From Launch to Exit: A Serial Founder's Survival Guide

The middle of a marathon is where dreams go to die. Startups are exactly the same.

Serial entrepreneur Craig Martin has launched 6 tech startups over two decades, and his candid insights on the recent Serenity Now for Entrepreneurs podcast are pure gold for founders.

While everyone loves the excitement of launch day, Craig reveals the often-overlooked fundamentals that determine whether you'll make it to the finish line:

• The first call you make matters: Most founders race to product development, but Craig insists your first two calls should be to a corporate lawyer and accountant. The structure you choose on day one determines your freedom years later.
• The unconventional funding roadmap: Before approaching VCs, Craig leveraged creative grant programs that required zero equity dilution to fund his MVPs. Only then did he approach larger investors with proof of concept.
• The question that saved his companies was, "What's your number?" Craig asked every potential co-founder for their specific selling price before partnering. This "philosophical alignment" prevented countless founder disputes when acquisition offers arrived.
• The silent saboteur: "People go crazy when there's money on the table." Craig's most valuable advice? Keep potential acquisitions completely confidential, even from your team, until the paperwork is signed.

For every founder who's felt the mid-journey exhaustion of building something from nothing, this conversation offers both tactical wisdom and the reassurance that yes, there is a finish line.

Listen to the full Serenity Now podcast episode to hear Craig's unfiltered reality of startup life—from protecting your IP to knowing exactly when it's time to move on to your next venture.