Zero-based budgeting
Rebuild the expense base from first principles each period. Every line needs a justification —
not last year’s inertia. Free capital from blanket increases and redeploy into top-line growth.
Originating with Pete Pyhrr’s work at Texas Instruments, ZBB remains one of the cleanest tools
for finding cash you didn’t know you had.
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Operating systems
Install lightweight rhythms for planning, review, and accountability: budget cycles,
hiring plans, unit economics reviews, and decision logs that keep a growing team aligned.
Organizational efficiency
Methods from large multinationals, adapted for startups: clearer ownership, fewer meetings that
don’t ship, and process that supports — not slows — product and fundraising velocity.