Founder 100 Magazine

FOUNDER 100 MAGAZINE

BUSINESS NEWS

Austin Startup Nominal Triples Its Valuation in Eight Months

Nominal, a four year old Austin startup that builds AI tools for testing complex hardware, raised a $240 million Series C at a $3 billion valuation, TechCrunch reported.

How Founders Plan Inventory for a First Wholesale Order

A first wholesale order can double your volume overnight and drain your cash just as fast. Here is how founders plan stock, timing and money before they say yes.

After the Florida Learjet Crash, What Founders Should Ask Before Booking a Charter Jet

Nine people died when a Learjet 60 listed for charter crashed near Greenacres, Florida. The cause is unknown, but the tragedy is a reminder of the questions every executive should ask before flying private.

Fortune: Mes Haircare Launches as an Oscar Winner Turns Her On Set Hair Story Into a Brand

Jennifer Lawrence's prestige haircare brand Mes launched with three products priced from $34 to $52, built with Arcaea founder Jasmina Aganovic.

Warren Buffett Didn't Become a Billionaire Overnight—He Became One Decision at a Time

How Lionel Messi Built a Billion-Dollar Legacy: 7 Principles Every Entrepreneur Should Follow

How Taylor Swift Built a $2 Billion Empire: A Blueprint Every Entrepreneur Can Follow

The Latest In World News

EU Tech Champions Fund Reaches First Close With About €2 Billion Committed

The EIB Group and seven EU states have committed around €2 billion to the second Tech Champions fund of funds, with investors signalling more than €8 billion more.

The Latest In Entertainment

Featured Founders

EU Tech Champions Fund Reaches First Close With About €2 Billion Committed

Austin Startup Nominal Triples Its Valuation in Eight Months

How Founders Plan Inventory for a First Wholesale Order

How Founders Write Terms of Service for a First Product

How Founders Handle a Chargeback Dispute

Fortune: Mes Haircare Launches as an Oscar Winner Turns Her On Set Hair Story Into a Brand

UK Plans a 10 Percent Founders' Relief and Bigger Share Options for Scaling Startups

Dulo: Sebastian Thrun and Adrian Aoun Bet on AI Models for Hardware Design

Collective Bets Big on Businesses of One as General Catalyst Leads Its New Raise

How Founders Design Their First Sales Commission Plan

Fortune: Mes Haircare Launches as an Oscar Winner Turns Her On Set Hair Story Into a Brand

Austin Startup Nominal Triples Its Valuation in Eight Months

How Founders Plan Inventory for a First Wholesale Order

After the Florida Learjet Crash, What Founders Should Ask Before Booking a Charter Jet

How Founders Write Terms of Service for a First Product

How Founders Handle a Chargeback Dispute

UK Plans a 10 Percent Founders' Relief and Bigger Share Options for Scaling Startups

EU Tech Champions Fund Reaches First Close With About €2 Billion Committed

The EIB Group and seven EU states have committed around €2 billion to the second Tech Champions fund of funds, with investors signalling more than €8 billion more.

Legora's Max Junestrand Lands Atreides-Led Funding to Take Swedish Legal AI Worldwide

Stockholm founded legal AI company Legora has raised a $550 million Series E at an $8.8 billion post money valuation, led by Atreides Management, to expand in the US and globally.

Indian EV Maker Ultraviolette Takes Its Electric Motorcycles to Europe

Bengaluru based Ultraviolette launched its X-47 Venom electric motorcycle on 22 October and will take it to Europe at EICMA in Milan on 3 November, as it plans to lift monthly motorcycle sales from about 700 to 1,000.

World News

Lauren Bennett, Voice Behind Party Rock Anthem, Dies at 36

Credit: LMFAO / Interscope The music industry is mourning the loss of Lauren Bennett, the British singer best known for her vocals on the global smash hit Party Rock Anthem and as a member of the pop group G.R.L. Bennett has died at the age of 36, according to statements shared by her former bandmates. Bennett first captured international attention in 2011 when she appeared alongside LMFAO on Party Rock Anthem, one of the defining pop anthems of the decade. The song topped ch

Book Reviews

From Surviving Against the Odds to Inspiring Young Hearts: David Koning's Wag and a Prayer Is the Children's Book Families Need Right Now

The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett

Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell

EU Tech Champions Fund Reaches First Close With About €2 Billion Committed

The EIB Group and seven EU states have committed around €2 billion to the second Tech Champions fund of funds, with investors signalling more than €8 billion more.

