People have asked what’s the simplest Biz Ops stack to use when you build a startup.
To me, its straightforward:
Slack, Notion, Airtable + 3 notable runner-ups.
All vetted tools are free (to start) as that shouldn’t be a barrier to get you going. But, I do highly recommend you pay for these tools as they will only help you build a cleaner, better functioning company.
FAQs are below the list.
Your digital HQ
1. Talk to your cofounders, your employees, contractors, even investors and customers.
2. Send design mockups, pitch decks, voice notes, video walkthroughs, everything you need for working remotely and async.
PRO-TIP: Become a pro member. Unlimited integrations, video calls, connecting with other teams in your workspace. All are worth it.
Your documentation hub
1. House all of your institutional knowledge from Day 1 to compound in value over the life of the company
2. Connect with Slack to act as a force multiplier
Your scalable DB/CRM
1. Collect customer feedback, manage investors, track employee engagement, everything you need with a database or CRM (or both)
2. Connect with Notion and Slack as another force multiplier and bring everything all together
The glue between everything
1. Automate entire workflows so you can make money/manage customers/coordinate with partners/etc while you sleep
2. Ensure that nothing falls through the cracks in complex processes (humans forget!)
For everything else you might need!
1. Sheets to go deeper on forecasting
2. Calendar to manage operating rhythms internally and externally
3. Meet for interfacing with clients, partners, investors, team 1:1s
1. I wish! I’m just a big fan of fewer tools doing more things.
2. These tools give us founders the most ROI which is why I’m such a fan (although I’d love to be affiliated, send me an email Slack, Notion, Airtable, Zapier, Google!).
1. These are all tools I have spent years working with while scaling startups.
2. I also have connected with 500+ founders and these tools are the common denominator in the vast majority of lean and successful companies when scaling.
1. Probably!
