On the latest episode of How to Unf**k Your Startup, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Zan Bennett, Principal at Exactius Capital Management. With a wealth of experience in growth marketing and leadership, Zan has collaborated with world-class executives, strategic capital, and global teams to accelerate growth-stage companies into hypergrowth. His expertise spans a diverse range of sectors, including Consumer, E-commerce, two-sided marketplaces, and B2SMB SaaS. Prior to his role at Exactius, Zan owned and ran a company focused on scaling social impact ventures, which built lasting businesses from scratch across industries such as healthcare, climate, consumer, high-end design, and SaaS. Throughout our conversation, Zan shared invaluable insights on navigating the complex landscape of venture-backed startups, offering lessons for both investors and founders. We explored the intricate dynamics and interdependencies within the startup ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of building authentic relationships, adapting to evolving market conditions, and maintaining a customer-centric approach.

Zan's unique perspective, having worked closely with investors and founders, shed light on the shared goals and challenges these players face. From the investor side, he discussed the art of seeing beyond polished pitches to identify true potential and the need for caution when evaluating startups amidst industry hype cycles. For founders, Zan stressed the criticality of staying connected with customers throughout the startup journey and aligning the entire team around focused objectives. These insights, among others, provide a roadmap for successfully navigating the startup ecosystem and driving sustainable growth. If you're an investor looking to make smarter decisions or a founder striving to build a thriving company, this episode is packed with actionable advice you won't want to miss.