The 10 Best CEO Coaches for Startups (2025)
Startup founders face a unique leadership challenge: scaling themselves as quickly as they scale their company. From hiring executive teams to aligning the org around strategy and culture, it’s a high-stakes role that few are trained for.
That’s why more and more venture-backed CEOs are turning to experienced coaches—especially those who understand the startup journey from the inside. The best CEO coaches help founders see blind spots, make faster decisions, and lead with greater clarity and confidence.
Here are 10 of the most respected coaches working with startup CEOs today.
1. Dave Bailey
Founder Coach | Co-founder of Delivery Hero | dave-bailey.com
Dave Bailey is a former serial entrepreneur who now coaches venture-backed founders across Europe and beyond. As a co-founder of Delivery Hero—one of Europe’s early unicorns—he brings firsthand experience of what it takes to scale fast-growing tech companies. Dave’s approach combines structured frameworks with deep coaching, and unlike larger coaching firms, clients work directly with him.
Best for: Founders seeking a structured and results-driven approach with someone who’s scaled before.
2. Jerry Colonna
Founder of Reboot | reboot.io
Jerry Colonna is a pioneer in the world of CEO coaching. A former VC, he helps founders navigate the emotional journey of leadership with honesty and self-awareness. His coaching is rooted in the idea that personal growth and company growth go hand-in-hand.
Best for: Founders looking to master the emotional and psychological aspects of leadership.
3. Matt Mochary
Author of The Great CEO Within | mochary.com
Matt Mochary coaches some of Silicon Valley’s most successful CEOs, including those at Coinbase, OpenAI, and Flexport. His practical frameworks and tools help founders streamline decision-making, improve communication, and scale their leadership without chaos.
Best for: Founders looking to implement the tools in Matt’s book.
4. Dan Martell
SaaS Academy | Author of Buy Back Your Time | danmartell.com
Dan Martell is a former SaaS founder turned coach who helps entrepreneurs grow their companies without burning out. His coaching focuses on time management, delegation, and building high-performance teams that free up the founder's time.
Best for: SaaS founders looking to grow their SaaS business and reclaim their time.
5. Alisa Cohn
Executive Coach | Author of From Start-Up to Grown-Up | alisacohn.com
Alisa Cohn has been named the #1 startup coach by Thinkers50 and works with founders from seed to IPO. Her coaching blends leadership development with practical tools for managing teams, communication, and fundraising.
Best for: Founders transitioning from product-focused leadership to traditional CEO responsibilities.
6. Joe Hudson
The Art of Accomplishment | artofaccomplishment.com
Joe Hudson works with startup CEOs to develop emotional range, resilience, and clarity. His coaching digs into unconscious patterns that affect decision-making and relationships, often leading to transformative growth.
Best for: Founders interested in deep personal development and authentic leadership.
7. Dan Sullivan
Strategic Coach | strategiccoach.com
Dan Sullivan is the founder of Strategic Coach, a long-standing coaching program for growth-minded entrepreneurs. He is known for creating frameworks like “Who Not How” and “The Gap and the Gain,” which help founders think more strategically about scaling their time and vision.
Best for: Founders of small and medium businesses looking to focus on their unique abilities.
8. Steve Schlafman
Executive Coach | steveschlafman.com
Steve Schlafman is a former venture investor who now coaches founders and executives at high-growth startups. His style is calm, reflective, and values-driven, helping leaders gain perspective and align personal and professional priorities.
Best for: Founders at key inflection points who want thoughtful, values-led guidance.
9. Jim Dethmer
Conscious Leadership Group | conscious.is
Jim Dethmer is co-author of The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership and a coach to leaders who want to reduce reactivity and lead with intention. His frameworks are widely used in startup cultures to foster responsibility, trust, and alignment.
Best for: Founders focused on building strong culture and self-aware leadership.
10. Eric Partaker
High Performance Coach | ericpartaker.com
Eric Partaker combines startup experience with behavioral science to help founders improve focus, energy, and execution. He’s also built a strong presence on LinkedIn, sharing frameworks and insights with a growing community of ambitious entrepreneurs.
Best for: Founders focused on personal productivity and online influence.
Final Thoughts
There’s no universal “best” CEO coach—it all depends on your growth stage, leadership challenges, and learning style. Some founders benefit from deep emotional work; others need tactical frameworks or help building better habits.
But if you're looking for a coach who has built venture-backed companies, coached unicorn CEOs, and works with you personally (not through a coaching associate), Dave Bailey is a standout choice—especially if you want to scale yourself as fast as you scale your startup.
