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From Founder to CEO:
Making the Leadership Mindset Shift

From Doing It All to Building a Scalable Organization

Most startup founders start out as the everything-person. One day you’re pitching investors, the next you’re fixing a bug in the product, then you’re writing a marketing email at midnight. It’s the scrappy, chaotic nature of startup life, and honestly, it’s what makes those early days thrilling. But if your company starts gaining traction, that same “do-it-all” mentality becomes a liability. Scaling a business requires moving from founder mode to CEO mode—something that’s easier said than done.

The Shift from Quick Decisions to Scalable Frameworks

The biggest shift? Decision-making. As a founder, you make fast, gut-driven choices and move on. As a CEO, you need to establish frameworks that allow your team to make decisions without you. You’re no longer just solving problems—you’re creating an organization that can solve problems at scale. This means setting clear priorities, defining company values, and ensuring that everyone understands what success looks like. If you’re still the bottleneck for every major decision, you’re slowing the company down.

Delegating: Trusting Your Team to Do Their Jobs

Then there’s delegation. Founders struggle with handing things off because, well, they’ve been the best (or only) person for every job. But CEOs build leadership teams. If you find yourself constantly tweaking the copy on your website or micromanaging the product roadmap, you’re not trusting the people you hired. The shift from “I do it best” to “I’ve hired the best” is a game-changer. Your job is no longer about executing every task—it’s about empowering your team to execute at a high level.

Thinking Long-Term Instead of Just Putting Out Fires

Another critical mindset change? Thinking in quarters and years instead of days and weeks. Founders live in the trenches, reacting to problems as they arise. CEOs must focus on long-term strategy—where the company needs to be in 12–24 months and what needs to happen today to get there. This means spending more time on vision, financial planning, and company culture rather than just putting out fires. It’s uncomfortable at first because strategic work doesn’t have the instant gratification of solving an immediate issue, but it’s what separates a high-growth startup from one that stalls.

Investing in Your Own Growth as a Leader

And let’s talk about personal growth. The company can’t scale if the CEO isn’t scaling. You’ll need to level up in areas like leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence. That means seeking mentorship, reading the right books, and getting brutally honest feedback. If you’re not evolving, your team will outgrow you—and that’s how founders end up getting replaced by their boards.

Letting Go to Build Something Bigger

The founder-to-CEO transition isn’t about losing the scrappiness that made your company successful; it’s about channeling it into building something bigger than yourself. The sooner you make that shift, the sooner your company can grow beyond just being a “startup” and start becoming an enduring business. So, the real question is: Are you ready to get out of your own way?

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Fractional Openings

Chief Marketing Officer @ Deccan AI
Head of Data Security @ OpenServ
Data Engineering Manager @ Fynite Corp
Chief Financial Officer @ Mikuta
Director of Operations @ Ardmore Institute of Health
General Counsel @ 111Skin
AI Product Manager @ Valsoft

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One BIG Reason Why Hiring Fractional is Beneficial

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Startup Story

ReEnvision Ag

ReEnvision Ag is an Iowa-based agricultural startup on a mission to revolutionize row-crop farming through cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices. Founded by Jayson Ryner, a former music educator turned farmer, the company is focused on improving soil health and increasing farm profitability. At the heart of its innovation is the SeedSpike planting system, a game-changing technology designed to enhance planting efficiency while minimizing soil disruption.

The SeedSpike system offers several advantages over traditional planting methods. It allows farmers to plant earlier in the season, reduces soil compaction by limiting surface contact, and conserves moisture by disturbing less dry soil. By supporting no-till farming—a practice growing in popularity due to its environmental benefits—ReEnvision Ag is helping farmers improve long-term soil health while maintaining strong yields. The technology is positioned as a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to conventional double disc openers.

Since its inception, ReEnvision Ag has achieved several milestones. The company is part of the Ag Startup Engine portfolio, gaining support from Iowa State University and agricultural investors to scale its technology. Additionally, its latest SeedSpike prototype was tested at Syngenta Corn Research headquarters in Slater, Iowa, proving its effectiveness in real-world conditions. With a patent-pending seed transfer and closing system, along with in-cab controls, the technology is setting a new standard for precision planting.

Looking ahead, ReEnvision Ag plans to roll out a leasing program for its SeedSpike row units in the 2025 planting season. This initiative will allow farmers to test the system firsthand, experiencing its benefits without the upfront cost of ownership. By offering innovative solutions that balance productivity and sustainability, the company is positioning itself as a leader in the future of row-crop agriculture.

Jayson Ryner and his team are not just rethinking planting methods—they’re re-envisioning the future of farming. With a focus on soil health, efficiency, and innovation, ReEnvision Ag is helping farmers adopt better, more sustainable practices without sacrificing profitability. As the demand for smarter, eco-friendly farming solutions grows, this Iowa startup is well on its way to making a lasting impact on the agricultural industry.

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EVENTS

🎪1 Million Cups Des Moines
📍Frontier Coworking
🗓️February 19th
⌚️ 8:00 - 9:00

🎪TechBrew: AM
📍West End Architectural Salvage
🗓️March 13th
⌚️ 8:00 - 9:00

🎪Idea Camp - 6th, 7th and 8th Grade
📍NIACC Recreation Center
🗓️February 17th
⌚️ 8:30-3:30

🎪TechStars Startup Weekend DSM
📍Maple Studios
🗓️March 28th - 30th

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