The Founder's Checklist: 22 Deadly Mistakes That Kill Startups Before They Launch
Why most startups stall... and how you won’t
98% of startups fail, most - because they lack product-market fit.

Meaning:
  • -1-
    They build stuff nobody is paying for
    You can tweak features forever, but if no one pays, you're stuck. And the funny thing: you don't know why
  • -2-
    They waste a lot of money doing this
    An MVP for a modern SaaS can cost between $50 - 100k... that's before you got ANY sales to prove it's worth it
  • -3-
    They end up pivoting anyway
    Pivot is getting you closer to the product-market fit, but it's harder to pivot after investing $
Stop working harder.
Get the checklist = start working smarter.
This checklist isn't another collection of vague theories about "hustle."
It's a diagnostic tool.

This guide is built on 12 years of in-the-trenches experience, distilled into a simple system for making better decisions and getting to your first sales faster.
This guide will give you the clarity to:

  • Stop building a "dream product" and start solving a REAL customer pain.
  • Learn a simple framework for knowing when to pivot (and when to persevere).
  • Diagnose the difference between "busyness" and real, revenue-driving progress.
  • Build a system for testing ideas so that every decision is based on market evidence, not your gut.
  • Avoid wasting months on complex MVPs and focus on the one feature customers will actually pay for.
  • Master the art of the early-stage sale, even if you hate the idea of "selling."
(c) Dmitry Trofimets
2025