Why This Exists
The startup ecosystem works well for a small subset of companies.
The ones that already look like they could become unicorns.
Everyone else is expected to figure it out on their own.
Meanwhile,
- ~90% of startups fail
- 65% of founders report feeling isolated
- 72% report negative mental health impact
Most don’t fail because they lack talent. They fail because they lack:
- Clear feedback loops
- Structured validation
- The right kind of support
Why TheFoundersGuild Exists
Anyone who has tried to start a company has seen how broken the process can feel:
constant problems to solve, the ups and downs of the market, the pressure to succeed ...
but sometimes worse than all that:
The experience can be isolating.
Most founders don't fail because their ideas are bad — they fail
because they're trying to do it without enough help.
We're not going to wait for someone to fix this. We're going to do it ourselves.
What We Believe
- Sustainable businesses matter more than hype
- Entrepreneurship is a team sport
- Validation should be fast, inexpensive, and repeatable
- Founders should get real signal early
- You shouldn’t have to pretend you’re building a unicorn to get help
About the Team
Michael Sattler is a Boston-based product and technology leader who has spent his career building startups and digital products. With experience spanning strategy, engineering, product, and operations, he has led teams from early-stage ventures to scaled organizations across SaaS, fintech, healthtech, and identity marketing. Michael has founded multiple companies, raised venture and private equity funding, contributed to a public offering, and led acquisitions and complex cross-functional initiatives. Grounded in a product-first mindset and deep technical expertise, he focuses on aligning teams and execution to drive growth. He lives in Belmont, MA with his wife and three children and a dog name Sadie. His first novel Within Wheels was published in 2024.
Michael's Guild Presence
Stephanie Kord Miller is a Texas-born business strategist and executive coach focused on helping small businesses and startups achieve sustainable growth. Drawing on experience across the full customer journey - from business development to retention - she brings a holistic perspective to scaling organizations. Stephanie specializes in solving common challenges like talent retention, overcapacity, and lack of strategic clarity. Her approach centers on aligning business models, financials, and personal goals while driving disciplined execution. Through practical coaching and behavior-driven change, she helps leaders turn plans into results, improve team performance, and build resilient companies that grow without burnout. Her husband Scott plays guitar and vocals in The Boston Naturals. They have 2 children and live in Roslindale, MA (near Boston).
Stephanie's Guild Presence