Coaching

FOUNDER BUSINESS COACHING

Being a founder is one of the hardest things a person can ever do. Each journey is unique, and there’s no uniform roadmap. As an experienced founder myself, and a Berkeley & ICF Certified Executive Coach, I offer coaching services customization to your specific needs to unblock you through actionable advice and strategies.

I have coached early stage founders from before ideas are even on paper to founders who are post-Series B. So whether you’ve just begun your startup journey or already in market, I will help you assess yourself more thoroughly, effectively navigate the world of founders, and manage your business better.

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Common hurdles my founders face:

  • Struggling with strategy and vision: Trouble clarifying long-term vision, lack of product-market fit or scale, unable to assess risk.
  • Misalignment with co-founders: Misalignment with co-founders, unideal team dynamics and heavy friction slowing down progress
  • Personal Performance issues: Stress, burnout, isolation and being buried under tasks, leading to unproductive days with lack of focus
  • Imposter Syndrome: Wondering if one is qualified for their role, delegating feels impossible, but it can’t be done all alone.

How I Help Founders Grow and Win:

  • Clarify Your Vision: Gain a crystal-clear strategy and purpose to guide your business and scale confidently.
  • Find Calm Amidst Chaos: Learn how to prioritize and manage stress effectively, so you can lead with focus and certainty.
  • Reduce Chaos and Increase Control: Take charge of your business and create structure, fostering sustainable growth.
  • Enhance Personal Performance: Boost efficiency and decision-making, especially under pressure, for more impactful results.
  • Reignite Confidence in Your Vision: Strengthen your belief in your business direction and your ability to lead through the unknown
  • Build a High-Performing, Reliable Team: Foster alignment and accountability within your team to drive results.
  • Achieve Predictable Processes: Implement systems that reduce unpredictability and streamline operations.
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I have helped hundreds…

I have helped hundreds of leaders cross the gaps of uncertainties and chaos. See what some of them have to say about my services:
Vladimir helped me tap into a methodology to pursue my business ambitions while framing the outcome in a positive light. He is excellent at identifying and explaining the most relevant and helpful concepts relating to entrepreneurship. Highly recommend!

David

CEO, Founder, WelnessTech
I am delighted to recommend Vladimir, an outstanding career coach who has shared so much in my sessions. Vladimir excels in providing expert guidance, motivation, and support, while helping achieve my career goal. I wholeheartedly recommend Vladimir for those who want a great coach.

Valentina

VP of Fintech, Strategy and Growth

Last four months I was coached by Vladimir. The first sessions were dedicated to goals in general. Then we started discussing my startup. Vladimir helped me to prioritize my goals and activities. Under his guidance, I gained more focus, keeping me on track to achieve the desired results.

Anton

CEO, Founder, SocialTech
Vladimir is hands down one of the coolest coaches I’ve had the chance to chat with! He’s got brains, experience, and enough emotional intelligence to handle the impending robot apocalypse (no sweat!). 10/10, would definitely recommend

Alex

CEO, Founder, HardTech
I want to thank Vladimir for the alternative views and resources that he shared. I don’t think I would have come up with those on my own in the time given. His prompt replies and detailed insight around executive growth made mentoring interactions very productive.

Himani

Director, ML/AI

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Trusted by Founders and Leaders from Top Startups and Tech Companies

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why hire me as founder business coach?

I offer a mix of directive and non-directive coaching to propel you forward on your leadership journey.

I show up to every founder coaching session ready to listen to what you’re working on and prepared to help guide you through your own decision-making process. And, when it makes sense, I’ll provide relevant recommendations.

I bring a diverse mix of experiences to each session as I’ve been in the technology field for 20+ years and have worked with a range of technology leaders and companies across different sectors. I have led large and small teams as a technology executive, and have delivered over 200+ coaching hours to clients with a variety of backgrounds from all over the world.

I have been certified as an executive coach by the Haas School of Business, Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute at UC Berkeley. I have been a CTO/CIO at fintech and spacetech companies. I have been a regular mentor at various business schools and accelerators like TechStars, NSF I-corps, Cornell eLab. I am also a graduate of Columbia’s Greenshouse and Techstars Space Programs.

