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A huge thank you to Mark Goldberg for an incredible conversation last night at PilotHQ—and to everyone who joined us in person for our latest Founders & Funders session on what it really takes to build and back AI companies in 2025. From funding frameworks to finding product-market fit in a crowded space, Mark brought the kind of real-world perspective founders actually need right now. Couldn’t make it? Don’t worry—we’re just getting started. Join us for the next one on June 11, featuring Mike Vernal and Pilot cofounder Waseem Daher as they dive deeper into building and investing in AI. #AI #FoundersAndFunders #PilotEvents #StartupFinance 

If you run a creative agency, this one’s for you. A founder we worked with went from just covering costs to building margin, setting goals, and finally getting a handle on cash flow. On June 4, our CFO team is telling the story. Live, unfiltered, and built for creative agencies who want to do things differently. 🗓️ Register here for the webinar: https://lnkd.in/geKbNDh5 Bridget Martinez | Chris M. Gillespie | Cole Levin

Today’s the day. We’re hosting our AI Founders & Funders event live at PilotHQ in San Francisco—featuring Mark Goldberg—talking strategy, funding, and what it really takes to build an AI company right now. If you’re working in or around AI, this one’s for you. 📍 Live at PilotHQ ⏰ 6.30 pm - 8 pm PT ➡️ Final call! Apply to attend here: https://lnkd.in/gCgVks2B

What does a CFO actually do to help an agency go from break-even to profitable? Let’s walk you through one. Live on June 4, our CFOs will break down the numbers, mindset shifts, and systems that helped one creative agency grow way beyond what they thought was possible. 📆 Save your spot: https://lnkd.in/geKbNDh5 Bridget Martinez | Chris M. Gillespie | Cole Levin

Ever had a prospect say “yes” instantly? Well, we have bad news. It probably means you are undercharging. We recently launched a profit calculator for creative agencies. It crunches your numbers (rates, salaries, overhead) to show your profit margins. You might discover you’re delivering A+ work at C- prices. Or that one of your biggest clients is barely breaking even once you factor in hours and overhead. It’s free, takes just a few minutes, and could change how you price and plan your work moving forward. 👉 Try it here: https://lnkd.in/g-Z8gMVS

📈 Big news from our 2025 Founder Salary Report: There's a magic number when founder sacrifices start paying off! We're thrilled to be featured in another Inc. Magazine article, this time by Shama Hyder, who dives into what our data reveals about the "11-employee inflection point"—the exact moment when founder salaries typically begin to increase. Our research shows that while median founder salaries have dropped 43% in the past year, companies that cross the 11-employee threshold see a significant compensation jump compared to those with 0-5 team members. Why 11 employees? At this stage: Founders can finally delegate those many, many hats Revenue becomes more predictable (goodbye, monthly panic!) Company infrastructure matures beyond the legendary "17-tab spreadsheet". The data challenges conventional wisdom, too—we found little correlation between funding and founder salary. Team size is the stronger predictor of when you'll finally be able to pay yourself fairly. #FSR2025 #PilotHQ #FounderCompensation #VentureCaptial #FounderSalary #PayTransparency

Numbers don't lie, especially when it comes to startup salaries. 📰 In a recent article on startup CEO salary trends, The Business Journals highlighted research from our 2025 Founder Salary Report. 📈 The data shows 9% of founders took no salary in 2024, but median salaries actually grew 15% to $132,000 for those who did pay themselves. Fast forward to 2025, and the landscape has dramatically shifted. Our latest data from 1,844 founders reveals a 43% drop in median compensation as capital efficiency takes center stage. While fewer founders are working for free (just 5.4% compared to last year's 9%), almost twice as many are now paying themselves less than $100k to extend runway. This isn't just belt-tightening—it's a fundamental shift in how startup leaders approach finances in today's challenging funding environment. At Pilot, we don't just track these trends—we help you navigate them with expert bookkeeping, tax, and CFO services tailored specifically for startups and small businesses. #FSR2025 #PilotHQ #FounderCompensation #VentureCaptial #FounderSalary #PayTransparency

We’re bringing back our monthly Founders & Funders Series. For May, diving into AI at PilotHQ in San Francisco on May 28. Next week we welcome Mark Goldberg—Managing Partner at Chemistry and early investor in Ramp, Persona, and Pilot—in conversation with our CEO, Jessica McKellar. AI is now in every pitch. But what actually makes an AI company fundable? What’s defensible beyond early tech? And how should founders be thinking about capital in a shifting market? We’ll cover: How investors are evaluating AI right now Infra and tooling: where builders still stand out Red flags and signals that matter Funding strategies beyond traditional VC These sessions are for early-stage founders building in and around AI, finance, infra, and operations—the ones asking not just how to build, but how to build something that lasts. The room is small by design.

🔎 Big news! Our 2025 Founder Salary Report was featured in Inc. Magazine, and the data is turning heads. The headline says it all: "As VC Funding Tightens, Founders Cut Their Own Salaries by 43 Percent" Bruce Crumley's article highlights how our annual research has captured a big shift in founder compensation. The median salary dropped from $132K to $75K as entrepreneurs prioritize runway over personal pay. What's driving this belt-tightening? -VC funding has definitely cooled for now (median rounds dropped from $4M to $500K) -Bootstrapping surged 77% compared to previous years -Nearly a third of founders now base their salary on "what the startup can afford" Our co-founder Waseem Daher noted that this signals "an ecosystem getting serious about financial discipline, which is exactly what should be happening." We're proud that our annual research helps bring transparency to founder compensation decisions across different funding stages and regions. Check out the full article to learn more: https://lnkd.in/ewsJmx7C percent/91174483 #FSR2025 #PilotHQ #FounderCompensation #VentureCaptial #FounderSalary #PayTransparency

AI is changing how startups get funded. Some tools help. Some complicate things. Founders are left to figure out which is which—often while raising money. That’s why we’re bringing back our Founders & Funders Series: a monthly conversation series at PilotHQ about building resilient businesses. On May 28, Pilot CEO Jessica McKellar will sit down with Mark Goldberg, Managing Partner at Chemistry and an early investor in companies like Ramp, Persona, and Pilot. They’ll discuss how AI is shaping company—building, investor expectations, and the finance tools founders need to think clearly. We’ll cover: - What makes an AI startup fundable now - Where infrastructure and tooling still stand out - How to build a defensible business - Capital strategies that go beyond venture These sessions are small, practical, and designed for early-stage founders.