Startup Advisory Services:
Expert Support at Every Stage

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Building a startup goes beyond product creation — it requires making the right decisions at every stage. From demand research to scaling, from prototyping to a market-ready product, and from revenue strategy to securing funding, every step shapes what comes next.

With 24+ years of experience, we understand these challenges and offer startup advisory services that go beyond coding. IT Craft helps turn your idea into a successful business. Together with our advisory partners, we bring the expertise needed to build a scalable product, refine your business model, or navigate market entry.

Startup Challenges We Solve

Startups succeed not just because of great ideas but also because of strong execution. Long-term success is defined by navigating uncertainty, adapting to change, and making the right moves at the right time.

At IT Craft, we do more than develop software — we help startups validate, launch, and scale their products with the right strategy and technology. Over the years, we've seen what holds startups back and know exactly how to break through:

Is my idea valuable?

Many founders struggle to understand if their concept has real market demand. Without clarity, moving forward can feel uncertain.

Our Startup Advisory associates help with market validation and business strategy.

How do we scale?

Growth isn't just about attracting more users — it's about keeping up with the market, staying flexible, and ensuring your product evolves in the right direction.

At IT Craft, we help build scalable, adaptable technology that grows with your business.

Will investors support us?

Securing funding isn't just about having a great idea — it requires a solid execution plan and proof that your business is worth the investment.

Our Startup Advisory partners help with fundraising strategy and investor readiness.

How do we get early traction?

Even the best product won't succeed if people don't know about it or don't see its value. Gaining early users and keeping them engaged is critical.

Our partners help with go-to-market strategies, while we at IT Craft ensure a smooth and engaging product experience.

How do we avoid costly mistakes?

Poor technical decisions, misallocated resources, and unclear priorities can lead to wasted time and budget.

We help you build a solid product from the start, avoiding unnecessary costs and setbacks.

What's the right revenue model?

Monetization is key to long-term success, but finding the right balance between user growth and profitability is not always obvious.

Our partners help structure sustainable business models while we make sure your tech supports them.

Our Startup Advisory Services

Idea Validation & Market Research

We look at startup advisory services through the lens of idea validation, checking market size, opportunity analysis, risk identification to see whether the idea holds up outside the founder's head.

Prototyping & MVP Creation

We cover MVP scoping, feature prioritization, wireframes, and rapid prototyping, so the first version is focused, testable, and not overloaded with things nobody needs yet.

Go-to-Market Strategy & Product-Market Fit

We work through target audience definition, positioning, and product-market fit validation to figure out who the product is really for, how it should be presented, and what needs to change before rollout.

Business Setup & Essential Tools

With help from startup business advisors, founders can sort out business setup guidance, pick the right core tools, and put basic process design and workflows in place without turning an early-stage software development company into a bureaucracy.

Fundraising & Investor Readiness

Our startup funding advisory services include pitch deck creation, investor targeting, a clear view of funding options, and financial modeling that gives founders something solid to bring into investor meetings.

Product Development & Scaling

We provide tech advisory for startups, shape a realistic development roadmap, and think ahead about scaling infrastructure and teams before growth starts exposing weak spots.

Monetization & Revenue Strategy

Our work here is about pricing models, revenue streams, unit economics, profitability planning, and revenue optimization — not in theory, but in a way that matches the product, market, and stage.

Ongoing Mentorship & Advisory Support

With our startup advisory services and ongoing mentorship, we help founders navigate key growth stages, especially when new problems appear faster than the original plan can absorb them.

Meet Our Experts

expert

Dale Archer

linkedin

Scaling Innovations & Securing Funding

Washington, D.C., United States

Scaling Startups with Strategy and Execution

Dale Archer is skilled at helping start-ups build their business models, raise investments, and scale successfully. With a decade of executive management leadership experience, he is involved with fundraising, go-to-market strategies, and financial management. As a former COO at Valicor US™ and current COO at Oceantic Network, Dale works closely with founders across industries and organizational sectors to bridge the gap between vision and execution, ensuring sustainable growth.