How can my clients quickly solve a critical business challenge or leadership roadblock?
As a founder, you’re constantly making high-stakes decisions—whether it’s about fundraising, hiring, product strategy, or scaling operations. When you hit a roadblock, getting expert input fast can mean the difference between a setback and a breakthrough.

🔹 How a coach helps: A founder business coach offers a listening space free from judgement to help you cut through complexity and take decisive action. By co-thinking on identifying blind spots, challenging assumptions, and providing battle-tested strategies, a coach helps you move forward with confidence and clarity.

What strategies will help my clients scale their startup without burning out?
Scaling a business isn’t just about revenue growth—it’s about building a strong team, optimizing operations, and ensuring you don’t get trapped in daily firefighting. Founders often struggle with delegation, hiring the right people, and creating systems that allow the company to grow sustainably.

🔹 How a coach helps: An executive coach helps you through guiding questions to design a scalable structure, refine your hiring strategy, and shift from working in the business to working on it.

How do my clients successfully pivot startups without losing momentum?
Startups evolve—markets shift, products need to change, and sometimes, entire business models must be reworked. A pivot can be risky, but done right, it can unlock new growth opportunities and save your business from stagnation.

🔹 How a coach helps: A founder business coach helps you determine whether a pivot is necessary, develop a clear transition strategy, and manage investor and team expectations.

What topics can I expect to have conversations on during the sessions?
✔ Mission/Values Review
✔ Milestone Based Go-to-market Strategy (GTM)
✔ Business Development Strategies
✔ Fundraising Traction
✔ Cleaner and Meaningful Deck
✔ Effective Team Structure and Communication
✔ Improved Conflict Resolution Approaches
✔ Prioritization Strategies
✔ Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plans
✔ Competitive Landscape Analysis
✔ Continuous Learning and Team Development Programs
✔ Efficient Resource Allocation
✔ Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Set-Up
✔ Value Proposition Clarification
✔ Customer Retention Strategies
✔ Internal Processing (Stress and Life Management)
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What does a founder business coaching session look like?
Every session is a mix of self-examination and establishing tangible steps towards progress. I meet with all my clients virtually via Zoom for one-hour sessions where we focus on addressing a particular entrepreneurship topic.

The goal is to move you forward with an opportunity you’re considering or a challenge you’re up against. You set the stage by explaining the circumstances, I ask a series of questions, explore viable options, and finally, we’ll create a plan of action.

What results should I expect from collaborating with you as my entrepreneur coach?
Depending on the coachee, I’ve helped individuals optimize their go-to-market strategy, define business development process, increase fundraising reach and traction, clean up pitch decks, restructure teams, and improve mission orientation of the company.
How can my clients make better, faster decisions as a founder?
Every day, you’re making decisions that affect your team, your customers, and your company’s future. But second-guessing, fear of failure, and information overload can slow you down—or lead to costly mistakes.

🔹 How a coach helps: A leadership coach equips you with proven decision-making frameworks that balance speed with strategic thinking. They challenge your biases, act as a sounding board, and help you develop confidence in your ability to make tough calls under pressure.

How do my clients become stronger leaders and get their team fully aligned?
A great product isn’t enough—your success depends on how well you lead your team. Founders often struggle with delegation, managing conflict, and ensuring that everyone is rowing in the same direction.

🔹 How a coach helps: A leadership coach helps you refine your leadership style, improve your communication skills, and create a high-performance culture. They’ll coach you how to motivate your team, hold people accountable, and handle difficult conversations without damaging relationships.

How do my clients stay focused and accountable while growing their company?
When you’re running a startup, it’s easy to get distracted by urgent fires and lose sight of long-term priorities. Without accountability, you risk working hard but not necessarily working smart.

🔹 How a coach helps: A coach acts as an accountability partner, keeping you focused on high-impact activities and helping you avoid distractions. They provide goal-setting frameworks, milestone tracking, and structured check-ins to ensure you’re making real progress—not just staying busy.