CEO Coach with 15+ years of venture scaling experience

Asher Ismail CEO Coach headshot

I help the world’s top investors and venture-backed CEOs scale themselves so they can scale their businesses.

COACHING FOR STARTUP FOUNDERS, INVESTORS, OUTLIERS

Make better decisons

Understand your blind spots, garner trust across stakeholders, and execute with speed what you’d otherwise put off.

Lead with confidence

A founder’s job isn’t to put out fires, it’s to build fire stations. Discover how to get accountability from your team.

Learn from experience

See around corners and avoid common startup traps with a thought partner who has been in your seat before.

Scale faster, together

It doesn’t have to be lonely at the top. Talk through problems in a safe space and reach your goals faster.

A startup only executes as well as its CEO.

Unfortunately, when you start scaling, support for you as the founder massively declines — there are fewer founders in your situation and quality content is hard to find.

That’s why scale-up founders from Accel, Index, and LocalGlobe choose me as their coach. I have hands-on experience in building venture-backed companies for 15+ years. I can help CEOs by challenging their thinking and holding them accountable for swift and decisive action.

“I gained so much in my sessions with Asher. A safe space to think through my toughest challenges. 100% confidentiality. Even bigger ROI.”

Sai Lakshmi
CEO, Echo (LloydsPharmacy)

Investors: White Star Capital, MMC Ventures, Rocket Internet’s GFC, Hambro Perks, LocalGlobe

Take on your biggest challenges

GROW YOURSELF

  • Feeling stressed is a common situation for founders who are doing something both difficult and important. But prolonged stress can lead to burnout. Unpack what’s causing your negative emotions and learn proven techniques you can use to change the situation or change your reaction, and ultimately turn stress into positive action.

  • There are never enough hours in the day when you’re scaling fast. Discover your zone of genius. Optimise your work so you feel less drained and more energised while having more impact.

  • If you think you are creating business value by making everything 5% better, unfortunately, you really aren’t. Understand what’s really preventing you from delegating or letting go and refocus on problems only a CEO can tackle.

  • Fending off a downturn or major threat? Understand how to adapt your role from expanding your company’s strengths in peacetime to radically different approaches for winning a war. Come out stronger in the end.

  • Forget about the ‘humble brag’ on LinkedIn. Decide what sets you apart and tell your story consistently (internally and externally). Define your vision, unlock greater fulfilment, and create a following by defining your true purpose and living your brand fully.

SCALE-UP YOUR TEAM

  • The topics of disagreement between co-founders often conceal the much deeper origin of the problem. Identify and fix the 7 major causes of co-founder conflict before they break up your business. Take steps to resolve minor startup issues early and communicate differences in ways that actually build trust.

  • Understand how to appeal to interest, not just reason when speaking to potential investors and board members. Build your empathy, clarify your thinking, and practice creating a more compelling narrative through storytelling when fundraising or presenting your strategy.

  • Be the leader your team can get behind. Set more effective objectives and key results (OKRs) using an approach specifically tailored to the rapidly evolving nature of startups. Leverage constructive conflict, deal with underperformance, keep laser-focused on what’s important, and create a commitment to improving.

  • Understand the 5 meetings every scale-up CEO should be leading. Discover how to take your 1:1s to the next level. Ask better questions and learn to use coaching techniques, so the time is more efficient for you and more engaging and motivating for your team members.

  • Get clarity on what you truly value. Learn how to use values to navigate difficult decisions. Communicate your values plus the underlying behaviours to employees deeply, and ensure employee recognition, rewards and outcomes — actions especially critical for remote and hybrid companies to get right.

Founders words

  • "Asher really dug deep into my psychology to identify the underlying issues that were holding me back. He’s been transformational in changing my attitude to challenges."

    Michelle You
    CEO, Supercritical     | Co-founder, Songkick

    Investors: Lightspeed, LocalGlobe

  • Matt Smith headshot

    “Asher’s experience as a CEO enabled him to truly understand the challenges I faced & helped me identify priorities that really matter.”

    Matt Smith
    Co-founder, Thinkific

    Raised $160m through IPO

  • Eugene Tsyrklevich headshot

    “With a fast-growing team, I’m constantly challenged. Regular catch-ups with Asher have helped me be a better CEO.”

    Eugene Tsyrklevich
    CEO, Parkopedia

    Investors: Private Equity

  • Rikke Roselund headshot

    “You can trust him with the most sensitive issues and know you’re getting unbiased advice that is fully focused on your growth and well-being.”

    Rikke Roselund
    CEO, BorrowMyDoggy

    Investors: Seedcamp, 7percent

  • Dylan Bourguignon headshot

    “Having someone who understands the dynamics of investors, boards, co-founders and is 100% independent is priceless.”

    Dylan Bourguignon
    CEO, SO-SURE

    Investors: Breega, 7percent

  • Brett Putter headshot

    “High-growth startups are an intense and (often) humbling experience. I consistently lean on Asher when I have a tough challenge.”

    Bretton Putter
    Investor, Seedcamp

    Previously founded CultureGene

INTERESTED?

Get in touch.

The first session’s on me.

About Asher

What I love about coaching is I can offer founders the practical & emotional support I wish I had when I was building my companies.

Prior to becoming a coach, I’ve scaled three venture-backed startups and had two exits. I’ve raised over $150 million of capital from angels, VC, crowdfunding, and banks.

In 2017, I was named Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year and in 2020 was entered into the Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame. Most recently I founded Uncapped, a banking service for startups, backed by Lakestar, Mouro Capital (Santander), GFC, Whitestar and Seedcamp.

I've also shut down a company, experienced burnout, lost loved ones, and overcome many other challenges in life and business. I've also coached many people through life-changing experiences including some of the most talented CEOs in the world.

I’d love to support you on your journey. Connect with me on LinkedIn

INSIGHTS FOR IMPATIENT FOUNDERS