founder_stack
A short list of ops tools I actually use and send founders to in conversations. Nothing here is a silver bullet — just things that save time when you're building without a big team behind you.
finance
When to use it: When you're starting to spend on software, travel, and contractors and need real-time visibility into where money goes.
Why I recommend it: I use Ramp to keep burn visible and approvals lightweight. Cards, reimbursements, and reporting in one place — less spreadsheet chaos as you scale.
productivity
When to use it: When you're in back-to-back founder calls and need context captured without breaking flow to take notes.
Why I recommend it: I use Granola for investor updates, customer calls, and mentor sessions. It listens in the background and turns conversations into usable notes you can actually search later.
people_ops
When to use it: When you're bringing on your first employees or contractors and need payroll, taxes, and basic HR handled correctly.
Why I recommend it: Gusto is what I point founders to once hiring starts. Onboarding, payroll runs, and compliance without needing an ops person on day one.
Some links may include a referral credit. I only list tools I'd recommend either way.