VALIDATE FAST, BUILD LESS, GROW MORE
Scale from zero to $250M+ with clarity.
Learn how to validate fast to build what customers want to buy, and investors want to back.
👋 Hi, I’m Susan
Before exiting my travel startup, Journy started as a spreadsheet and me hand-planning 50+ trips.
We scaled to 7-figure revenue, and ultimately got acquired by Hopper.
I’ve also been on the other side: $50 in my bank account, 100+ rejections, and fundraising burnout.
Turns out, it was never about working more hours; it was about working on the right things with the right energy.
This way of working helped me 5x my business in 1 year, and close a $3M+ round in just 2 days.
Founders connect with me to get sharper on what to build, how to test, and how to scale — without burning out.
Why work with me
Founded Journy → acquired by Hopper ($5B Valuation)
Built & led 3 verticals at Hopper (Homes, Hotels, Activities)
Scaled teams of 7 → 100+, powering bookings for 200M+ customers
TechStars + 500Startups alum
Raised $4M+ in pre-seed + seed (Menlo, Pear, Resolute)
Forbes 30 Under 30 (2018 Consumer Tech)
What you’ll get
A faster path to signal (not just features)
Methods to validate before you build
A minimum buyable solution that wins customers — and investors
The path to maximize your runway to hit the milestones that matter
Clear and purposeful direction
WHAT I CAN DO WITH YOU
Product-Market Fit & MVP Design
Find the right product-market fit and design effective MVPs
Go-To-Market & Growth Strategy
Build and scale high-performing product and operations teams
Scaling Product & Ops Teams
Develop comprehensive GTM strategies and growth plans
Fundraising Strategy & Pitch Coaching
Craft compelling fundraising strategies and pitch presentations + learn what terms to accept / reject
International Expansion & Market Launches
Optimize customer experience and improve retention rates
Customer Journey & Retention Optimization
Navigate global expansion and new market entries
Engagement Models
Quick Clarity Call
Single 15-30 min call
Best for: Fast, focused advice on fundraising, PMF, or GTM. Leave with a clear next step.
starting at
$150
✓ One focused call via Intro
✓ Notes + actionable next step
Monthly Lite
3 x 30 calls min / month + text/email
Best for: Steady momentum via check-ins + real-time guidance. Accountability and course-corrections.
monthly
$1000
✓ Three 30-min calls per month
✓ Unlimited text/email for quick iterations
(24hr response, and typically within 30 min)
SPRINT PROJECT
2-6 week focused engagement
Best for: Concrete outcomes on a tight timeline — ship an investor-ready deck, higher-converting homepage, or Minimum Buyable Solution.
starting at
$3000
✓ Two 45-min calls per week
✓ Async reviews, co-working sessions as needed
Prefer deep, ongoing leadership?
Fractional Exec (1–2 d/week) — By application • Custom pricing
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WHAT PEOPLE SAY
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![A woman with blonde hair and blue eyes looking thoughtfully outdoors near a railing.]()
She completely gave me a perspective that I was unaware of and outlined some simple steps to implement over the next 60 days. Worth every penny and more.
Alexa Shuman, Cofounder, RajaniMD
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![Close-up of a smiling woman with curly hair, a nose piercing, and wearing a white ruffled top.]()
Amazing. It was wonderful to talk to someone who understands the travel industry as nuanced as she does.
Jen Fry, Founder, Coordle App (Techstars ‘23)
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![Portrait of a young man with short brown hair, wearing a dark sweater, against a blue gradient background.]()
Exactly the experienced founder perspective I was looking for. I left the call feeling both more focused and more confident about the path forward.
Bryan Dubno, Founder, Jetpack
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![A young man with dark hair, glasses, and a slight smile, wearing a black turtleneck sweater, standing against a neutral gray background.]()
my call with you is definitely in my top 3 most effective meetings I've had in my whole life!
Hamlet Hay, Founder, Revyu.AI
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![Smiling young man with glasses in a restaurant or café setting. People are seated at tables in the background.]()
Susan is the best. I can personally vouch for how game changing her guidance has been.
Simon Huang, ex Meta, building AI apps
