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      <title>Eric Ashman | Startup Roadmap</title>
      <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap</link>
      <description>Actionable advice to help you navigate your hardest inflection points and take charge of your startup's destiny.</description>
      <language>en</language>
      <lastBuildDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:22:35 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Embrace the MVP and Stop Trying To Boil The Ocean]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/embrace-the-mvp-and-stop-trying-to-boil-the-ocean</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/embrace-the-mvp-and-stop-trying-to-boil-the-ocean</guid>
          <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Stop Setting Your Team Up to Fail]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/stop-setting-your-team-up-to-fail</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/stop-setting-your-team-up-to-fail</guid>
          <pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Where Did the Climate Seed Money Go?]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/where-did-the-climate-seed-money-go</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/where-did-the-climate-seed-money-go</guid>
          <pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/20260510%20US%20Seed%20Volume%20By%20Size%20-%20Crunchbase.png" alt="Where Did the Climate Seed Money Go?" /><br/>The $2 million "figure it out" seed round for climate tech and hard-tech founders is dead.]]></description>
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        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[You Are Managing Two Runways, Not One]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/you-are-managing-two-runways-not-one</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/you-are-managing-two-runways-not-one</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Chart%20Net%20Distributions%20remain%20negative.jpeg" alt="You Are Managing Two Runways, Not One" /><br/>Net distributions from venture capital to its investors have been negative for years. You look at that chart below and think it's somebody else's problem.]]></description>
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        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[The Q1 2026 VC Headline Is Lying to You]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-q1-2026-vc-headline-is-lying-to-you</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-q1-2026-vc-headline-is-lying-to-you</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/The%20True%20Venture%20Market.jpeg" alt="The Q1 2026 VC Headline Is Lying to You" /><br/>The Q1 2026 venture capital headline is lying to you. Software captured 76% of all US venture dollars last quarter — $204 billion of a $267 billion pie. If you ...]]></description>
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        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Three Guardrails That Keep Acquirers Honest During Diligence]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/three-guardrails-that-keep-acquirers-honest-during-diligence</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/three-guardrails-that-keep-acquirers-honest-during-diligence</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[I've never found the start of a diligence process in a fundraise or M&A transaction stressful. The stress comes at the end.]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Stop Protecting Your Org Chart]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/stop-protecting-your-org-chart</link>
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          <pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Profitability]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[Role redundancy is a luxury you can no longer afford. Your burn rate is too high, you have less than 6 months of runway, and term sheets are nowhere in sight. Y...]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Avoid the Selective Board Disclosure Trap]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/avoid-the-selective-board-disclosure-trap</link>
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          <pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[Trying to control Board dynamics by selectively sharing information is a mistake. Your biggest client just sent a cancellation notice. The revenue hit will be b...]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[The Exit Trap - Why Pausing Your Bridge Round Leads to a Fire Sale]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-exit-trap-why-pausing-your-bridge-round-leads-to-a-fire-sale</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-exit-trap-why-pausing-your-bridge-round-leads-to-a-fire-sale</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Exit Strategy]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[Founders fall into this trap because they trade hope for strategy.]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Private Equity Won't Save Your SaaS Startup]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/private-equity-wont-save-your-saas-startup</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/private-equity-wont-save-your-saas-startup</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Exit Strategy]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Pitchbook%20Chart%20-%20Software%20PE%20deal%20activity%20Dec%202025.001.jpeg" alt="Private Equity Won't Save Your SaaS Startup" /><br/>Private Equity isn't coming to save your SaaS startup. Why? Last week, I posted about the SaaS-pocalypse and the impact of the collapsing seat economy on ventur...]]></description>
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        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[The Collapsing Seat Economy Is Driving the SaaS-pocalypse]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-collapsing-seat-economy-is-driving-the-saas-pocalypse</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-collapsing-seat-economy-is-driving-the-saas-pocalypse</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Hard%20Times%20for%20Software%20Stocks%20-%20Bloomberg%20Feb%202026.png" alt="The Collapsing Seat Economy Is Driving the SaaS-pocalypse" /><br/>The SaaS-pocalypse is here. It isn't just a headline. It is a math problem presenting a real risk to startups.]]></description>
