Ep. 146 Lean Startup Strategies Every Founder Should Use Before Spending Money

Show Notes:In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk, Co-Founder of HLH Growth Solutions, sits down with Maura Mitchell, Managing Director of Entrepreneurial Services at the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC). As we step into 2026, the conversation explores what it truly takes to start and scale a business without burning out, overspending, or going it alone.Maura shares how the WBDC has supported entrepreneurs for nearly 40 years by providing access to capital, contracts, and connections. She breaks down why traditional business plans often fail early-stage founders and explains how the Lean Startup Method and the Business Model Canvas create faster clarity with far less risk.The discussion also goes deeper into the human side of entrepreneurship. Maura opens up about how personal loss reshaped the way she advises business owners, why holding space matters, and how stillness can unlock clarity, creativity, and sustainable growth. Together, Heidi and Maura challenge hustle culture, emphasize market validation over perfection, and invite listeners to define success on their own terms.This episode is a must-listen for founders, solopreneurs, and advisors who want to build profitable businesses that actually fit their lives.Bio:Maura helps entrepreneurs navigate the hardest parts of starting and growing a business with honesty, curiosity, and a deep understanding of what it means to keep going after profound loss. After losing her husband and best friend, Duncan, she learned firsthand how to lead with both courage and tenderness.Now, she guides others through moments of uncertainty, whether they’re launching something new or scaling a business that no longer fits who they’ve become. Her approach blends strategy with stillness, vision with vulnerability. She reminds entrepreneurs they don’t need all the answers to begin. They just need to take one brave, honest step forward.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchellmaura/Website:  www.wbdc.orgConnect with me:🎁Spotlight to Scale:   Spotlight to Scale BlueprintLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/