  • 10+ years in startup consulting and executive leadership
  • Former COO at Valicor US™ | Current COO at Oceanic Network
  • Expert in investor readiness, business model validation, and leadership development

Core Expertise

  • Investor Readiness and Fundraising – Helping founders craft compelling pitch decks, structure funding strategies, and secure capital from investors.
  • Go-to-Market and Growth Strategy – Positioning startups for scalable success with market entry plans and customer acquisition strategies.
  • Business Model Validation and Monetization – Ensuring the right revenue model is in place to support long-term sustainability.
  • Leadership Development and Team Scaling – Coaching founders and executives in strategic decision-making, operational efficiency, and team leadership.

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expert

Dean Van Zyl

linkedin

Scaling & Growth Execution

Fairfax, Virginia, US

Scaling Startups with Strategy and Execution

Dean Van Zyl helps startups validate business models, secure investment, and scale efficiently. With decades of leadership experience, he has worked with Fortune 100/500 companies, driving growth, financial planning, and market expansion. His expertise includes fundraising, go-to-market strategies, and optimizing operations for long-term success.

  • 25+ years in startup growth, market expansion, and leadership
  • Founder of National Adhesive | Advisor to Fortune 100/500 companies
  • Expert in investor readiness, business strategy, and funding

Core Expertise

  • Investor Readiness & Capital Strategy – Preparing startups for funding and guiding investment negotiations.
  • Market Expansion & Business Growth – Creating scalable strategies for global and local markets.
  • Leadership & Operational Excellence – Helping founders streamline processes and scale teams effectively.
  • Market Validation and Culture Creator – Ensure products are market viable and develop the team to create/launch.

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expert

Chema Ballarin

linkedin

Scaling B2B Startups & Building High-Performance Sales Teams

Madrid, Spain

Scaling B2B Startups with Data-Driven Sales Strategies

Chema Ballarin helps B2B startups and scale-ups design and implement effective sales strategies without the overhead of a full-time sales leader. He specializes in building sales teams, optimizing processes, and driving predictable revenue growth. With a proven track record of 4X revenue growth at leading tech companies, Chema works closely with founders to turn sales into a structured, scalable engine.

  • 20+ years in consultative B2B sales and go-to-market strategy
  • Sales leadership experience at Dropbox, Eventbrite, Personio, and Cisco
  • Leader of NOVA Sales Community, mentoring the top 3% of sales professionals

Core Expertise

  • Sales Strategy & Go-To-Market Execution – Defining Ideal Customer Profiles (ICP), competitive positioning, and market entry plans.
  • Process & CRM Optimization – Designing efficient sales pipelines and optimizing HubSpot, Pipedrive, and Salesforce for better conversions.
  • Sales Team Training & Leadership – Coaching teams in closing techniques, sales playbooks, and scalable sales methodologies.
  • Inbound & Outbound Demand Generation – Running LinkedIn prospecting, email marketing, and cold outreach to generate high-quality leads.
  • Investor & Revenue Growth Readiness – Structuring sustainable monetization models, preparing for funding rounds, and expanding into new markets.

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expert

Tomer Jakov

linkedin

Early Stages | Traditional Industries

Israel | Global Advisory

Scaling Startups with Innovation and Strategy

Tomer Jakov specializes in helping startups bridge the gap between technology and business. With a background in engineering, project management, and strategic leadership, he provides hands-on guidance in validating ideas, securing funding, and scaling products to market.

Tomer actively supports early stage startups also as a mentor for leading Acceleration Programs in Israel, and through his newsletter, The Innovation Zone, where he shares insights on business strategy, innovation trends, and navigating conservative industries.