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        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Headcount Is Not A Vanity Metric]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/headcount-is-not-a-vanity-metric</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/headcount-is-not-a-vanity-metric</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Carta%20Team%20Size%20is%20Trending%20Lower%202025%20Chart.jpeg" alt="Headcount Is Not A Vanity Metric" /><br/>Headcount is no longer a vanity metric. It is an efficiency test. If you built your team in 2021 or 2022, your org chart is likely a liability.]]></description>
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          <title><![CDATA[Bridge Rounds Rarely Save Startups]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/bridge-rounds-rarely-save-startups</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/bridge-rounds-rarely-save-startups</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Seed%20to%20Series%20A%20Carta%202025.001.jpeg" alt="Bridge Rounds Rarely Save Startups" /><br/>Founders often view a bridge round as a safety net. A way to buy time to fix metrics. But the data shows that if you need a bridge, you are already fighting aga...]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Seed%20to%20Series%20A%20Carta%202025.001.jpeg" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[You Are Ignoring 40% of Your Buyers]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/you-are-ignoring-40-of-your-buyers</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/you-are-ignoring-40-of-your-buyers</guid>
          <pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Exit Strategy]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[You have a blind spot in your exit strategy. You are ignoring 40% of your startup's acquirers. Most founders obsess over the "Trillion Dollar Club." You build r...]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Where Did All the Venture Capital Go?]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/where-did-all-the-venture-capital-go</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/where-did-all-the-venture-capital-go</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/H1%202025%20Global%20buyout%20deal%20value%20by%20channel%20-%20Bain%20report.png" alt="Where Did All the Venture Capital Go?" /><br/>---]]></description>
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          <title><![CDATA[When One Sector Gets 64% of All VC Dollars, You Pay Attention]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/when-one-sector-gets-64-of-all-vc-dollars-you-pay-attention</link>
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          <pubDate>Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/AI%20VC%20Deal%20Activity%20Chart%202025.png" alt="When One Sector Gets 64% of All VC Dollars, You Pay Attention" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/AI%20VC%20Deal%20Activity%20Chart%202025.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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          <title><![CDATA[Your Board Meeting Isn’t Just an Update—It’s Your Moment to Lead]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/your-board-meeting-isnt-just-an-update-its-your-moment-to-lead</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/your-board-meeting-isnt-just-an-update-its-your-moment-to-lead</guid>
          <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[Most founders treat board meetings like status updates. That’s a mistake. It’s your chance to lead with a clear narrative—build conviction before you ask for help. Investor support must be constantly earned.]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[What's Your Ownership Stake Really Worth?]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/whats-your-ownership-stake-really-worth</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/whats-your-ownership-stake-really-worth</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/SasS%20founder%20ownership%20at%20IPO%20Carta%20H1%202025.png" alt="What's Your Ownership Stake Really Worth?" /><br/>Founders obsess over ownership percentage. Wrong metric. Your 20% stake could be worthless if the preference stack is too high.]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/SasS%20founder%20ownership%20at%20IPO%20Carta%20H1%202025.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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          <title><![CDATA[Navigating the 2025 Startup Valuation Reset]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/navigating-the-2025-startup-valuation-reset</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/navigating-the-2025-startup-valuation-reset</guid>
          <pubDate>Sat, 14 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Carta%20Q1%202025%20Down%20Rounds%20Increase%20Chart.png" alt="Navigating the 2025 Startup Valuation Reset" /><br/>1 in 5 venture rounds since 2023 has been a down round. A down round isn't failure. It's a strategic reset, reflecting a market that has fundamentally changed and now demands stronger fundamentals.]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Carta%20Q1%202025%20Down%20Rounds%20Increase%20Chart.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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          <title><![CDATA[The Series A Squeeze – This is What a Tighter Fundraise Environment Looks Like]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-series-a-squeeze-this-is-what-a-tighter-fundraise-environment-looks-like</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-series-a-squeeze-this-is-what-a-tighter-fundraise-environment-looks-like</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Carta%20Seed%20to%20Series%20A%20in%202%20Years%20or%20Less%20Chart.jpeg" alt="The Series A Squeeze – This is What a Tighter Fundraise Environment Looks Like" /><br/>In 2020, 39% of SaaS startups raised a Series A within 2 years of their seed round. That number has now fallen to just 13%. This is what the Series A squeeze looks like.]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Carta%20Seed%20to%20Series%20A%20in%202%20Years%20or%20Less%20Chart.jpeg" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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          <title><![CDATA[High Rates and Tariffs Are Delaying Startup Exits]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/high-rates-and-tariffs-are-delaying-startup-exits</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/high-rates-and-tariffs-are-delaying-startup-exits</guid>
