Coaching for Startup Founders and CEOs

Founding a startup can break your heart—and your back.

Business coaching for founders and startup CEOs, from pre-seed to scale.

I co-founded AdvisorEngine and scaled it from 4 to 140 people, through two acquisitions and a $50M round, to its sale to Franklin Templeton. Then I scaled a spacetech company as COO. I know the self-doubt, the isolation and the pressure to always know what to do next.

I don’t offer one-size-fits-all frameworks. I offer a thinking partner who has been there, certified by UC Berkeley Haas and the ICF (PCC).

Book a Free 30-Minute Discovery Call
Vladimir Baranov, executive coach for tech leaders and founders

Coaching for every stage of the startup

Pre-seed and first hires

You have an idea, maybe a co-founder, and more decisions than hours. We work on what to focus on first, your pitch and first raise, and hiring the first people who will shape the culture.

Seed to Series A

You have traction and investors, and now everything is urgent. We work on go-to-market and business development, board and investor communication, and the shift from founder doing everything to CEO building a team.

Scaling past 50 people

The company is growing faster than you can lead it personally. We work on delegation and a leadership team you trust, the systems that stop daily firefighting, and staying clear about what kind of company you are building.

Leading the technology side, or founding from a lab? See Tech Leadership Coaching → and Science Founder Coaching →. Already sold your company? See Exited Founder Coaching →

 

Coaching from a founder who has been through it

4 → 140

people at AdvisorEngine, the fintech I co-founded

Exit

sold to Franklin Templeton, after two acquisitions and a $50M round

Hundreds

of founders coached through Techstars, NSF I-Corps, Cornell eLab and Ventures for Climate

I’ve raised money, grown a team from 4 to 140 through two acquisitions, and sold the company. Later I scaled Scout, a spacetech startup, as COO. So when you bring me a board that wants a different plan, a co-founder who has gone quiet, or a raise that keeps slipping, I’ve usually lived a version of it.

 

Why work with me

As a founder, the pressure is relentless to build, to fundraise, to lead, to prove. And yet, somewhere in the middle of all that motion, the questions shift. It is no longer just “How do I grow this company?” but “What kind of company am I really building, and who am I becoming as I do it?”

I have been through that arc from idea to exit and I know how hard it is to make space for reflection when everything around you demands action. I also know how easy it is to stay in motion without checking whether it still aligns with what you care about most.

That is where this work begins.

My coaching is not about pushing you harder. It is about helping you zoom out, reconnect with what matters, and lead with more intention in the business, in the team, and in yourself. Sometimes that means refining strategy. Sometimes it means untangling burnout. Often, it is both.

 

What changes

A year of clearer thinking for a technical founder

Deepanshu, Founder, FinTech

Deepanshu worked with me for a year while building a technical startup. We used my founder experience to improve both the company and his leadership style, and the conversations often went past the topic of the day to the bigger picture.

From scattered goals to focus in four months

Anton, Founder, SocialTech

Anton started with goals in general, then moved to his startup. Over four months we prioritized his goals and activities, and the focus kept him on track toward the results he wanted.

Walking in overwhelmed, leaving with action items

Ivana, Founder, FashionTech

Ivana usually came to sessions overwhelmed by decisions. She left with clarity and a list of next steps, and I followed up with recommendations after our meetings.

 

Not sure where to start?

 

Take the CEO/Founder Assessment

Ways to work together

Harbor

Clarity on a pressing issue

Best for: one high-stakes moment, like an investor meeting, a pitch deck or a team conflict.

  • Designed to bring clarity to one high-stakes or time-sensitive challenge

  • Useful for refining a pitch deck, preparing for an investor meeting, navigating team conflict, or re-prioritizing

90-minute call • $500

Near Shore

Reconnect with your values and build a path forward

Best for: pre-seed and seed founders building their first plan, team rhythm and KPIs.

  • Clarify your mission and values to guide decision-making
  • Strengthen your GTM and business development strategies
  • Improve team alignment, meeting cadence, and communication structure
  • Develop KPIs and focus areas to track what truly matters

 

 

 

 

 

 

3-months • Biweekly 45-minute calls

Horizon

Grow into the kind of leader your company truly needs

Best for: founders growing into the CEO their company needs.

  • Space to reflect on how your beliefs, habits, and values are shaping your company

  • Strengthen your internal clarity and executive presence as your responsibilities expand 

  • Navigate power dynamics, conflict, and uncertainty with more self-awareness and confidence 

  • Build deeper alignment between your leadership style and your company’s evolving needs 

  • Support with fundraising, hiring, and strategic decisions, approached through the lens of leadership maturity 

6-months • Biweekly 45-minute calls

Each package includes: Initial assessment, Personalized development plan, Curated book and resource recommendations, Email/WhatsApp Support, Network Connections, Conferences Recommendations, Accelerator Lists, Investor Lists and Social Group Recommendations,

Near Shore and Horizon include a pro-rated refund guarantee.

Not sure which fits? The first call is free and we’ll decide together.

Book a discovery call
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, coaching client

David

Founder, WelnessTech

Vladimir coached me for a year, bringing me clarity and valuable insights. His founder experience and thoughtful questions helped me improve my technical start-up and leadership style. His patience w.r.t my rambling rants and long winded questions was very kind and helpful. His advice often went beyond just the topic being discussed and towards the larger picture.

I highly recommend his services for clear and organized thinking.

Deepanshu, coaching client

Deepanshu

Founder, FinTech

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, coaching client

Anton

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, coaching client

Alex

Founder, HardTech

Vladimir’s an amazing listener and was able to provide valuable feedback and advice. I usually joined our meetings overwhelmed with decisions and left with clarity and action items. He even reached out with recommendations post meeting. I found what I was looking for and I’d highly recommend Vladimir for coaching services!

Ivana, coaching client

Ivana

Founder, FashionTech

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is founder coaching?

Founder coaching is 1:1 business and leadership coaching for startup founders and CEOs, from pre-seed to scale: hard decisions, fundraising pressure, hiring, delegation and burnout. Sessions are with me, Vladimir Baranov, a 3x founder who scaled AdvisorEngine from 4 to 140 people to its sale to Franklin Templeton and an ICF PCC-certified coach, by Zoom or phone.

Why work with you as a founder 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.

Do you coach founders through rapid growth?

Yes. Rapid growth is where founders most often get stuck: the company outgrows how decisions were made, the founder becomes the bottleneck, and early hires need to become leaders. I went through it myself, scaling AdvisorEngine from 4 to 140 people through two acquisitions and a $50M round.

We work on delegation, building a leadership team, priorities and your own role as CEO, in 1:1 sessions by Zoom or phone.

Can coaching help me 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.

How can I scale my 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 I pivot my startup 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 we cover in 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)
What should I expect during a founder coaching session?
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 can I expect from founder coaching?
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 I 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 I become a stronger leader and get my team 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 I stay focused and accountable while growing my 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.