Welcome to the Founders Journey podcast! In this episode, Greg Moran of Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners breaks down the essentials of startup due diligence. Whether you're an angel investor or exploring the world of venture capital, this guide will help you identify red flags and make informed investment decisions.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Key Topics...

Is ‘Fail Fast’ the worst advice for startups?In this episode of The Founders Journey Podcast, Greg Moran, Peter Dean, and Scot Chisholm (founder of Classy) dive deep into the myths surrounding popular startup advice like “fail fast” and “find a bigger market.” Scott shares hard-earned lessons from Classy’s journey, including the importance of aligning with the right investors, avoiding premature scaling, and building a sustainable business. :bulb: What You’ll Learn:- Why “fail fast” often...

Welcome to The Founders Journey Podcast, where we deliver inspiration and education for Founders by Founders.In this episode, Greg Moran from Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners dives deep into one of the most effective strategies for managing risk in startup investing: diversification. Whether you're a seasoned angel investor or new to this asset class, you'll learn: -  Why over 75% of venture-backed startups fail and how to protect your investments.- How to diversify across sectors, stages,...

Breaking Free from Founder Burnout | Practical Strategies for SuccessStruggling to balance your life as a founder? You're not alone.  In this episode of the Founders Journey Podcast, Greg Moran from Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners shares his personal story and actionable steps to overcome the Founder’s Fallacy, reduce anxiety, and build a sustainable, fulfilling life. ✨ What You’ll Learn:- How to separate meta decisions from micro decisions to delegate effectively.- Proven routines to...

What does it take to transition from founder-led leadership to a second CEO?In this episode of the Founders Journey Podcast, Peter Dean speaks with Matt Sharrers, author of The Second CEO, about the challenges and strategies for navigating leadership transitions. From cultural evolution to rebuilding leadership teams, Matt shares actionable insights for founders, investors, and second CEOs looking to ensure a smooth and successful transition. :bulb: Key Topics Covered:Why "bringing the band...

Want to succeed in angel investing?In this episode of the Founders Journey podcast, Greg Moran from Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners shares the essential metrics and strategies every angel investor needs to know. Learn how to evaluate startups through key indicators like traction, customer acquisition cost (CAC), lifetime value (LTV), and runway.But it’s not just about the numbers—Greg explains why founder selection is a crucial factor that can make or break a startup’s success. With...

What happens when your identity as a founder becomes your entire life?In part two of our three-part series on The Founders Fallacy, Greg Moran explores the deep connection between a founder’s identity and their need for control. After exiting his business, Greg shares how he faced emptiness, anxiety, and challenges in personal relationships—all tied to losing his "founder" identity. This candid discussion offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs at any stage, whether you're just starting or...

In this first episode of our three-part series, Greg Moran from Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners delves into a personal and impactful journey through "The Founders Fallacy." Greg explores the hidden struggles many founders face—specifically the lingering need for control, anxiety, and constant pressure, even after reaching what many would call "success."As a founder, if you’ve felt like everything relies on you, or you've struggled to let go, this video is for you. Greg shares his own story...

Welcome to the Founders Journey Podcast! In this episode, Greg Moran, co-founder of Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners, dives into "Strategic Accountability"—a fundamental trait that sets successful founders apart. Through powerful examples, Greg shows how accountability drives trust, builds transparency, and strengthens team cohesion. Join us as we explore how leaders like Elon Musk and Tony Hsieh embodied accountability Elon Musk took responsibility during Tesla's challenging "production...

Want to master risk-taking like Jeff Bezos? In this quick tip, Greg Moran explains how successful leaders like Bezos and Reid Hoffman balance bold moves with smart choices. Learn how to make calculated decisions that drive growth without risking everything. What You’ll Learn:- The concept of balanced risk-taking- How Reid Hoffman strategically launched LinkedIn in a specific niche- Jeff Bezos' One-Way vs. Two-Way Door framework at Amazon- Practical tips to manage and categorize business...

Why is buying businesses with bad culture a costly mistake? In this episode of the Founders Journey Podcast, Greg Moran sits down with CV Kosinski of Enduring Ventures to explore one of the biggest lessons learned in acquiring and scaling businesses: the importance of company culture. Discover why having a healthy culture is crucial for long-term success and how to identify the right businesses to buy. CV shares valuable insights on transitioning from running a business to owning one,...

How can humble assertiveness transform your leadership style and drive your startup's success? In this episode of the Founders Journey Podcast, Greg Moran, co-founder of Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners, breaks down how this unique leadership trait combining confidence with humility empowers founders to make decisive, impactful choices while fostering collaboration within their teams. Explore real-life examples of leaders like Evan Williams, co-founder of Twitter, and Jeff Evans, renowned...