          <pubDate>Sat, 07 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Exit Strategy]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Figure%2024%20VC%20Exit%20Survey.png" alt="High Rates and Tariffs Are Delaying Startup Exits" /><br/>Wondering why the M&A and IPO markets are so tight? No surprise that VCs are pointing to high interest rates and tariff uncertainty as key blocks to an exit. In a tight exit market, focus on what you can control.]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Figure%2024%20VC%20Exit%20Survey.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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          <title><![CDATA[Q1  VC Fundraising Tracks to Decade Low]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/q1-vc-fundraising-tracks-to-decade-low</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/q1-vc-fundraising-tracks-to-decade-low</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/VC_Fundraising_Trends_Q1_2025%203.png" alt="Q1  VC Fundraising Tracks to Decade Low" /><br/>VC fundraising hit a decade low pace in Q1 2025. For founders, this signals one of the toughest fundraising climates in years.]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/VC_Fundraising_Trends_Q1_2025%203.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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          <title><![CDATA[When 71.1% of VC Dollars Go to One Sector, You Pay Attention]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/when-71-1-of-vc-dollars-go-to-one-sector-you-pay-attention</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/when-71-1-of-vc-dollars-go-to-one-sector-you-pay-attention</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/AI%20scoops%20up%2071%20percent%20of%20all%20capital%20Q1%202025%20Pitchbook.png" alt="When 71.1% of VC Dollars Go to One Sector, You Pay Attention" /><br/>---]]></description>
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          <title><![CDATA[The Holiday Fundraising Trap – What Founders Should Do Now]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-holiday-fundraising-trap-what-founders-should-do-now</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-holiday-fundraising-trap-what-founders-should-do-now</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 19 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/202411%20Carta%20Too%20Late%20to%20Close%20a%20VC%20Round%20Table.png" alt="The Holiday Fundraising Trap – What Founders Should Do Now" /><br/>Thinking about launching your fundraise now? Think again. November & December are the worst months to start, with just 6.4% of deals closing in January. Instead, use the next 6 weeks to prepare: finalize your pitch deck, extend runway, & watch for macro shifts.]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/202411%20Carta%20Too%20Late%20to%20Close%20a%20VC%20Round%20Table.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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          <title><![CDATA[Time Is Killing Venture Returns]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/time-is-killing-venture-returns</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/time-is-killing-venture-returns</guid>
          <pubDate>Sun, 03 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/20241102%20Pitchbook%20Chart%20Fund%20DPI%20and%20RVPI.png" alt="Time Is Killing Venture Returns" /><br/>As an investment vehicle for LPs, venture capital is broken. As a founder, you need to understand this dynamic. Choose your investors wisely.]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/20241102%20Pitchbook%20Chart%20Fund%20DPI%20and%20RVPI.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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          <title><![CDATA[Why Longer Fundraising Cycles Are Actually Good for Startups]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/why-longer-fundraising-cycles-are-actually-good-for-startups</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/why-longer-fundraising-cycles-are-actually-good-for-startups</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 30 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/20241030%20Carta%20Time%20Between%20Rounds%20Chart.png" alt="Why Longer Fundraising Cycles Are Actually Good for Startups" /><br/>It's taking longer to raise a round of venture funding. This is a healthy change.]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/20241030%20Carta%20Time%20Between%20Rounds%20Chart.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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          <title><![CDATA[The Rapid Rise of Zombie VCs]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-rapid-rise-of-zombie-vcs</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-rapid-rise-of-zombie-vcs</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/20241023%20Unique%20investors%20dramatic%20fall.png" alt="The Rapid Rise of Zombie VCs" /><br/>Zombie VCs are surging: 25% fewer active investors in 2024 vs 2023, and 50% down from 2021's peak. These funds can't make new investments, but their short-term focus can still cause major problems for founders in their portfolio.]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/20241023%20Unique%20investors%20dramatic%20fall.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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          <title><![CDATA[Getting from Series A to Series B]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/getting-from-series-a-to-series-b</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/getting-from-series-a-to-series-b</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 17 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/20241017%20Getting%20from%20Series%20A%20to%20B%20chart.png" alt="Getting from Series A to Series B" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/20241017%20Getting%20from%20Series%20A%20to%20B%20chart.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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          <title><![CDATA[Unicorn bubbles]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/unicorn-bubbles</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/unicorn-bubbles</guid>
          <pubDate>Mon, 14 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Unicorn%20Valuations%20Chart%202014%20-%202024.png" alt="Unicorn bubbles" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Unicorn%20Valuations%20Chart%202014%20-%202024.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Your Mushroom Farm is Not a Tech Company]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/your-mushroom-farm-is-not-a-tech-company</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/your-mushroom-farm-is-not-a-tech-company</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Census Data Highlights Surge in New Startups]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/census-data-highlights-surge-in-new-startups</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/census-data-highlights-surge-in-new-startups</guid>
