Gentle Power 27. Negotiations for founders & startups
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:
Book free consultation call with Alex: Calendly
Get our free negotiation worksheet: YourNegotiations.com
Read our weekly newsletter: Newsletter
Instagram: @yournegotiations