FOUNDER ADVISORY · PRE-SEED TO SERIES A
Know What to Build.
Raise What You Need.
You're burning runway on features nobody validated and pitching a story investors don't buy yet. I help early-stage founders find PMF faster, build a fundraising narrative that lands, and make fewer, better decisions — backed by a real exit, $4M+ raised, and 100+ investor rejections of my own.
Forbes 30U30 / $4M+ Raised / Hopper Exit ($5B) / TechStars Alum / 500Startups Alum / 200M+ Customers Reached
SOUND FAMILIAR?
You're building fast. But you're not sure you're building the right thing.
You've shipped features, but your metrics aren't moving. Users sign up and disappear. You're not sure if it's the product, the positioning, or the market.
You're getting soft nos from investors and you can't figure out what's missing from your pitch. The deck looks good. The traction doesn't.
You're hiring, but you're not sure who to hire first — or whether you should be hiring at all yet.
You're burning runway on things that feel urgent but might not matter. Every week you wonder if you're focused on the wrong priorities.
You're exhausted. You've read the playbooks, listened to the podcasts, talked to other founders. But you still feel stuck.
You don't need another course or another Twitter thread. You need someone who's been there — and can see what you can't.
MEET SUSAN
I've been where you are. I know what's on the other side.
I started Journy as a spreadsheet and a hypothesis. I scaled it to seven-figure revenue, raised $4M+ (after 100+ investor rejections), and led it to acquisition by Hopper — valued at $5B.
After the exit, I built and led three verticals and scaled teams from 0 to 120+ while serving 200M+ customers.
I know what it feels like to build in the dark. To pitch a room that doesn't get it. To wonder if you're solving the right problem.
Now I work with early-stage founders who are smart and scrappy but need a sharp outside perspective — someone who won't just cheer them on, but will challenge their assumptions and help them move faster with less waste.
If you're pre-seed to Series A and figuring out PMF, your raise, or what to build next — that's exactly where I do my best work.
THE ANCHOR OFFER
The Instant Clarity Sprint
A deep dive, truth-telling strategy session to get you unstuck. Leave knowing exactly what to build, who to hire, and what to tell investors.
WHO THIS IS FOR
→ Pre-seed to Series A founders actively building or raising
→ You have a product or prototype but aren't sure you've found PMF
→ You need clarity on your next 30 days, not a 12-month roadmap
WHAT'S INCLUDED
→ 30-minute intake call + business audit
→ 90-minute deep-dive strategy session
→ 2 weeks of async voice-note support
→ Written summary with your 30-day action plan
WHAT YOU LEAVE WITH
A clear PMF diagnosis — where you stand and what to do next
A fundraising narrative investors will actually remember
Hiring strategy for the next 90 days
A focused 30-day action plan with no fluff
$2,000
One-time investment. No subscription. No upsell during the sprint.
APPLY FOR THE INSTANT CLARITY SPRINTNot sure if this is right for you? If you're building something real and feel stuck on what to do next, it probably is. Apply and we'll figure it out together on the intake call.
YOUR PATH
Find the Right Level of Support
Not every founder needs the same level of support. Here's how to find yours.
AVAILABLE NOW
Step 01
Instant Clarity Sprint
$2,000
Start here. Get clear on PMF, fundraising, and your next 30 days.
APPLY NOWCOMING SOON
Step 02
Evolved Founder Sprint
$1,500–$2,500
Go deeper. Build operating systems for hiring, GTM, and decision-making. Cohort of 8–12 founders.
JOIN THE WAITLISTIN DEVELOPMENT
Step 03
DIY Founder Tools
Coming Soon
Do it yourself with frameworks: PMF Messaging Pack, Hiring Scorecard, Fundraising Narrative Template, and more.
GET NOTIFIEDWHAT I CAN HELP WITH
Four Areas Where Founders Get Stuck
01
Product-Market Fit
Finding signal in the noise. Most founders ship too much and listen too little. I help you design fast, effective validation loops so you stop guessing and start knowing whether the market wants what you're building.
02
Go-To-Market
Building the right distribution, not just the right product. Your GTM strategy matters as much as your product features. I help you identify your real ICP, build repeatable acquisition channels, and launch with traction instead of hope.
03
Fundraising
Narrative, timing, and surviving the nos. Investors don't fund decks — they fund stories they believe in. I help you craft the narrative, time your raise, and stay resilient through 100+ rejections. I know because I lived it.
04
Scale Without Breaking
Team, ops, and decision-making as you grow. The things that got you to $1M won't get you to $10M. I help you build the systems, make the right hires, and create a decision-making framework that scales with you.
FOUNDERS WHO'VE DONE THE WORK
Bryan Dubno
Founder & CEO, JetBack
Susan was an incredible mentor and expert to talk with. Exactly the experienced founder perspective I was looking for. She had this perfect balance of strategic thinking and tactical advice. What I appreciated most was how she got in the weeds with me and challenged my assumptions, while also being genuinely supportive and encouraging. I left the call feeling both more focused and more confident about the path forward.
OTHER WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER
Not sure where to start?
The Instant Clarity Sprint is the best place for most founders. But if you're looking for something lighter or deeper, here are a few other ways in.
Quick Clarity Call
$150
A single focused conversation via Intro. Come with one question, leave with a clear answer and an actionable next step. No commitment, no follow-up pressure.
BOOK VIA INTROMonthly Lite
$1,200/mo
Ongoing async support for founders who want a steady thinking partner. 120 min (2 hours) of calls per month plus unlimited text and email between sessions. 3-month minimum commitment. Cancel anytime after.
APPLY NOW