          <pubDate>Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/20241018%20Census%20data%20and%20job%20growth%20chart%20v2.png" alt="Census Data Highlights Surge in New Startups" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/20241018%20Census%20data%20and%20job%20growth%20chart%20v2.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[The Team Skills Gap Assessment]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-team-skills-gap-assessment</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-team-skills-gap-assessment</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Skills%20Gap%20Assessment%20Workbook%20Example%20-%20Skills%20Inventory.png" alt="The Team Skills Gap Assessment" /><br/>Jim Collins, the author of Good to Great, stated that the key to building great companies is getting the right people on the bus.]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Skills%20Gap%20Assessment%20Workbook%20Example%20-%20Skills%20Inventory.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[The Team Skills Gap Assessment Workbook]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-team-skills-gap-assessment-workbook</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-team-skills-gap-assessment-workbook</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Team%20Skills%20Gap%20Assessment%20Workbook.pdf" alt="The Team Skills Gap Assessment Workbook" /><br/>Jim Collins, the author of Good to Great, stated that the key to building great companies is getting the right people on the bus. This is a critical concept for...]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Team%20Skills%20Gap%20Assessment%20Workbook.pdf" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Four Steps to Navigating the Startup Team Skills Gap]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/four-steps-to-navigating-the-startup-team-skills-gap</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/four-steps-to-navigating-the-startup-team-skills-gap</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Skills%20Gap%20Assessment%20Workbook%20Example%20-%20Skills%20Inventory.png" alt="Four Steps to Navigating the Startup Team Skills Gap" /><br/>Successful startups are built on great execution. And great execution comes from having the right people in the right seats on your bus.]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Skills%20Gap%20Assessment%20Workbook%20Example%20-%20Skills%20Inventory.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Avoid the Safe Note Dilution Trap]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/avoid-the-safe-note-dilution-trap</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/avoid-the-safe-note-dilution-trap</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Q1%202024%2072%20percent%20prepriced%20raised%20less%201%20million.png" alt="Avoid the Safe Note Dilution Trap" /><br/>SAFEs are fast and inexpensive to use. That’s a feature and a bug. Too many founders overuse SAFEs and end up in a dilution trap. - Carta recently released its ...]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Q1%202024%2072%20percent%20prepriced%20raised%20less%201%20million.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[How To Steer Your Startup Through The VC Shakeout]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/how-to-steer-your-startup-through-the-vc-shakeout</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/how-to-steer-your-startup-through-the-vc-shakeout</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/VC%20Capital%20Raised%20Has%20Dipped%20to%20a%20Six-Year%20Low.png" alt="How To Steer Your Startup Through The VC Shakeout" /><br/>Venture funds are under a lot of pressure right now. This has implications for your startup as you think about 2024 and beyond.]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/VC%20Capital%20Raised%20Has%20Dipped%20to%20a%20Six-Year%20Low.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Fear Uncertainty and Doubt Can Be Founder Superpowers]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/fear-uncertainty-and-doubt-can-be-founder-superpowers</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/fear-uncertainty-and-doubt-can-be-founder-superpowers</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[Fear. Uncertainty. Doubt. As a founder, it's easy to believe these feelings are weaknesses. But when properly channeled, fear, uncertainty, and doubt are founder superpowers.]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Are You Growing Fast Enough to Raise Your Next Round]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/are-you-growing-fast-enough-to-raise-your-next-round</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/are-you-growing-fast-enough-to-raise-your-next-round</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Chart%20SaaS%20EV%20Revenue%20Multiple%202015%202023.svg" alt="Are You Growing Fast Enough to Raise Your Next Round" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Chart%20SaaS%20EV%20Revenue%20Multiple%202015%202023.svg" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Don't Believe The Hype]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/dont-believe-the-hype</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/dont-believe-the-hype</guid>
          <pubDate>Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Disney-zoom-in.png" alt="Don't Believe The Hype" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Disney-zoom-in.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Down Rounds and Recaps Part 4 – Navigating the Startup Recap]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/down-rounds-and-recaps-part-4-navigating-the-startup-recap</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/down-rounds-and-recaps-part-4-navigating-the-startup-recap</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 14 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Down Rounds and Recaps Part 3 – A Deep Dive into Down Rounds]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/down-rounds-and-recaps-part-3-a-deep-dive-into-down-rounds</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/down-rounds-and-recaps-part-3-a-deep-dive-into-down-rounds</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/SaaS-Valuations.png" alt="Down Rounds and Recaps Part 3 – A Deep Dive into Down Rounds" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/SaaS-Valuations.