The math behind momentum

We’ve made our fair share of mistakes. Paid the price for inefficiencies. Seen promising bets turn into expensive lessons. But here’s what we’ve learned through every win, loss, and pivot, playing defence won’t get you ahead.

A startup studio isn’t a hedge fund. It’s not about protecting the downside, cutting burn to the bone, or sitting on capital until conditions are "perfect." That’s a slow death. The only way to win is by focusing on the upside—stacking bets, compounding learnings, and moving forward when conviction is there.

The math behind our studio is brutal if you look at it in isolation—cost per build, studio burn, failure rates. But when you zoom out? It’s a system designed to manufacture breakout moments. The secret isn’t avoiding losses, it’s making the wins count.

That’s why we’re not just tracking costs; we’re tracking momentum. Data is our weapon. Every efficiency we gain, every decision we optimize, every build we accelerate—it all compounds. And when we get it right, we don’t just return money. We create companies that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.

Studio: The edge we’re engineering

Every decision at Builders is rooted in hard numbers and hard-won insights. We’re rewriting the rules of startup building by measuring every move, every cost, and every efficiency gained. This month, our focus is on refining our formula and igniting unstoppable momentum.

• Refining our formula: Guided by the insights from “The Math and Beyond,” we’re laser-focusing on slashing cost per build and supercharging operational efficiency. Every strategic move is calculated to keep our studio lean and robust. 🔗 LINK

• FitStream – Sweat. Connect. Repeat. 🔥 Founders and investors heading to Upstream Festival, this one’s for you: Builders Studio & Arches Capital are throwing down a high-energy CrossFit session. No suits, no pitches (unless it’s a WOD)—just a solid workout, good vibes, and real connections. All levels welcome—just bring your A-game (or at least show up). Let’s make it count. 🔗 LINK

• AI Hackathon: Step into the arena of innovation. Our AI Hackathon isn’t just about writing code—it’s about transforming raw data into actionable insights and proving that real innovation is a team sport. 🔗 LINK

Our ventures: Building the future

Entrepreneurs don’t wait for a roadmap—they create one. Our ventures are driven by relentless iteration and bold innovation.

• Everday’s Skill Passport: It’s time to replace gut feeling with measurable insight. Our Skill Passport gives founders, investors, and operators real-time, actionable data—so you know exactly where you stand and where to level up. 🔗 Explore the Skill Passport.

• Welcome, Bruno: Bruno joins us with 15+ years of battle-tested expertise from EY, Deloitte, Richemont, and ASICS. His deep know-how in AI-powered accounting, budgeting, and forecasting is the secret weapon that will drive our next phase of precision and momentum. 🔗 LINK

• Avery is in beta: At Builders, we've been crafting Avery since May—fuelled by endless brainstorming and late nights to revolutionise recruitment. With Alisher (CEO) and Marco (CTO) leading the charge, our launch party last Friday marked the start of a smarter, faster, and more human hiring era. 🔗 LINK

👀 What we’re reading:

• The math and beyond: Building a stellar Startup Studio

• War stories from the venture trenches: What we got wrong (and what finally clicked)

• The impact of founder personalities on startup success

• Looking for your next read?

As we wrap up this edition, remember that every calculated risk and every lesson learned is a step toward a future built on precision and passion. At Builders, we’re not waiting for the perfect moment—we’re creating it, one carefully engineered decision at a time.

Keep challenging the status quo, refining your approach, and building something that matters. The numbers guide us, the insights drive us, and together, we’ll build the future.

Forward, always,

Michael van Lier
Managing Director at Builders