.

Your peers in Starve Ups will challenge you, pushing you to move beyond the day to day struggles to achieve more. It's everything from the nitty gritty to mindset, from the daily struggle to keeping your aware of the bigger picture.

Peer to peer mentoring flat out works, and I can't recommend Starve Ups enough.

"I love everyone in the group and am grateful to have them on my team."

Starve Ups has given me a community of entrepreneurs to lean into when times get challenging and also a group with whom I can celebrate my company's victories, both big and small!

Everyone understands the ebbs and flows of building a business and it's comforting to know that a group of likeminded, super determined (and maybe a little crazy) individuals have my back, especially when I feel like no one else does! I love everyone in the group and am grateful to have them on my team.

"We attended Launch Pad and felt like we had found our people. "

When we found out about Starve Ups we wanted to see what it was all about. We attended Launch Pad and felt like we had found our people. It was so nice to be around people who understood no sleep, being stressed, and having a dream. Our own family does not understand how we are feeling while trying to launch a company.

We were accepted to be part of the 2019 class and we were so excited! Since joining we have found friends who understand us. We had fellow cohorts jump in and help at an event when we were understaffed. We have had help preparing for our first pitch at an event. We can reach out to any member of Starve Ups and they are there to help even when they are so busy with their own companies.