Built Not Born: The Startup Go-To-Market Podcast

What if the real edge in building and investing in companies is knowing exactly where your knowledge stops? In this episode of Built Not Born, host Sage Nye sits down with Dave Fachetti, Partner at Venture Guides, to unpack the operator–investor mindset that drives durable outcomes. Drawing on decades of experience, Dave explains why great founders prioritize solving painful, urgent problems before optimizing execution, and how this “efficacy before efficiency” mindset underpins true product-market fit. He introduces his “know what you don’t know” test as a lens for evaluating founders, emphasizing self-awareness, curiosity, and coachability as critical traits. The conversation also explores cap table strategy as a long-term system, the importance of aligning all stakeholders, and why board dysfunction guarantees failure. Dave shares practical frameworks for hiring, leadership, and navigating AI opportunities, while highlighting the balance between conviction and listening. It’s a grounded playbook for founders and investors aiming to build resilient, high-performing companies.

Welcome to Built Not Born: The Startup Go-To-Market Podcast, the podcast for early-stage founders and startup leaders who know that great companies aren’t lucky… they’re built through smart execution and a bulletproof go-to-market strategy. In this episode, host Sage Nye sits down with Stas Bojoukha, founder and CEO of Compyl, to unpack his transition from CISO to compliance tech founder. Stas shares practical insights on identifying product-market fit, scaling a distributed team, and evolving from founder-led sales to a structured GTM engine. With lessons on hiring, fundraising, and selling complex enterprise solutions, this conversation is a must-listen for technical founders navigating the compliance space.

Welcome to Built Not Born: The Startup Go-To-Market Podcast, the podcast for early-stage founders and startup leaders who know that great companies aren’t lucky… they’re built through smart execution and a bulletproof go-to-market strategy. in this episode of Built Not Born, host Sage Nye sits down with Ben Nye, Managing Partner at Venture Guides, to explore the strategy behind their newly launched Fund II. Ben explains why Venture Guides takes a hands-on, founder-first approach, from investing in fewer companies to embedding go-to-market support at every level. He shares how today’s startups can scale smarter in 2025 by staying customer-obsessed, avoiding common hiring pitfalls, and partnering with investors who offer more than capital.

Welcome to Built Not Born: The Startup Go-To-Market Podcast—the podcast for early-stage founders and startup leaders who know that great companies aren’t lucky… they’re built through smart execution and a bulletproof go-to-market strategy. Hosted by Sage Nye, Managing Partner at Venture Guides, each episode dives into candid conversations with technical founders, investors, and GTM experts. You’ll get real talk, proven playbooks, and no-fluff advice on how to land your first customers, build a repeatable sales motion, and scale your startup the right way. Forget the hype. This is the go-to resource for founders serious about getting to market, growing revenue, and building companies that last. Ready to scale? Let’s get to work.