Founder Coach for Startup CEOs
Become the leader your fast-scaling company needs with a leadership system trusted by CEOs of companies from Series A to IPO.
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Founder Leadership requires a different playbook
Most leadership couching wasn't designed for startup CEOs. It was designed for corporate managers with stable teams and predictable priorities.
But you’re not just managing work — you’re trying to build something truly great.
And you’re firefighting, second-guessing your team, and wondering if you’re still the right person to lead this — all at the same time.
The more you grow, the fewer people there are who can help you. That’s why I developed the Founder Leadership System™ — a system built from the ground up to help startup CEOs lead in a way that’s effective and personal to them.
It’s not about stepping back or “letting go.”
It’s about becoming a better founder — the founder you were born to become.
Trusted by the World’s Top Founders and Funds
I’ve coached over 200 venture-backed CEOs—founders navigating the messy, high-stakes transition from startup to scale-up. The average coaching relationship lasts 2.5 years.
Alongside my coaching, I’ve led workshops with over 1,000 founders, helped build companies worth over £5 billion, and reach more than 50,000 entrepreneurs through my newsletter.
Tim Heyl
CEO of Homeward
Raised $350M from Someone
Perse Faily
CEO of Tillster
Raised $350M from Someone
Anastasia Leng
CEO of CreativeX
Raised $350M from Someone
Tim Guilliams
CEO of HealX
Raised $350M from Someone
Jose Velez
CEO of Bold
Raised $350M from Someone
Alex Remor
CEO of Medway
Raised $350M from Someone
Malte Kosub
CEO of Parloa
Raised $350M from Someone
Sandrine Zhang Ferron
CEO of Vinterior
Raised $350M from Someone
Average CEO rating of 9.7
Anastasia Leng
CEO, CreativeX
Raised $30M from Guggenheim, Beringea and Index Ventures
★★★★★
“It feels like I’m cheating. I actually feel guilty. Fully recommended.”
Tim Guilliams
CEO, HealX
Raised $110M from R42 Group, Atomico and Balderton
★★★★★
“The framework results in a different answer for every person—absolute gold.”
Murat Tunaboylu
CEO, Antiverse
Raised $11M from i&i Biotech Fund I (i&i Bio) and Kadmos Capital
★★★★★
“One of the biggest things was meeting other CEOs who’ve already done it. ”
If you don't love your role, how effective do you expect to be?
Every founder CEO I know eventually reaches the point they feel trapped in a role they created.
Why does this happen? Most advice on how to be a venture-backed CEO sounds good but doesn't work.
Often, it separates founders from the things they're actually good at and motivated by. When this happens, you end up disempowered, confused and isolated.
If this resonates with you, I’m here to help.
I want you to start 2025 feeling empowered and clear-headed, with a concrete plan on what to start and what to stop doing to unlock your full potential.
Let's draw a line in the sand; the old way and the new way. And then let's cross that line together.
Apply to join my January Role Reset™.
If you’re a CEO who'd like to experience the workshop my clients say is my best ever work, apply now. There’s limited spaces.
How it works
1. Apply to take part
I'm offering this workshop for CEOs of VC-backed tech companies, free of charge and no strings attached.
2. Attend the workshop
The Role Reset™ workshop is virtually on Zoom for two hours and you'll join other CEOs with similar goals and businesses.
3. Follow your plan
You'll leave the workshop with a motivating plan that excites you so much you have to follow through.
What's in Role Reset™?
After creating over 75 different CEO workshops and iterating them 100s of time, I figured out how to run workshops that transform. Here's what to expect:
MINDSET
Raise your standards
Upleveling starts at the top and your standards aren't as good as you think.
MINDSET
Create a bigger future
All transformation starts by creating a future, not focusing on the past.
TECHNIQUE
Clarify your ideal role
Apply a proven mental process to clarify your ideal role
TECHNIQUE
Put a flag in the sand
Learn the secret to freeing up your time as a venture backed CEO.
EXECUTION
Learn what other CEOs do
Meet other high-growth CEOs who are committed to reshaping their role.
EXECUTION
Get a helping hand
Get some accountability to do the things you know need to happen.
How long does Role Reset™ take?
The workshop is just two hours—enough to clarify your new role and commit to it. You can join me on Zoom from the comfort of your home. Many CEOs say they’ve made more progress here than in the last three years.
How can we do it so quickly? We’ve refined this process with some of the world’s top CEOs to its simplest form. Two hours is all it takes.
About Dave, your coach
Dave is a serial founder who has spent the last 7 years coaching some of the world's most iconic CEOs, backed by Softbank, Sequioa and other top funds.
Previously, Dave co-founded Delivery Hero (IPO in 2017) and other scale-ups, and studied at Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Dave is the author of the Venture Scale System™ which equips founders with a blueprint for scaling their leadership.
Who is Role Reset™ for?
As a start of year special, Dave is offering this to qualifying CEOs for free. Here’s who it’s for:
- CEOs of VC-backed companies
- Revenues and signs of product market fit
- At least 15+ in the team, Series A-C is the sweet-spot
- Positive, decisive and able to be vulnerable
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Role Reset™ cost?
Does it really work?
When is it happening?
Why are you doing this?
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Who is Dave Bailey?
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What happens afterwards?
Apply to join my January Role Reset™.
If you’re a venture-backed CEO who'd like to experience the workshop my clients say is my best ever work, apply now. Limited spaces.
The Founder Coach for Startup CEOs
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