Guide 02
The founder led, coach guided model
This chapter explains how founders, coaches, and volunteers work together to build a real product without upfront funding.
Core principles
- Volunteers contribute real skills as team members, not interns.
- Founder provides vision and leadership; coach structures the process.
- Work happens on a real product with an MVP in production as the goal.
- Daily or regular meetings create accountability and momentum.
- Outcome: a functioning MVP, team in place, and proof for investors.
How it works
Founder
Vision and leadership
Sets the direction, prioritizes features, and makes decisions.
Coach
Process and tools
Creates rhythm, tracks progress, and removes blockers.
Volunteers
Execution
Build, design, test, and deliver the MVP in production.
Operating rhythm
The model works when the team follows a predictable cadence: short standups, visible tasks, and weekly demos. Use SeedStart to keep this rhythm transparent for everyone.