Startup Founders

I bring a finance-first perspective to startup coaching as both a founder and an advisor. I’m a Wharton MBA and Georgetown finance/accounting alum who has built and scaled my own company through eight accelerator acceptances, giving me deep insight into what programs look for, how to stand out, and how to access both funding and in-kind resources. I also mentor at an accelerator, where I work directly with founders on everything from pitch strategy to business model refinement. My coaching combines analytical rigor with clear, compelling storytelling. I help founders strengthen their pitch decks, sharpen their narrative, review and optimize business models, and develop the speaking presence needed to pitch with confidence. I also support early hiring strategy, helping founders think through when and how to recruit their first key employees. My approach is structured, practical, and designed to help founders move quickly with clarity, traction, and investor-ready thinking.

Welcome to my profile! I'm Nick, a passionate entrepreneur and co-founder of Relay Health, an addiction recovery tech startup that gained traction with support from Y Combinator and other investors. Since my time in the Y Combinator Summer 2022 batch, I've helped 5+ teams break into YC, all from non-traditional backgrounds. First at Relay and now at Leland, I've been the growth hacker, driving revenue from $0-$XK-$XXK-$XXXK, and I now leverage that experience to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs. Whether you're looking to break into YC, go from 0-1, or navigate the startup ecosystem, I'm here to help you succeed. Let's connect and turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality!

I spent 13 years in the enviable halls of Goldman Sachs, Google, and TikTok. I saw firsthand that some of the world’s most brilliant entrepreneurial minds are sitting behind corporate desks, paralyzed by the 'golden handcuffs' and the fear of the unknown. I coach because I’ve mastered the transition that most people find impossible. I know the specific anxiety of balancing a high-pressure leadership role with a growing side-business. My goal is to help high-performers stop trading their best years for a salary and start building their own equity. There is no greater professional satisfaction for me than seeing a coachee send their resignation letter because their own business has become too big to ignore.

My passion lies in empowering others to bring their entrepreneurial visions to life. As the Co-Founder & Director of Marketing at Windfall Bio, a nature-based biotech company, I've navigated the exciting, and sometimes challenging, journey of building a company from the ground up. I lead our brand strategy, marketing campaigns, and storytelling, constantly working to articulate our value proposition and impact to customers, partners, and investors. This experience has given me firsthand insights into what it takes to launch and grow a successful business, from developing a compelling brand to securing funding and building a strong team. Beyond my work at Windfall, I've always been drawn to the world of entrepreneurship. While in college, I launched my own sustainable clothing brand, managing everything from design and production to global sales, all from my dorm room. And even before that, I ran a successful DJ and events business during high school. These experiences, while diverse, taught me invaluable lessons about resourcefulness, problem-solving, and the importance of connecting with your target audience. My academic background at Stanford University, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Science, Technology, and Society in 2022, further solidified my understanding of the intersection between innovation, business, and social impact. I believe that entrepreneurship is a powerful force for positive change, and I'm excited to share my experiences and knowledge to help aspiring entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of starting and scaling a business. I'm passionate about fostering innovation and empowering others to turn their ideas into reality.

I help founders and small-business owners understand their numbers, access capital, and make better decisions as they build and scale their companies. My work sits at the intersection of financial strategy, entrepreneurship, and founder development. As a Fractional CFO, I advise business owners on cash flow, profitability, forecasting, working capital, debt capacity, capital readiness, and growth strategy. Before moving into fractional CFO work, I spent five years at JPMorgan Chase working directly with business owners and evaluating companies through a lender’s lens. I also bring extensive experience in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. I have served as a small-business consultant, finance coach, founder mentor, business counselor, accelerator facilitator, and advisory-board member through organizations including SCORE, EforAll, Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute, SEA Change, The DEC Network, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Thornton Economic Development, DAV Patriot Boot Camp, McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship, Mi Casa Resource Center, and Bunker Labs. Across these programs, I have worked directly with entrepreneurs on business models, financial strategy, cash-flow management, capital access, lender readiness, pricing, growth planning, and pitch development. I’m particularly interested in helping founders move from “I have an idea or a growing business” to “I understand the economics of this company, know what needs to happen next, and can clearly communicate that story to lenders, investors, partners, and stakeholders.” My background gives me a perspective that is difficult to replicate: Founder side: Fractional CFO and business advisor Capital side: Commercial banking, credit analysis, lending and debt structuring Program side: Founder coaching, accelerator facilitation and entrepreneurship ecosystem engagement Leadership side: Former U.S. Army Infantry Officer I hold an MBA from Rice Business and am currently completing a Master of Accounting at UNC Kenan-Flagler. I work with startups, established small businesses, accelerators, incubators, SBDCs, CDFIs, economic-development organizations, and entrepreneurship programs that need practical financial expertise and founder-focused business advising. If you’re building a company—or building a program that helps entrepreneurs build companies—I’d be glad to connect.