How do successful founders thrive under intense pressure? In this episode of the Founders Journey Podcast, Greg Moran, co-founder of Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners, reveals the concept of creative resilience—an essential trait for entrepreneurs who want to turn challenges into opportunities. Greg shares powerful stories from founders like Brian Chesky of Airbnb and Walter Randall of Lounge Studios, illustrating how they innovated under pressure to build successful businesses. Discover...

Looking to raise seed funding for your startup? In this episode of the Founders Journey Podcast, Greg Moran, a multi-exit founder and venture capitalist at Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners, breaks down the essential steps for securing your first round of institutional capital. Learn how to build a strong founding team, create an MVP, and craft a compelling pitch deck that will attract the right investors for your startup. What you'll learn:- The difference between pre-seed and seed funding,...

What really sets successful founders apart? In this episode of the Founders Journey Podcast, Greg Moran, co-founder of Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners, shares groundbreaking research revealing the 4 key traits that every successful founder has in common. These traits are part of the "Adaptive Innovator Model" and include creative resilience, humble assertiveness, balanced risk-taking, and strategic accountability. Whether you’re a founder looking to scale your business or an investor...

As a founder, staying focused under pressure is one of the most critical skills you can master. In this episode of the Founders Journey Podcast, Greg Moran shares proven strategies that top founders use to stay sharp and execute under stress.From time-blocking techniques to building mental resilience with visualization, this episode is packed with practical tips to help you lead more effectively and keep your startup on track, even in the toughest times. What you’ll learn:Why founders feel...

Why do so many startups fail in the early stages? In this episode of the Founders Journey Podcast, Greg Moran breaks down 4 critical mistakes that early-stage founders often make and more importantly, how to avoid them. Drawing from his experience as a multi-exit founder and venture capitalist, Greg highlights the importance of focus, listening to customer feedback, scaling at the right time, and managing cash flow effectively. Whether you're launching your first startup or looking to scale,...

As a startup founder, making quick and strategic decisions is key to success. In this episode of the Founders Journey Podcast, Greg Moran shares 3 powerful mental models to help you cut through the noise and lead your business with confidence. Learn how to apply these mental frameworks—opportunity cost, inversion, and the 80/20 rule—to make better, faster decisions and drive growth in your startup. Key Takeaways: Opportunity Cost: How to prioritize and understand what you’re sacrificing with...

In this episode of the Founders Journey Podcast, Greg Moran shares a surprising take on procrastination—what if it's not your enemy, but a hidden superpower for startup founders and leaders? Most of us have been taught to see procrastination as a bad habit, but Greg flips the script and explains how delaying tasks can actually help you reflect, gain clarity, and unleash creativity. Learn how to harness procrastination as a tool to make better decisions, avoid burnout, and even enhance your...

In this episode of the Founders Journey podcast, Greg Moran, founder of Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners and Evergreen Growth Partners, shares invaluable insights on how to define and target your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). With over 20 years of experience as a startup founder and CEO, Greg walks you through the step-by-step process of identifying your most valuable customers, refining your sales strategies, and ultimately driving more revenue. What You'll Learn: The importance of...

In this episode of the Founders Journey Podcast, we look into the 5 most common mistakes companies make when scaling their go-to-market strategy—and how to avoid them.Whether you're a startup founder or part of a growing business, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you build a strong foundation for long-term success. Learn why market research is crucial, how to avoid scaling too quickly, and why aligning sales and marketing teams is essential for growth. Plus, discover how...

In this video, we dive deep into the concept of Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and why it’s crucial for entrepreneurs, marketers, and business owners to understand. Drawing from my 20+ years of experience as a startup founder, I break down the CAC formula, explain its significance in long-term business growth, and offer actionable strategies to optimize your sales and marketing efforts. Whether you’re in the early stages of your startup or scaling up, this video will guide you through...

Struggling to make your board meetings more effective? In this video, I'll shares expert advice on how to create a strategic board deck that drives impactful decisions. Learn how to maximize your board meetings by crafting a deck that informs and guides your board through meaningful discussions. Key Takeaways: - What is a Board Deck? Understand its real purpose and how it can elevate your board meetings. - Four Key Focus Areas: Discover the critical areas board members care about: strategy,...

Understanding Term Sheets for Startup Success! Welcome back to the Founders Journey Podcast with Greg Moran from Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners! In this deep dive, we're unpacking one of the most critical documents in the startup world— "the venture capital term sheet." Whether you're gearing up for your first funding round or looking to sharpen your investment knowledge, this video is your guide to navigating term sheets with confidence. 📈 Key Takeaways:- What is a term sheet and why...