IN THIS WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:

• 🚀 Execution With Goal Setting [True Story]

•  🔍 Is it Time to Sell?

• 🍿 Top 10 Movies for Entrepreneurs

• 💰 Funding Your Start Up the RIGHT Way

• 🔥 Entrepreneurs on Fire

Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes 23 seconds

🚨 Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. is in the running for International Impact Book Awards – Author of the Year!

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🔥 TODAY’S CLUBHOUSE

Today at 2pm ET - Serial Entrepreneur: Secrets Revealed - Open Mic: AI in 2025

Join us on stage to share your tips, strategies, and predictions for AI in the entrepreneur world this year!

🚀 EXECUTION WITH GOAL SETTING [True Story]

My brother and I were running a public company when a board member came to me and said, "Colin, we need to start looking for a new CEO."

That threw me back.

I had founded the company, and now a board member was trying to oust me.

We’ve all seen this story before—think Steve Jobs getting kicked out of his own company.

"We need to bring in professional leadership," he continued.

And truth be told, the wheels were coming off the bus.

Sales were flatlining, departments were constantly fighting, and the ultimate killer—our share price had fallen about 20% from our IPO price.

I called a friend who introduced me to Patrick Thean, the founder of Rhythm Systems.

Coincidentally, I was heading to Vegas for an event he was attending, so we agreed to meet up.

The Conversation That Changed Everything

"Patrick, I just need to get the board off my back. Your coaching and training services are great, but my team will never buy in. Just help me fix a few things and convince the board we’re managing this company properly."

His response?

"No. I can’t do that, Colin. Unless you go all in on implementing growth systems—including two days of strategic planning, setting annual and quarterly company goals, and defining individual objectives—I can’t work with you."

It was like a patient telling a doctor, "I don’t need to eat well or work out, just give me a pill to lose weight." The truth is, there are no shortcuts.

The Turning Point

We agreed to do it properly.

And HOLY SHIT—it worked.

Within one quarter, we saw meaningful results.

The internal fights died down, and we actually started hitting our goals.

Within a few quarters, our sales started climbing—and did they ever climb.

In just three years, we more than doubled our revenue.

In fact, we did so well that our stock, which was trading at $4.55 per share, skyrocketed to $10.55 per share.

That led to one of the most successful exits of my life.

Of course, timing played a role.

We closed the deal just one month before the Lehman Brothers collapse in August 2008.

That’s why, as a founder, you need to think about when to sell as part of your Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. formula.

Scaling Is a System, Not Just Instinct

Entrepreneurs like to think they can do everything by instinct.

The reality?

The vast majority of companies in America fail to scale. And most of the time, the entrepreneur is the bottleneck.

The difference?

Having the right systems in place.

We talk about a lot of systems in Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat.

The system we used to scale that company—and the one we still use today—is called Rhythm Systems.

🔥 A Special Offer for Startups

I recently met with the CEO of Rhythm Systems to explore whether their platform could be opened up to startups, not just large enterprises. At first, he was hesitant.

Then he realized—it’s a journey. Every founder who chooses to scale can do it, but many don’t have the funding to implement these systems.

Until now.

Startup Club has negotiated a flat $500 fee for the first year to help you take your startup and ramp it up.

🚨 To get access, go to → click here

— Colin C. Campbell

Disclaimer: Startup Club and its AI resources are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified lawyer for legal matters.

🚀 IS IT TIME TO SELL?

Time to Sell Index:

Strong Buyers' Market (Weak Sellers Market) → 6.9 out of 100.

While I wish the outlook were more optimistic, 2025 is still expected to be a strong buyers’ market and weak sellers market.

However, we are beginning to see early signs of a recovery, which could indicate better conditions for startups as the IPO market slowly rebounds.

How Did I Get This Result?

We analyzed the last three trough-to-peak periods and take the average to determine the percentage increase in IPOs from the market bottom to the top.

Based on the estimated number of IPOs in 2023 (154), the market would need to reach 873 IPOs for a strong sellers' market and 435 IPOs for a balanced market.

This calculation is based on an average trough-to-peak percentage of 566.97%.

For 2025, our estimate is 204 IPOs, indicating a modest recovery.

The gap from a strong sellers' market (873 IPOs) remains significant, with a shortfall of 719 IPOs.

Other factors will also influence IPO activity, such as lower interest rates, which may facilitate more affordable acquisitions, private equity deals, and venture capital funding. Additionally, even when the IPO market begins to recover, there is typically a 6-12 month lag before smaller businesses experience rising valuation multiples.

