The first 10 customers are usually won before a startup has a repeatable sales machine. This Founders House mastermind focuses on that uncomfortable but important stage, when the founder is still the sales team and every conversation helps shape the market narrative.
Early customer-acquisition challenges are rarely solved by adding more tools. They are usually rooted in positioning, target selection, outreach quality, or the founder's ability to turn discovery conversations into credible next steps. A small-group mastermind creates an environment where those challenges become specific enough to examine, discuss, and improve.
The session will focus on founder-led sales before a repeatable go-to-market motion exists. Attendees will explore how to clarify positioning around a real customer problem, choose more effective outreach channels, strengthen messaging, and use early customer conversations to refine the offer. The discussion also gives founders an opportunity to learn from the go-to-market challenges other early-stage companies are facing.
The workshop is designed for early-stage founders actively trying to acquire customers and prepared to discuss their current bottlenecks. Registration is subject to approval, helping keep the session focused, collaborative, and participatory.
The most valuable outcome is unlikely to be another generic sales framework. It is a clearer understanding of the assumption preventing progress today and a practical experiment the founder can test immediately after leaving the room. At this stage, learning faster is often more valuable than selling faster.
The mastermind takes place on Wednesday, August 5, 2026,** at 5:00 PM ET at 22 Vanderbilt, Suite 7D, 335 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017. The event is hosted by Founders House, Damian Tenuta, Louisa Li, Joanna Cohen, and Cristina Ciaravalli, CEO and Co-Founder of Valli Ventures, serving as the featured speaker.
Registration is subject to approval. Capacity and access requirements may change, so attendees should refer to the official event page for the latest information from the organizer.
2026-08-05 at 5:00 PM ET.
22 Vanderbilt, Suite 7D, 335 Madison Ave in New York, NY. If the exact venue is private, it will be shared with approved registrants.
The workshop is built for early-stage founders who are actively trying to acquire customers and are prepared to discuss their current bottlenecks. Registration is subject to approval, which helps keep the session focused and participatory.
Register through the official organizer page: https://luma.com/hpmc4z57