New Venture Support

Coaching for founders
starting out right

Validate your idea, understand your market, and build the right foundations before you scale.

The Challenge

Starting a business is exciting —
and expensive if you get it wrong

Most new ventures don't fail because of bad ideas. They fail because of avoidable mistakes made early on — unclear positioning, building for the wrong market, pricing that doesn't work, or simply trying to figure everything out alone. By the time those mistakes become obvious, real money and real time have been lost.

Getting structured support at the start isn't a luxury. It's one of the most cost-effective decisions a founder can make. The questions you work through in the first few weeks — what problem are you actually solving, who will pay for it, and why would they choose you — are the same ones that will determine whether the business gains traction or stalls.

Working with an experienced coach from day one means you're not reinventing wheels that have already been turned. You get honest input, structured thinking, and someone who's seen enough ventures to know what to look for — and what to watch out for.

Is This Right For You?

For founders who want to
get it right from the start

Whether you're still in the idea stage or you've launched and aren't gaining traction, this support is built for founders who know that getting the foundations right is worth investing in.

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Founders with a business idea they want to validate before committing money or time to it

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People leaving employment to start their own venture and wanting to get it right from the start

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Early-stage business owners who've launched but aren't gaining traction

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Founders who want an experienced sounding board from day one, not just when things go wrong

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Anyone who's been told "you should talk to someone" before making a big decision — and knows they should listen

What We Cover

From idea to solid foundations

Idea Validation

Before you invest in a website, a product, or a team, you need to know whether people will actually pay for what you're offering. We test assumptions early, when it costs very little to adjust.

Positioning & Differentiation

We work on how you articulate your value, who you're speaking to, and how you stand apart from alternatives — including the option of doing nothing.

Business Model & Pricing

We look at how revenue is generated, what the cost base looks like, and whether the numbers make sense as the business grows. Many founders undercharge or structure their offer incorrectly.

Early-Stage Planning

Not all decisions matter equally, and doing things in the wrong sequence wastes time and creates rework. We build a clear picture of priorities — what needs to happen first, and what can wait.

Mindset & Resilience

Building something from nothing is genuinely difficult. Part of this work is preparing you for that reality — not to scare you, but to make sure you have the tools and perspective to keep going when it gets hard.

The Process

How it works

Free Consultation

A straightforward conversation about where you are, what you're trying to build, and whether working together makes sense. No pressure, no pitch.

Validation Session

A structured deep-dive into your idea, the market, the model, and the assumptions underneath it all. You leave with clarity and a clear picture of what to address.

Coaching Programme

Regular sessions as the business takes shape. Each one focused on real decisions and real progress, not generic advice.

Practical Support

This isn't theory. We work on actual problems — the pricing conversation you're avoiding, the customer you're not sure how to approach, the partnership that might not be right.

Growth Transition

When the foundations are solid and you're ready to push forward, we move into growth-focused work. See Growth Action Planning →

Your Coach

Why Richard Shaw

Richard Shaw has spent 25+ years advising organisations across UK Government, the NHS, and the corporate sector — from early-stage initiatives to large-scale transformation programmes. He's seen what separates ventures that succeed from those that don't, and it's rarely about the idea itself.

As an ILM Level 7 certified coach, a Help to Grow Approved Mentor, and AI for Business Mentors Qualified, Richard brings both the structured methodology of professional coaching and the hard-won perspective of someone who has operated at senior level across complex, high-stakes environments.

The structured coaching approach matters as much as the experience. It's what turns a conversation into a plan, and a plan into momentum.

Learn about business coaching

Qualified

ILM Level 7 Executive Coaching & Mentoring

Experience

25+ years in UK Government, NHS & corporate

Approved

Help to Grow: Management Approved Mentor

Also

AI for Business Mentors Qualified

Based

Brighton, East Sussex — working UK-wide

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is it too early to work with a business coach?

No — in fact, the earlier the better. The most common regret founders have is not getting structured input sooner. If you have an idea you're serious about, now is exactly the right time to test it properly and build on solid ground.

Do you only work with businesses in Brighton?

No. Nexus Blueprint is based in Brighton, East Sussex, but works with founders and SME owners across the UK. Most sessions are conducted online, which means location is never a barrier.

What if my idea changes during our work together?

That's not a problem — it's often a sign the process is working. Validation and coaching are designed to surface better answers, not lock you into your original assumptions. If the idea evolves, the work evolves with it.

How is this different from a startup accelerator?

Accelerators typically run to a fixed programme, often with equity or cohort conditions attached. This is one-to-one coaching built entirely around your business, your timeline, and your specific challenges. There's no cohort to keep pace with and no trade-off on ownership.

Ready to Start?

Don't go it alone
from the start

The decisions you make in the first months of a new venture have a long reach. Getting the right support early is one of the clearest advantages you can give yourself.

Book a Free Consultation See Growth Action Planning →

Coaching for foundersstarting out right

Starting a business is exciting —and expensive if you get it wrong

For founders who want toget it right from the start