Elisabeth Bykoff

Founder of Boxsy - building the first agentic COO for founders. Let's help you get sh-t done starting with fundraising!

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

One idea we've been exploring through the @SputnikATX accelerator is switching costs.

Your biggest competitor isn't always another company. It might be the spreadsheet, workflow, or habit your customer already relies on. Even when a product is better, people need a compelling reason to change how they work.

Building a better product is only half the challenge, and making it easy to adopt matters just as much.

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

Your first board meeting isn't a presentation. It's the beginning of an ongoing working relationship.

Share the numbers in advance, be honest about what's not working, and use the time together to focus on the decisions where you need your board's perspective.

If you're getting ready for your first board meeting, I've shared a few things I'd keep in mind: https://t.co/nLodCtNUSk

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

Your website has seconds to communicate what your business does and why someone should care. I recently sat down with Nivit Kochhar, Founder of Supercharged Studio, for a Boxy Office Hours conversation about branding, website strategy, and what early-stage founders should prioritize when building their businesses.

We discussed why positioning should come before visual identity, how to build credibility through social proof, and why a strong one-page website can often be enough for an early-stage startup.

Explore the key takeaways on our blog and watch the full Office Hours conversation: https://t.co/Lp9NYp1dpD

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

After two decades in SaaS growth and operations, I still find the most valuable conversations come from hearing how founders are navigating growth, making decisions, and tackling the challenges in front of them.

Those conversations continue to shape how we're building Boxsy, too. If you're building a company, I'd love to connect, hear what you're working on, and exchange perspectives.

Book time with me: https://t.co/Kje3nFhk5h

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

Most people know me through startups and technology, however writing has always been another important part of my life. My book, "French Landing" gave me the opportunity to explore a different creative side, outside the day-to-day of building a business.

If you haven't come across the book yet, you can find it here: https://t.co/elLonJioNT

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

The metrics that matter at pre-seed aren't necessarily the ones that matter at Series A.

Early on, you're measuring learning, activation and runway. As you grow, the focus shifts toward repeatable revenue, retention and efficient growth. Your dashboard should evolve with your business.

We break down which startup KPIs to track at every stage: https://t.co/etm7O2godr

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

A spreadsheet works until your fundraise becomes a process you can no longer manage from memory.

Investor meetings, introductions, follow-ups, objections and next steps all need to live somewhere. A fundraising CRM is built to keep those relationships organized.

We break down what to look for and when founders need one: https://t.co/zhGpRAzWax

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

Founders don't have an information problem, they have a context problem.

Your investor conversations, pipeline, metrics and runway are all connected. Your tools should be too.

That's what we're building with Boxsy: the operating layer underneath your business. Get started here: https://t.co/Z4eFZT3DRp

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

@rickyhorwitz The support around the check can be just as valuable as the check itself. Early founders need more than runway. They need the right introductions, a clear path to their first customers, and the operational foundation to turn early momentum into a sustainable business.

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

I love seeing more support for founders who choose to build independently. We often treat having a co-founder as a prerequisite, but the right structure really depends on the founder, the business, and what they're trying to build. Access to capital, mentorship, and a strong founder community can make a meaningful difference, especially in those early stages.

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

Trust is going to be a defining factor in how quickly businesses adopt AI agents. It's not enough for an agent to deliver a result. People need confidence in how it got there, what permissions it had, and what happens if something goes wrong. The operational layer behind these tools will matter enormously.

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

I think there's a big difference between knowing something intellectually and actually experiencing it. You can hear the advice, understand the logic, and still not fully appreciate it until you've made the mistake yourself. Experience has a way of turning lessons into instincts, and that's often what makes them stick.

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

The point about having high agency really resonates. Especially as a founder, there are so many moments when you have to make decisions without a clear roadmap or someone telling you what to do. Learning to trust your judgment, take ownership, and stay focused on what moves the business forward makes an enormous difference.

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

I think the question of risk tolerance is particularly interesting here. We understand that building a successful company requires experimentation, failed assumptions, and sometimes a complete change in direction. Why shouldn't organizations working toward social impact be given similar room to learn and adapt?

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

This is where I think the conversation around AI needs to go next. We talk a lot about what agents can automate, but much less about the systems and processes they need to operate effectively. Data ownership, accountability, permissions, and governance aren't just technical considerations. They're fundamental to how a business runs, and they'll become increasingly important as more work moves to AI.

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

I really like the intentionality behind this positioning. Too many products try to be everything to everyone, especially early on. Being clear about who you're building for, what problem you're solving, and just as importantly, who you're not building for is such an important part of creating something people genuinely need. Excited to see how this develops!

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

Really interesting perspective, @jspujji. I think we're entering a period where founders have more opportunities than ever to build sustainable businesses without relying on traditional venture capital. With AI lowering the cost of building and operating, the ability to stay lean, focus on profitability, and grow around real customer demand becomes a significant advantage.

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

This is such an important point. The real value isn't just in using AI to get work done faster, but in recognizing that the context, judgment, and expertise we bring to those interactions are what make the output better. The challenge for businesses is finding ways to capture that knowledge so it doesn't disappear after every conversation.

[Elisabeth Bykoff @Elisaby44]

@arvidkahl @podscanfm @audiohook Turning an existing customer relationship into an acquisition is such an interesting outcome. It says a lot about the value of building trust and creating something people genuinely want to be part of. Congratulations on the next chapter!