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Down Rounds and Recaps Part 2 – Managing Your Key Stakeholders]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/down-rounds-and-recaps-part-2-managing-your-key-stakeholders</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/down-rounds-and-recaps-part-2-managing-your-key-stakeholders</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Down Rounds and Recaps Part 1 — What, Why, When]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/down-rounds-and-recaps-part-1-what-why-when</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/down-rounds-and-recaps-part-1-what-why-when</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Staying True to Your Values - Learning from Substack's Crowdfunding Decision]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/staying-true-to-your-values-learning-from-substacks-crowdfunding-decision</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/staying-true-to-your-values-learning-from-substacks-crowdfunding-decision</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 27 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[Exploring the consequences of prioritizing short-term gains over long-term trust and transparency in the startup world, as illustrated by Substack's recent fundraising approach.]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[From DTC to AI - Lessons in Navigating Business Model Shifts]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/from-dtc-to-ai-lessons-in-navigating-business-model-shifts</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/from-dtc-to-ai-lessons-in-navigating-business-model-shifts</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 06 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[The Ripple Effects of SVB's Failure on the Funding Landscape for Venture-Backed Companies]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-ripple-effects-of-svbs-failure-on-the-funding-landscape-for-venture-backed-companies</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-ripple-effects-of-svbs-failure-on-the-funding-landscape-for-venture-backed-companies</guid>
          <pubDate>Fri, 17 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[*The recent failure of Silicon Valley Bank will lead to fewer lending options and more onerous terms for startups. Here's what you should do.*]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Mass Extinction Event for Startups? Are You Default Investable or Default Alive?]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/mass-extinction-event-for-startups-are-you-default-investable-or-default-alive</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/mass-extinction-event-for-startups-are-you-default-investable-or-default-alive</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Tom%20Loverro%20Tweet%20Mass%20Extinction%20Prediction%2020230131.png" alt="Mass Extinction Event for Startups? Are You Default Investable or Default Alive?" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Tom%20Loverro%20Tweet%20Mass%20Extinction%20Prediction%2020230131.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[The Inevitable Pivot – 2 Traps You Must Avoid]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-inevitable-pivot-2-traps-you-must-avoid</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-inevitable-pivot-2-traps-you-must-avoid</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[*Your startup journey will be filled with dead ends, false starts, and long treks down the wrong path. When it's time to pivot, there are two traps to avoid.*]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Don't Be the Hound. Pick Up Your Head.]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/dont-be-the-hound-pick-up-your-head</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/dont-be-the-hound-pick-up-your-head</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Hound-Dog-and-Bowie.png" alt="Don't Be the Hound. Pick Up Your Head." /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Hound-Dog-and-Bowie.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Lighten Up, Speed Up]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/lighten-up-speed-up</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/lighten-up-speed-up</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Don't Trade Valuation For Structure]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/dont-trade-valuation-for-structure</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/dont-trade-valuation-for-structure</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[2023 is going to be another challenging year for many founders. The pullback by investors will continue, leaving the potential path to additional funding uncert...]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Inflation and Recession Are Coming For Your Contribution Margin! Here’s What You Need To Do.]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/inflation-and-recession-are-coming-for-your-contribution-margin-heres-what-you-need-to-do</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/inflation-and-recession-are-coming-for-your-contribution-margin-heres-what-you-need-to-do</guid>
          <pubDate>Mon, 02 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Profitability]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Contribution%20Margin%20Breakout%20Chart%201.png" alt="Inflation and Recession Are Coming For Your Contribution Margin! Here’s What You Need To Do." /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Contribution%20Margin%20Breakout%20Chart%201.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Want to Create a Culture of Innovation? Ask These 3 Essential Questions.]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/want-to-create-a-culture-of-innovation-ask-these-3-essential-questions</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/want-to-create-a-culture-of-innovation-ask-these-3-essential-questions</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[*Innovation comes from experimentation. Experimentation leads to failure. Embracing failure is the path to building great products and enterprise value.*]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[4 Pitfalls of Raising VC and How To Avoid Them]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/4-pitfalls-of-raising-vc-and-how-to-avoid-them</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/4-pitfalls-of-raising-vc-and-how-to-avoid-them</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[There are four common pitfalls entrepreneurs fall into while raising venture capital. Here are a few tips on how to avoid them.]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Send It! Bad Advice In Mountain Biking and Startups]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/send-it-bad-advice-in-mountain-biking-and-startups</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/send-it-bad-advice-in-mountain-biking-and-startups</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[3 Essential Steps to Keep Enough Cash in the Bank]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/3-essential-steps-to-keep-enough-cash-in-the-bank</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/3-essential-steps-to-keep-enough-cash-in-the-bank</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 20 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[Calculating how much runway you have isn't as simple as you may think. Get it wrong, and your company might be running on fumes sooner than you expected.]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[3 Common Mistakes That Are Inflating Your Marketing Budget]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/3-common-mistakes-that-are-inflating-your-marketing-budget</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/3-common-mistakes-that-are-inflating-your-marketing-budget</guid>
