1:1 Startup Mentoring & Founder Performance Coaching

Ship faster, avoid costly mistakes, and grow with a mentor who’s built and advised startups since 2007.

I’m Carl Potak — Founder & CEO of StartupDevKit, full-stack operator (product, growth, and tech), and author of Startup Survival Secrets.
We’ll turn uncertainty into a step-by-step plan, remove roadblocks, and create compounding wins for your startup.

Book a complimentary intro call
See mentoring plans

Founder/mentor since 2007
Product-led growth & analytics
HubSpot Inbound & Google Analytics certified
Author: Startup Survival Secrets

What we’ll achieve together

Clarity → Execution

Translate vision into a prioritized roadmap with weekly targets and measurable KPIs.

Idea validation & problem–solution fit
Go-to-market & growth plan
Accountability & momentum

Fewer Mistakes

Spot pitfalls early across product, marketing, and ops so you don’t burn time/cash.

Pricing & packaging guidance
Acquisition & conversion optimization
Founder performance coaching

Compounding Growth

Set up systems for repeatable outcomes: analytics, funnels, content, and partnerships.

PMF signals & retention loops
Sales enablement & ICP focus
Funding readiness (when appropriate)

Why work with Carl

Operator + Coach

I’ve founded multiple startups and advised many more. I bridge business and technical: product development and management, growth/SEO, analytics, CRO, marketing ops, and platform security. I’ve also served in marketing leadership roles and have mentored founders across industries.

18+ years
in the startup ecosystem

Full-stack skillset
strategy, product, growth, and tech

Credibility & depth

Founder & CEO of StartupDevKit, built it entirely on my own
Author of Startup Survival Secrets (why startups fail & how to avoid it)
HubSpot Inbound & Google Analytics certified
Primary author of StartupDevKit’s top-ranked tutorials and guides

You get applied, cross-disciplinary judgment — not generic advice.

What founders say

“StartupDevKit has been indispensable… the mentoring and feedback from Carl have been extremely valuable. I’d implore any founder to tap into his knowledge and the platform’s vast resources.”

— Thomas McLaughlin, Jr., Co-Founder & CEO, Blockstake

“Within 3 months we were happy to say he was right that a group of college grads could start a VR studio. Not only has he given us great advice but he’s kept the team motivated and focused. We’ve continued mentoring with Carl from 2018 to 2024.”

— DVNC Tech, LLC (VR studio)

Start with a complimentary intro call

Mentoring options

Power Hour

Perfect for rapid diagnosis, second opinions, or focused problem-solving.

$100/hr

A la carte
60-minute strategy session
Mini action plan + resources
Great before a big decision

Book intro →

Weekly Mentoring Most Popular

Accountability + acceleration with step-by-step execution.

$100/wk

Weekly 45-60 min sessions
Roadmap, KPIs, and reviews
Asynchronous check-ins

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Bi-Weekly Mentoring

Steady tempo for founders balancing build + learn.

$100/2 weeks

One 45-60 min session every two weeks
Quarterly planning cadence
Resource & template access

Book intro →

Join the Incubator or Accelerator and add mentoring when ready.

How it works

1) Complimentary intro

We clarify goals, stage, and constraints to ensure fit.

2) Rapid plan

We align on focus (validation, MVP, growth) and define near-term KPIs.

3) Execute & iterate

Weekly or bi-weekly sessions + async support to keep momentum.

Schedule your intro

Best fit

Idea → Validation

Clarity on ICP, problem, and value prop. Avoid false starts.

Build → MVP → PMF

Product-led foundations, analytics, and retention loops.

Scale → Fundraise

Growth strategy, funnels, and founder performance coaching.

FAQs

Do I need to join a program first?: Yes. We often reference lessons or content, such as frameworks for you to adopt, that’s available only to program members, which are necessary for you to review.
Do you do group calls?: Yes absolutely. Group calls can often be more effective than just 1-on-1 sessions because everyone gets on the same page and information dissemination is not siloed.
What industries do you support?: Broad experience across SaaS, marketplaces, consumer apps, and services. The focus is on rigorous validation, community and product-led growth, and execution fundamentals that transfer across categories.
Will you help with fundraising?: No, but we’ll review your materials with you, review metrics, and provide a framework for investor conversations.
What’s unique about your approach?: Cross-disciplinary judgment from an operator who’s done the work — product, growth/SEO, analytics, and tech — plus coaching to help you perform at your best.

Book the complimentary intro

Ready to accelerate your progress?

Let’s align on your goals and create a plan you can execute this week.

Start with a free intro call
Explore plans

No equity taken. Flexible, founder-friendly support.