Austin Startup Nominal Triples Its Valuation in Eight Months

Nominal, a four year old Austin startup that builds AI tools for testing complex hardware, raised a $240 million Series C at a $3 billion valuation, TechCrunch reported.

How Founders Plan Inventory for a First Wholesale Order

A first wholesale order can double your volume overnight and drain your cash just as fast. Here is how founders plan stock, timing and money before they say yes.

After the Florida Learjet Crash, What Founders Should Ask Before Booking a Charter Jet

How Founders Write Terms of Service for a First Product

Terms of service set the rules between your company and its users. Here is what founders should include, how to get users to agree and when to bring in a lawyer.

How Founders Handle a Chargeback Dispute

A chargeback can take back a sale, add fees and put your payment account at risk. Here is how founders respond to a dispute, gather evidence and prevent the next one.

Fortune: Mes Haircare Launches as an Oscar Winner Turns Her On Set Hair Story Into a Brand

Jennifer Lawrence's prestige haircare brand Mes launched with three products priced from $34 to $52, built with Arcaea founder Jasmina Aganovic.

UK Plans a 10 Percent Founders' Relief and Bigger Share Options for Scaling Startups

A new HM Treasury prospectus sets out a 10% capital gains rate for founders, larger share option limits and visa changes aimed at startups.

Dulo: Sebastian Thrun and Adrian Aoun Bet on AI Models for Hardware Design

Dulo, the new startup from Google X co-founder Sebastian Thrun and Adrian Aoun, has raised $130 million to build AI models for hardware design, SiliconANGLE reported.

Collective Bets Big on Businesses of One as General Catalyst Leads Its New Raise

Collective, an AI financial platform for solo entrepreneurs, announced $100 million in funding: a $40 million Series B and a $60 million growth facility.

How Founders Design Their First Sales Commission Plan

Your first commission plan shapes how your early sales team behaves. Here is how founders can design a simple, fair plan that rewards the right results.

How Founders Respond to a Bad Online Review

A harsh online review can sting, especially when the business carries your name. Here is how founders respond calmly, fix what is real and win trust back.

How Founders Handle a Late-Paying Client

A client who pays late can strain cash flow and test a young company's resolve. Here is how founders protect the relationship while still getting paid.

PR Newswire: Dove Cameron and Curology Launch the Ethereal Glow Skincare Line

Dove Cameron and Curology launched Ethereal Glow, a four piece non prescription skincare line, on Tuesday, according to a PR Newswire release.

EU Governments Agree Their Position on EU Inc, the Startup Company Law

EU member states have agreed their negotiating position on EU Inc, a new optional company form that founders could register online in two days for no more than 100 euros.

General Compute Raises $100 Million to Build an Inference Chip Cloud

General Compute, an AI cloud startup built on specialized inference chips, has raised a $100 million Series A at an $800 million valuation, TechCrunch reports.

How Founders Plan for a Key Supplier Going Out of Business

When one supplier holds up your whole product, its failure can become your crisis. Here is how founders spot that risk early and build a practical backup plan.

Bedrock Robotics Lands $600 Million to Put Autonomous Excavators on More Job Sites

Two years after its founding, Bedrock Robotics has raised a $600 million Series C at a $4.1 billion valuation to bring self driving excavators to more construction sites.

How Founders Should Choose a Registered Agent

Every LLC and corporation needs a registered agent, and the choice matters more than many founders think. Here is what the role does and how to pick the right one.

TechCrunch: Ivan Burazin's Daytona Lands FirstMark Growth Round for an Agent Cloud

Daytona has raised a $60 million Series B at a $1 billion valuation, led by FirstMark Growth, to build a cloud made for long running AI agents.

Why Early Startups Should Track Gross Margin From Day One

Revenue gets the headlines, but gross margin tells founders whether the business can actually scale. Here is why the number deserves attention from the very first sale.

Legora's Max Junestrand Lands Atreides-Led Funding to Take Swedish Legal AI Worldwide

Stockholm founded legal AI company Legora has raised a $550 million Series E at an $8.8 billion post money valuation, led by Atreides Management, to expand in the US and globally.

How Founders Run a Product Beta Test

A beta test shows founders how real customers use a product before launch. Here is how to recruit testers, gather feedback and act on what you learn.

How Founders Choose a Payroll Provider

Paying people correctly and on time builds trust. Here is how founders can compare payroll providers and pick one that grows with the company.

Founder Magazine: Joseph Bonner Builds an Independent Music Imprint

Joseph Bonner releases his music through his own imprint, Joseph Bonner Publishing. In 2026 that founder mindset produced two albums, more than two dozen titles and a new YouTube home.

