Startups often struggle.

Startups often struggle. I remember having my first startup almost run out of money on four different occasions.

Here was the usual procedure to get back up:

1. Find work-for-hire. Tap your most “expensive” team members, usually senior tech or art, for freelance work. If you can land a contract or two that covers runway, that’s a win. Even part-time work-for-hire can keep the core alive.

2. Cut costs hard. You want to get to break-even, or at least slow the burn. Shrink the team back to founders-only if needed. Reduce founder salaries to the bare minimum you can live on: rent, food, coffee, that’s it.

3. Keep chasing funding, and ship something fast. Whether it’s VC, angels, or a publisher, keep the outreach going. But more importantly, ship something. Anything. Nobody cares if it’s not polished. If it can make a buck and show progress, that buys time and conviction.

4. Be radically honest with your team. Don’t sugarcoat the situation. People appreciate clarity more than false hope. I’ve seen morale improve simply because folks knew what they were fighting for.

5. Talk to your existing investors. It’s surprising how many founders don’t. Even if you think you’re failing, communicate. Some might step in with a bridge. Others might help you find a soft landing or even a buyer. But they can’t help if you go quiet.

6. Reconnect with your original vision. In tough moments, it helps to revisit why you started. Not just to inspire your team, but to refocus your energy on what really matters. The game, the players, the mission. Strip everything else away.