          <pubDate>Mon, 10 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <category><![CDATA[Profitability]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[One important measure of marketing efficiency. So many variables to choose from. Your profitability and cash flow depend on making the right choices.]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Don’t Let Selective Storytelling in the Media Warp Your Perspective]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/dont-let-selective-storytelling-in-the-media-warp-your-perspective</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/dont-let-selective-storytelling-in-the-media-warp-your-perspective</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 08 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/2011%20Headshot%20Disney%20Monorail%20.jpeg" alt="Don’t Let Selective Storytelling in the Media Warp Your Perspective" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/2011%20Headshot%20Disney%20Monorail%20.jpeg" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Wrong Sales Channels - Let's Fix That]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/wrong-sales-channels-lets-fix-that</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/wrong-sales-channels-lets-fix-that</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Startup Restructuring 101 - Find Your Stop Doing Work]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/startup-restructuring-101-find-your-stop-doing-work</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/startup-restructuring-101-find-your-stop-doing-work</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Profitability]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[There are a lot of tweets and blog posts advising founders to extend their runway given the current pullback in venture capital investing and the compression in valuations. But there is a right and wrong way to restructure your startup while keeping your team motivated and on track to deliver future growth.]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Down Round, Cram Down, or Wind Down. Difficult Decisions Ahead]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/down-round-cram-down-or-wind-down-difficult-decisions-ahead</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/down-round-cram-down-or-wind-down-difficult-decisions-ahead</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Global-Funding-by-Month-Through-May-2022.png" alt="Down Round, Cram Down, or Wind Down. Difficult Decisions Ahead" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Global-Funding-by-Month-Through-May-2022.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
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        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[External Events Can Move the Goalpost]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/external-events-can-move-the-goalpost</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/external-events-can-move-the-goalpost</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Casper-2017-2019-Revenue-Net-Loss.jpeg" alt="External Events Can Move the Goalpost" /><br/>In the last two issues of the newsletter, we talked about the importance of taking the time to find product-market fit and choosing the right investors. We also...]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Casper-2017-2019-Revenue-Net-Loss.jpeg" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Choose Your Venture Investors Wisely]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/choose-your-venture-investors-wisely</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/choose-your-venture-investors-wisely</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/US%20VC%20Fundraising%20Activity%202006%20-%202021.png" alt="Choose Your Venture Investors Wisely" /><br/>Choosing your venture investors is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a founder. As you progress through your rounds of venture funding, your in...]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/US%20VC%20Fundraising%20Activity%202006%20-%202021.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Scaling Product-Market Fit is a Marathon, Not a Sprint]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/scaling-product-market-fit-is-a-marathon-not-a-sprint</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/scaling-product-market-fit-is-a-marathon-not-a-sprint</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/product-market-fit-venn-diagram.png" alt="Scaling Product-Market Fit is a Marathon, Not a Sprint" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/product-market-fit-venn-diagram.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Stay in Control]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/stay-in-control</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/stay-in-control</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Profitability]]></category>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/us-vc-fundraising-activity-2006-2021-1.png" alt="Stay in Control" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/us-vc-fundraising-activity-2006-2021-1.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[The Casper IPO - Investor Leverage, The Hit to Employee Moral, and the Tough Road Ahead]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-casper-ipo-investor-leverage-the-hit-to-employee-moral-and-the-tough-road-ahead</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-casper-ipo-investor-leverage-the-hit-to-employee-moral-and-the-tough-road-ahead</guid>
          <pubDate>Fri, 14 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <category><![CDATA[Exit Strategy]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Learning From the Casper IPO]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/learning-from-the-casper-ipo</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/learning-from-the-casper-ipo</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <category><![CDATA[Exit Strategy]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Know Your Burn Rate - Set Up Your Assessment Framework]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/know-your-burn-rate-set-up-your-assessment-framework</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/know-your-burn-rate-set-up-your-assessment-framework</guid>