How Founders Choose a Co-Working Space

The right co-working space can shape your focus, your network and your burn rate. Here is how founders can weigh the options and choose wisely.

Variety: Jon Leland and Ivan Askwith Launch Fan-Driven Studio Popular Demand

Former Kickstarter strategist Jon Leland and former Lucasfilm digital chief Ivan Askwith have launched Popular Demand, a studio built around fandoms, Variety reported.

Tractian Lands $130 Million Series D to Take Its Physical AI for Factories Global

Atlanta based Tractian has raised $130 million at a $1.4 billion valuation to grow its machine monitoring platform for factories and plants around the world.

How Founders Choose a Business Bank Account

Your business bank account shapes how you get paid, pay others and keep clean books. Here is how founders can choose one that fits the company today and as it grows.

Indian EV Maker Ultraviolette Takes Its Electric Motorcycles to Europe

Building a Business That Can Perform Without Depending on One Person

From wildfire lines to the C-suite, Kevin Wheeler has spent more than two decades building operations that do not hinge on one person. The Founder of Simplified COO explains how.

Estuary Biotherapeutics Launches With $103 Million to Take Kidney Gene Therapies Toward the Clinic

Estuary Biotherapeutics came out of stealth on 16 October with $103 million in total financing, including a $93 million Series A led by RA Capital Management, to move two kidney gene therapies toward clinical trials.

How Founders Write a Simple Refund Policy

A clear refund policy protects your cash flow, reduces disputes and builds customer trust. Here is how founders can write one that is fair, simple and easy to follow.

How Founders Prepare for a Due Diligence Request

When an investor or buyer sends a due diligence list, preparation decides how fast the deal moves. Here is how founders get ready before the request arrives.

French Accounting Platform Dougs Lands €50M From Expedition to Hand Bookkeeping to AI Agents

Dougs, a French accounting firm that ran for eight years without outside investors, has raised €50 million from Expedition Growth Capital to let AI agents prepare accounts that chartered accountants then review and sign.

Modal Labs Raises $750 Million at a $15.75 Billion Valuation

AI infrastructure startup Modal Labs has raised a $750 million Series D led by Accel, five months after its Series C, as its annualized revenue run rate passed $1 billion.

People: Tate McRae Launches Her First Fragrance, TATE 01

Tate McRae has launched her first fragrance, TATE 01, People reported, and the scent is now moving from her own website into Ulta Beauty.

How Founders Pick a Customer Support Tool

The right customer support tool keeps every question in one place and helps a small team answer quickly. Here is how founders decide what they need and choose without overbuying.

How Founders Handle Their First Angry Customer

Sooner or later every startup gets an upset customer. Here is how founders listen, respond and fix the problem so the first angry customer becomes a lesson rather than a lost account.

How Founders Set Up a Simple Monthly Financial Close

Many early stage companies only look closely at their books when a deadline forces them to. Here is how founders build a simple monthly close that keeps the numbers accurate and decisions grounded in reality.

How Founders Set Up a Customer Referral Program

Happy customers are often willing to recommend you, but few will do it unprompted. Here is how founders design a simple referral program that rewards advocates and brings in the right new customers.

How Founders Plan a Product Launch Day

A launch day can build momentum for months or disappear in a few hours. Here is how founders prepare the product, the team and the message so the big day turns into lasting traction.

How Founders Write a Customer Onboarding Email Sequence

The first few days after someone signs up decide whether they become a customer or quietly disappear. Here is how founders plan, write and improve an onboarding email sequence that helps new users succeed.

How Founders Set Up an Employee Stock Option Pool

An option pool is one of the first equity decisions a founder makes, and it shapes hiring for years. Here is how to size it, approve it, price it and explain it to the people who receive grants.

How Founders Prepare for Their First Trade Show

A first trade show can put a young company in front of buyers, partners and press in a single week. Here is how founders plan, staff and follow up so the investment pays off.

How Founders Choose Their First Office Space

Your first office can boost focus and culture or quietly drain cash. Founders who choose space with clear needs, flexible terms and honest numbers avoid costly mistakes.

How Founders Keep Product Roadmaps Honest With Customers

A roadmap is a promise with dates attached. Founders who keep it honest earn trust, cut fake urgency and build products customers actually want to wait for.

How Founders Write Release Notes Customers Actually Read

Release notes are one of the most overlooked customer touchpoints. Written well, they build trust, drive adoption and show customers that their feedback matters.