  • 10+ years in business strategy and technology-driven innovation
  • Former corporate executive turned freelance startup advisor
  • Led innovation programs for large infrastructure companies
  • Secured 8 POCs for early stages mobility and con-tech startups
  • Expertise in idea validation, problem-solution fit, pitch decks, and GTM
  • Experience in B2B and B2G

Core Expertise

  • Idea Validation & Early-Stage Strategy – Helping founders refine their business concepts, conduct market research, assess feasibility, and achieve problem-solution fit.
  • Fundraising & Investor Relations – Crafting compelling pitch decks, storytelling, structuring business plans, and strategically find the right funding sources.
  • Initial Sales and Scaling Strategies – Building scalable business models, optimizing monetization strategies, and achieving product market fit.
  • Go-to-Market Strategy – Positioning products effectively, defining sales channels, and executing market entry strategies.
  • Innovation in Traditional Industries – Leveraging emerging technology to drive disruption in traditional sectors.

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expert

Stuart Prestedge

linkedin

Pre-Seed Funding & Launch Readiness

Prague, Czechia | Global Advisory

Scaling B2B Startups with Data-Driven Sales Strategies

Stuart Prestedge brings over three decades of hands-on experience in software innovation, having built and exited multiple startups across the UK and Europe. As a founder of 8 startups and the creator of over 22 products with millions of users worldwide, Stuart now guides early-stage founders through the process of launching, funding, and growing their software ventures.

Through his structured programs — including the Pre-Seed Startup Funding Program and the Software Startup Mentorship Program — Stuart helps founders lay solid foundations, validate their ideas, develop go-to-market and investment strategies, and pitch with confidence.

  • 7-10 years in startup advisory
  • Founded 8 startups, launched 22 products (11M+ users)
  • Advisor to first-time tech founders; helped raise 7-figure pre-seed funding

Core Expertise

  • Pre-Seed Fundraising Strategy – Pitch deck creation, investor targeting, messaging, and outreach to secure early-stage capital
  • Software Startup Foundations – Market research, prototype validation, business planning, and go-to-market strategies
  • Mentorship & 1:1 Advisory – Personalized founder coaching with deep insight into technical and business alignment
  • Launch Readiness & Risk Reduction – Guiding founders through critical decisions to avoid costly missteps and accelerate time-to-market

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expert

Ibrahim Houhou

linkedin

Cybersecurity, Legal & Early-Stage Strategy

Global Advisory | Open to All Regions

Guiding Non-Technical Founders with Cybersecurity-Driven Strategy

Ibrahim Houhou specializes in helping non-technical startup founders bring their tech ideas to life with a focus on cybersecurity, legal compliance, and go-to-market strategy. With over two decades of experience in corporate cybersecurity programs and digital infrastructure, Ibrahim brings strategic insight into early-stage company building.

His approach combines hands-on cyber experience in critical industries with business acumen, allowing him to support founders from idea validation to Series B and beyond.

  • 4-6 years in startup advisory
  • 20+ years in global industries including manufacturing and aviation
  • Advised startups like Microsec.ai, Flyforce, and Boarding Path

Core Expertise

  • Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Strategy – Structuring secure systems from day one and preparing startups for compliance in regulated environments
  • Legal & Compliance Advisory – Supporting startup teams in meeting early-stage regulatory and legal standards
  • Startup Fundamentals & Market Readiness – Helping founders validate their idea, build business cases, and prepare for launch
  • Early-Stage & Growth Support – Advising across Idea Stage, Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A/B+ phases with no geographic or industry restrictions

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Our Software Development Projects for Startups

MyCarrier
MyCarrier

MyCarrier: Freight Management Platform

Industry:
Logistics, Transportation
Client type:
Startup
What we delivered:
Web-based transportation management system for shippers and carriers

Challenge: The client needed to launch a logistics platform that could bring quoting, booking, tracking, and shipping workflows into one system while staying open to integrations and future growth.

Solution: IT Craft built the platform from scratch, starting with an MVP and later expanding it with real-time rate comparison, document generation, shipment tracking, API integrations, microservices, and auto-scaling Azure infrastructure.