I love helping aspiring and current founders get bring their ideas to life. Whether you are just getting started or have a functioning product and are trying to raise capital/get your first customers, I'm here to help. I can help you... - Get an MVP built (evaluating custom-build vs no/low-code) - Raise a Pre-Seed, Seed, or Series A round from institutional firms and angels - Hire your first team members or scaling to a team of 30+ - Build a company culture that wins Anything else related to starting a company!

Feeling stuck in your 9-to-5? You have a great business idea, but you're overwhelmed by the confusion of where to start. You're terrified of quitting your job and risking your financial stability, so your dream stays a "someday" idea. I can help. I'm Patrick, and I don't just coach entrepreneurs—I build them. I've not only created multiple profitable businesses myself, but I've also scaled companies from 6 to 2,000 employees as an operations executive. I’ve learned the hard-won lessons so you don't have to. My "tough love" coaching isn't about vague theories. It's a clear, actionable plan to get you results while you are still employed. We will: Clarify Your Offer: We'll validate your idea and turn it into something people will actually pay for. Build a 'No-Burnout' Plan: We'll create a simple, step-by-step action plan that fits your 5-to-9, so you make progress without sacrificing your health or your job. Get Your First Paying Customer: I'll hold you accountable to launching and getting the revenue that proves your concept. Stop feeling stuck. Start building your future. My coaching gives you the clear plan and direct accountability you need to build a real business—one that gives you the freedom to finally quit your job.

I've been a founding engineer at two venture-backed startups: Doublespeed, backed by a16z, and Clera, backed by 1984 Ventures with a $3M pre-seed. Now I'm co-founding my own company in stealth. I've seen up close how early teams decide what to build, ship a first version fast and win their first customers, and I've made those calls myself. I've also walked friends and mentees through starting their own companies, from validating an idea to shipping an MVP and landing early customers. I've helped people launch and run niche agencies, like marketing for med spas, with a focused offer and a repeatable client-acquisition system. Almost all of my recent work is AI, so I'll show you how to build and sell faster with a small team.

Helping architects, engineers, designers, and technical experts become startup founders. I never planned to become a startup founder. I began my career in architecture before earning graduate degrees from the University of Michigan and Harvard Graduate School of Design. While at Harvard, I joined Harvard Innovation Labs, where I was exposed to entrepreneurship and the startup ecosystem. That experience changed the trajectory of my career. Since then, I've co-founded two technology companies serving the architecture industry, including Zenoya, an AI platform backed by Forum Ventures. Along the way I've validated ideas, built products, raised venture funding, pitched investors, hired teams, and navigated the realities of building startups from the ground up. Today, I help architects, engineers, designers, and other technical professionals take the leap into entrepreneurship. Whether you're exploring your first idea, building an MVP, preparing to raise capital, or simply wondering if startup life is right for you, I'll help you think strategically and avoid common mistakes.

I'm an executive coach for startup founders and a former product and marketing executive who has lived the scaling journey from the inside. I've worked with startup founders from pre-seed through growth stage, across the challenges each stage brings. My operating experience comes from the accelerating growth along that journey. At BILL, I was a product management and product marketing executive as the company grew revenue more than 10x to over $1B ARR. I saw what it takes to build a product organization, sharpen a go-to-market strategy, and lead teams through constant change. That gives me a clear view of where a scaling company is headed and what founders need to put in place early. As the founder of Cedar Advisory, I also know firsthand what it means to build something of your own. I work with founders on the challenges that come with growth: - Growing from founder to CEO as the company scales - Hiring, developing, and trusting a leadership team - Raising and pitching investors to raise funds - Delegating without losing sight of what matters - Making clear decisions on product strategy and go-to-market - Communicating with your board, investors, and team My coaching is practical and direct. You get a thinking partner who has sat in the operator's seat, along with the accountability to follow through. If you're building a company and want a coach who understands both the business and the person leading it, I'd be glad to talk.