This Better Work/ 21
Nothing in this book is sugar-coated. A must-read for anyone starting a company.
Lynsie perfectly captures the roller-coaster ups and downs of startup life, providing an incredibly engaging, fast-paced, honest journey into the burdens and blessings of life as a tech entrepreneur.
Lynsie's candor and easy-to-read style makes this book a great resource for busy people. She breaks down her lessons learned in plain language and doesn't sugar-coat her own experiences.
Not only is this book incredibly insightful for founders, it's also well-written and genuinely enjoyable to read. It's both hilarious and infuriating at different parts. As a fellow female-founder, a true page-turner.
Success! Download Your FREE CopyMost of the founder stories we hear are the successful ones — the ones with a happy ending. This is not that kind of story.
In This Better Work, I share the true stories of my fifteen-year journey through the hyper-masculine tech startup world — the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Learn how I raised millions in venture capital funding, hired for every startup role, braved two accelerators, experienced one successful exit, and burned one startup to the ground.
Book Chapters/ 21
Getting Acquired
Very few founders make it this far. I should’ve been excited. I should’ve been proud. Instead, I was fucking pissed.
Chasing Dreams
Before tech, I spent a bunch of years chasing dreams from New York to Los Angeles and back. I actually worked with David Bowie!
Meeting Josh
He made me laugh, possessed the same level of drive and passion, and wasn’t afraid to take a whole bunch of risks with me.
Planting the Early Seeds
Early partners who have a genuine interest in where you're from, what's was driving you, and your vision for the future are the key to success.
Learning All the Jobs
No founder wants to do accounting, but we have to. It's time to learn all of the jobs (and become be a better founder because of it).
Hiring the First Crew
Hiring people is scary. Especially the first few people. It feels so “make or break.” Because for startups, it really is.
Landing the Pivotal Deals
The risks were starting to pay off. We were finally in the perfect position to sign a client that would (hopefully) change everything.
Surviving the Epic Fuckups
We knew it wasn't going to be all rainbows and ponies, but damn, we didn't know it could get this bad.
Picking (the Wrong) Investors
This decision doesn't just change the company, it changes your life. Do not underestimate the ramifications here.
Losing a Co-Founder
It’s hard to talk about everything falling apart. Our relationship, as co-founders and as BFFs, unraveled slowly. There was no seismic shift.
Taking a Fucking Break
I’d become the burned-out startup founder. I felt inadequate in every possible way. I knew something needed to change.
Starting Another Startup
I’m always coming up with really dumb business ideas. Always. I can’t stop. I own a lot of domain names. This was bound to happen.
Being a Woman in Tech in PGH
Nothing about being a founder is easy, and being a woman compounds the difficulties. If we don't speak up, nothing will change.
Building Great Partnerships
Transportation Alternative was progressive & tech-savvy. They were willing to try new stuff. They were everything I wanted in a partner.
Braving the Accelerator
I said yes to a single meeting that set a chain of events in motion. And once the ball was rolling, there was no turning back.
Wearing Blinders
I knew something wasn't right, but there was no Plan B. So I forged ahead with a stupid plan, bullheaded determination, and fake optimism.
Choosing to Fail
How the fuck did this happen? What was I going to do next?
Nothing in this book is sugar-coated. A must-read for anyone starting a company.
This Better Work will open your eyes to every aspect of starting, growing, and running a tech startup. The advice is priceless.
Lynsie is one of the the people who has made diversity a focal point in my professional life, and I’m grateful for that.
Lynsie is the go-to startup founder when you need advice. She has a story or perspective on just about anything that will bring clarity, confidence, and probably a few laughs.