          <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <category><![CDATA[Profitability]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/assessment-framework.png" alt="Know Your Burn Rate - Set Up Your Assessment Framework" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/assessment-framework.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Defining Product-Market Fit - Feasible, Desirable, and Viable]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/defining-product-market-fit-feasible-desirable-and-viable</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/defining-product-market-fit-feasible-desirable-and-viable</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 14 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Product%20Market%20Fit%20Venn%20Diagram.png" alt="Defining Product-Market Fit - Feasible, Desirable, and Viable" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Product%20Market%20Fit%20Venn%20Diagram.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Now You Know That Private Company Valuations Are Arbitrary]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/now-you-know-that-private-company-valuations-are-arbitrary</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/now-you-know-that-private-company-valuations-are-arbitrary</guid>
          <pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Gross Revenue Is A Vanity Metric]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/gross-revenue-is-a-vanity-metric</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/gross-revenue-is-a-vanity-metric</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 01 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Profitability]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[The Reality Distortion Field Has Only One Weakness]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-reality-distortion-field-has-only-one-weakness</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-reality-distortion-field-has-only-one-weakness</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 18 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Profitability]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Build Your Pricing Strategy On The Foundation of Testing and Iteration]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/build-your-pricing-strategy-on-the-foundation-of-testing-and-iteration</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/build-your-pricing-strategy-on-the-foundation-of-testing-and-iteration</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 17 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Finding Sustainable Growth Before Your Next Fundraise]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/finding-sustainable-growth-before-your-next-fundraise</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/finding-sustainable-growth-before-your-next-fundraise</guid>
          <pubDate>Mon, 16 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/20190913%20David%20Frankel%20tweet%20profitability.png" alt="Finding Sustainable Growth Before Your Next Fundraise" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/20190913%20David%20Frankel%20tweet%20profitability.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Pulling Back The Curtain on the Softbank Vision Fund]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/pulling-back-the-curtain-on-the-softbank-vision-fund</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/pulling-back-the-curtain-on-the-softbank-vision-fund</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 12 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[The WeWork IPO - A Fascinating Look At Hype, Greed and The Popping of a Unicorn Bubble]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-wework-ipo-a-fascinating-look-at-hype-greed-and-the-popping-of-a-unicorn-bubble</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-wework-ipo-a-fascinating-look-at-hype-greed-and-the-popping-of-a-unicorn-bubble</guid>
          <pubDate>Fri, 06 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[You're Not a Tech Company - Invest Your Money Where It Counts]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/youre-not-a-tech-company-invest-your-money-where-it-counts</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/youre-not-a-tech-company-invest-your-money-where-it-counts</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 03 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Almost Worthless - What We Can Learn From A 99.7 Percent Writeoff]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/almost-worthless-what-we-can-learn-from-a-99-7-percent-writeoff</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/almost-worthless-what-we-can-learn-from-a-99-7-percent-writeoff</guid>
          <pubDate>Fri, 30 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[If There Is No Path To Your Market, Does It Exist?]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/if-there-is-no-path-to-your-market-does-it-exist</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/if-there-is-no-path-to-your-market-does-it-exist</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 29 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[How Would Socrates Review That Customer Acquisition Model]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/how-would-socrates-review-that-customer-acquisition-model</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/how-would-socrates-review-that-customer-acquisition-model</guid>
          <pubDate>Fri, 09 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[The Sunk Cost Fallacy - The Roadblock to Meaningful Change]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-sunk-cost-fallacy-the-roadblock-to-meaningful-change</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-sunk-cost-fallacy-the-roadblock-to-meaningful-change</guid>
