This week we’re sharing a live workshop we hosted with Marianne Bekker (Managing Partner, Founders Bay) on how founders can negotiate across every phase of the startup journey, from co-founder splits to investor terms, design partners, vendors, and early hires. Gerta walks through a practical framework for keeping leverage, avoiding common traps (like giving numbers/ranges), and aligning deals to the right priorities rather than the loudest ones.

Our presentation covers:

The founder negotiation map: co-founders, investors, early employees/contractors, advisors, vendors, design partners, customers, and M&A
How to preserve leverage (and why you should almost never give numbers or ranges)- Crafting your priority stack (price now vs. lifetime value, brand/reputation, referrals, timelines) and marking true non-negotiables
Design-partner dynamics: avoiding excessive customization and setting scope, time, and compensation
Vendor contracts 101: price, scope, timelines, royalties, exclusivity, and when to push vs. trade
Investor terms beyond valuation: board seats, control, and post-deal involvement
In-person moments: why you shouldn’t negotiate on the spot (and what to do instead)

A founder’s job is nonstop negotiation, and this workshop gives you the scripts, structure, and judgment to secure better terms without burning bridges.

For more:

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LinkedIn: Gerta | Alex

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