Key Achievements:

  • Successful MVP launch followed by expansion to full-truck-load (FTL) shipments
  • Team scaled from 5 to 25 members, supporting ongoing product development
  • 99.97% availability after microservices migration
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Flexwise Health

Flexwise Health: HR Software for Healthcare

Industry:
Healthcare
Client type:
Startup
What we delivered:
Web-based HR and staff management system for healthcare operations

Challenge: The client needed a team that could quickly take over an ongoing project, adapt to changing business needs, integrate technology from a merging company, and improve the codebase and infrastructure.

Solution: IT Craft finalized the existing product and continued development by breaking the monolith into microservices, standardizing component communication, adding new functionality, and introducing containerization, deployment automation, and automated tests.

Key Achievements:

  • Successfully delivered the required solution on time
  • Optimized float pool management and forecasting staffing needs
  • Increased software stability and scalability and enabled integration with available EMR or staff management systems
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Flexwise Health
Limpid Markets
Limpid Markets

Limpid Markets: FinTech Trading Platform

Industry:
FinTech
Client type:
Startup
What we delivered:
Web platform for precious metals exchange and real-time deal communication

Challenge: The client needed a new development team to take over a live trading platform and keep it secure, fault-tolerant, and available around the clock while the product continued to grow.

Solution: After completing a pilot task, IT Craft took over development and maintenance, working on real-time synchronization, high-load performance, custom order visibility, banking API integrations, compliance requirements, and dependency updates.

Key Achievements:

  • Quick and efficient project transfer.
  • Delivery of sought-after features under a tight deadline
  • 40% business growth
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What Our Clients Say

We take pride in helping startups and businesses achieve their goals. Hear from founders and executives who
have partnered with us to bring their ideas to life.

USA

Chris Scheid, Founder

"IT Craft delivers on time and budget. We're really happy with their whole team — they're professional and transparent, giving us access to everyone on the team. They provide feedback and make suggestions, acting more like a colleague than a hired agency."

USA

Adam Orsi, VP of Engineering

"The team provides valuable insights that streamline development and enhance the product's long-term success."

USA

Cedric Bernadac, Founder

"Their professionalism and responsiveness stand out. The team is always proactive in finding solutions, whether managing extra workload or tackling complex technical and organizational challenges."

Why Choose IT Craft for Startup Advisory Services

  • Fresh Perspective

    Our startup advisors bring an external view of your startup, question weak assumptions, and help spot blind spots that are easy to miss from the inside.

  • Proven Experience

    With our experienced startup consultants, we help founders work through real product and growth problems without the cost or commitment of hiring full-time executives.

  • Bridge Skill Gaps

    We step in where teams usually feel the pressure most — across strategy, product, marketing, or technology — when critical skills are missing or spread too thin.

  • End-to-End Support

    Our startup advisory services cover the full startup lifecycle, from early strategy and MVP decisions to growth and scaling work later on.

  • Industry & Market Expertise

    Our startup advisors work to understand your market, your customers, and the specific growth challenges shaping day-to-day decisions.

  • Built for Startup Speed

    We work the way startups usually need things done — fast, flexible, and focused — so teams can move from idea to growth without getting stuck in delays.
Startup Advisory Services

IT Craft in Numbers

Our mission is to help startups build high-impact, investor-ready products. We empower early-stage ventures to attract adopters, secure funding, and confidently enter the market.

24
Years of Excellence
330+
Experts on Board
1-3
Months to Develop an MVP
Up to 50%
of Budget Saved
$100 M
in Funding Raised by Clients
80%
of the Team Consists of Middle & Senior Experts

Industries We
Operate In

We bring startup advisory services to teams across 20+ industries, helping founders make clearer product, growth, and market decisions. Our experience across different domains helps us deal with real startup challenges, from launch planning to market entry and regulated environments.

Logistics FinTech Trading Healthcare Education eCommerce Fantasy Sports

Our clients
say

eLaundry

Charles Sakkal, Founder

“IT Craft is honest and straightforward. They’re a good partner to work with.”

Spidel Tech Solutions

Bruce Spidel, Owner

“They’re great at communicating about technical concepts.”

Flexwise

Adam Orsi, VP of Development

“They have great project management skills and there haven't been any problems with onboarding.”

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