          <pubDate>Mon, 05 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[It's The 60 Percent In The Middle That Will Kill Your Company]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/its-the-60-percent-in-the-middle-that-will-kill-your-company</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/its-the-60-percent-in-the-middle-that-will-kill-your-company</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 01 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <category><![CDATA[Profitability]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Only Revenue Equals Revenue]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/only-revenue-equals-revenue</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/only-revenue-equals-revenue</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 24 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Go Big or Go Home - Bad Advice Or The Worst Advice]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/go-big-or-go-home-bad-advice-or-the-worst-advice</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/go-big-or-go-home-bad-advice-or-the-worst-advice</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 23 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Making The Best Decisions You Can With The Best Data You Have]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/making-the-best-decisions-you-can-with-the-best-data-you-have</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/making-the-best-decisions-you-can-with-the-best-data-you-have</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 17 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[It's All A Matter of Perspective]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/its-all-a-matter-of-perspective</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/its-all-a-matter-of-perspective</guid>
          <pubDate>Mon, 15 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/2011%20Headshot%20Disney%20Monorail%20.jpeg" alt="It's All A Matter of Perspective" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/2011%20Headshot%20Disney%20Monorail%20.jpeg" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Blitzscaling Is A Seed Stage Problem Too]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/blitzscaling-is-a-seed-stage-problem-too</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/blitzscaling-is-a-seed-stage-problem-too</guid>
          <pubDate>Fri, 12 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Build a Proper Revenue Model]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/build-a-proper-revenue-model</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/build-a-proper-revenue-model</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Top-Down or Bottom-Up Planning]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/top-down-or-bottom-up-planning</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/top-down-or-bottom-up-planning</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[If All We Have Is Opinions, Lets Go With Mine]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/if-all-we-have-is-opinions-lets-go-with-mine</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/if-all-we-have-is-opinions-lets-go-with-mine</guid>
          <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Spaghetti Against the Wall Leaves a Terrible Mess]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/spaghetti-against-the-wall-leaves-a-terrible-mess</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/spaghetti-against-the-wall-leaves-a-terrible-mess</guid>
          <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[The Founder Superpower]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-founder-superpower</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-founder-superpower</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 12 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Happy Motivated Employees Part II]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/happy-motivated-employees-part-ii</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/happy-motivated-employees-part-ii</guid>
          <pubDate>Mon, 10 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Happy and Motivated Employees]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/happy-and-motivated-employees</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/happy-and-motivated-employees</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 04 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Focus on Your Losers to Find More Winners]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/focus-on-your-losers-to-find-more-winners</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/focus-on-your-losers-to-find-more-winners</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 29 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Valuation Makes the Headlines, But Liquidation Preferences Allocate the Cash]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/valuation-makes-the-headlines-but-liquidation-preferences-allocate-the-cash</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/valuation-makes-the-headlines-but-liquidation-preferences-allocate-the-cash</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Funding & Capital]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Valuation%20Headlines%20Post%20Example%201.png" alt="Valuation Makes the Headlines, But Liquidation Preferences Allocate the Cash" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Valuation%20Headlines%20Post%20Example%201.png" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Gross Margin Is Sexy Again]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/gross-margin-is-sexy-again</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/gross-margin-is-sexy-again</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 03 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Profitability]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[The Ideal Employee]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-ideal-employee</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/the-ideal-employee</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[<img src="https://ericashman.com/images/Ideal%20Team%20Player%20Hungry%20Humble%20Smart.jpg" alt="The Ideal Employee" /><br/>---]]></description>
          <enclosure url="https://ericashman.com/images/Ideal%20Team%20Player%20Hungry%20Humble%20Smart.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0" />
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Career Development – Don't Over Index For Title, Money or Furniture]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/career-development-dont-over-index-for-title-money-or-furniture</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/career-development-dont-over-index-for-title-money-or-furniture</guid>
          <pubDate>Tue, 03 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
        <item>
          <title><![CDATA[Find Product-Market Fit Before You Try to Scale]]></title>
          <link>https://ericashman.com/roadmap/find-product-market-fit-before-you-try-to-scale</link>
          <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ericashman.com/roadmap/find-product-market-fit-before-you-try-to-scale</guid>
          <pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
          <category><![CDATA[Scalable Growth]]></category>
          <description><![CDATA[---]]></description>
          
        </item>
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