What does it really take to graduate from seed to exit in today’s start-up climate?

In our first episode of our Making the Grade Podcast, we’re joined by serial founder and currently CEO of ESG Book, Justin Fitzpatrick, to unpack the real story behind startup growth.

From the messy pivots, M&A strategies, co-founder dynamics, and what it really looks like when you fall off the VC track, Justin shares his first-hand experience of growing and exiting multiple businesses, and leaves us with plenty of practical advice to help you scale more wisely.

Episode Chapters:

02:04 - Justin’s career journey as a serial entrepreneur

04:55 - From scaling pains to pivoting and product-market-fit reality checks

09:42 - Finding the right co-founder

15:15 - Why poor win rates aren’t always a sales problem

17:34 - Building resilience as a CEO

21:41 - M&A lessons from the trenches & what makes an acquisition work

28:40 - Falling off the VC Track & finding alternatives

31:42 - What founders actually need to graduate to the next round

33:54 - Why sustainable growth is smarter growth

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