The Formula:

Average Trough-to-Peak Percentage=671.43%+458.06%+571.43%3=566.97%Average Trough-to-Peak Percentage=3671.43%+458.06%+571.43%=566.97%

• Trough (2023): 154 IPOs

• Estimated 2025 IPOs: 204

🎙️ START. SCALES. EXIT.[ TAKE SOME MONEY OFF THE TABLE ] REPEAT.

I had the chance to sit down with Entrepreneurs on Fire to talk about something I’ve lived and breathed for decades—building, scaling, and exiting businesses.

I’ve been through the trenches.

I’ve taken companies from zero to multi-million (even billion) dollar valuations. I’ve also seen deals collapse overnight, wiping out everything in an instant.

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that entrepreneurship isn’t a one-shot game—it’s a trade you can master.

Here’s What I Shared with John:

1️⃣ Don’t quit on your control when you’re exiting.
One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is assuming the deal is done before the money hits their account. I’ve been burned by this, and I see it happen all the time. Until the check clears, you’re still in the driver’s seat—so act like it.

2️⃣ Timing is 50% of your value.
A great business sold at the wrong time can mean leaving millions on the table. I talk about how understanding market cycles, industry trends, and knowing when to pull the trigger can be the difference between a life-changing exit and a missed opportunity.

3️⃣ Entrepreneurship is a trade we need to master.
If we think of it this way, we will be confident when we launch a company and that we will also be confident to launch another one after that.

📌 Check it here — I promise it’ll change how you think about business.

🍿 TOP 10 MOVIES FOR ENTREPRENEURS 

Looking for inspiration on your entrepreneurial journey? These movies are packed with business lessons, resilience, and the hustle every founder can relate to.

• The Social Network (2010)

Synopsis: The rise Mark Zuckerberg and how launched he launched Facebook one college at a time to eventually become one of the greatest social media sites of our time.

Key Lesson I Learned: Idea’s are worthless. Acting on them is the key. Just ask the Winklevoss twins.

2. The Greatest Showman (2017)

Synopsis: P.T. Barnum’s rise from poverty to start what became the traveling circus. It’s a story about relentlessly following your dreams and embracing what makes us different. 

Key Lesson I Learned: Even when things go really bad you can rebuild. It takes a village or community of diverse people to raise a startup. 

3. Steve Jobs (2015) 

Synopsis: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs rebuilds Apple

Key Lesson I Learned: Don’t be shy about how you launch your startup. Be bold. And believe in your vision. 

4. Money Ball (2011) 

Synopsis: Billy Beane, Oakland A’s manager, uses data and analytics to win.

Key Lesson I Learned: Everyone has innate bias. Focus on the results by your people and not how quirky they might be. 

5. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Synopsis: The rise and fall of Stratton Oakmont, a stock brokerage, and their founder Jordon Belfort.

Key Lesson I Learned: Don’t piss off the regulators. And creating a sales playbook with scripts for your sales people works.

To see the full list check it out here → here

💰 FUNDING YOUR START UP THE RIGHT WAY

Thinking about venture capital for your startup?

Many entrepreneurs assume that securing VC funding guarantees success, but statistics show that 75% of VC-backed startups still fail.

🔑 The key is understanding whether your business is a fit for venture capital.

If rapid scaling and network effects are critical to your business model, VC might be the right path.

However, for many startups, alternative funding sources—such as angel investors, bootstrapping, or customer revenue—may be a smarter approach.

We also explored negotiation strategies when dealing with VCs, the importance of warm introductions, and why building traction before seeking investment is crucial.

For founders looking to raise capital, understanding your market, refining your pitch, and targeting the right investors can make all the difference.

With the current economic climate, 2025 could bring a shift in investment trends. As interest rates and IPO activity fluctuate, founders need to weigh their options carefully before jumping into venture funding.

The right funding, at the right time, for the right situation, can be the ultimate game-changer for a startup’s success.

Watch the full interview with Ira Weiss of Hyde Park Venture Partners → here

🔥 CHECK ME OUT ON TIKTOK!

@startupclubhq

Delegation isn’t about offloading tasks; it’s about empowering others with responsibility. As entrepreneurs, we grow by focusing on the bi... See more

🚀 SUPPORTING STARTUP.CLUB

Thank you for reading along for another issue of the StartUp Club newsletter! I hope you genuinely look forward to opening the StartUp.Club newsletter every month. You can further support StartUp.Club by:

1. Sharing it with a friend or fellow entrepreneur!

2. Responding to this email and letting me know what you think. We love feedback around here! What do you want to see more of? What are you not interested in?

3. Picking up your copy of Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat.

And if you made it this far, thank you for reading.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of the StartUp.Club Newsletter.

— Colin C. Campbell