Building unicorns with less: How startups are scaling faster and smarter

The way tech startups scale and fundraise is evolving. Traditionally, founders relied on multiple rounds of VC funding—especially in the later stages—to fuel growth. Series B, C, and beyond were considered essential for expanding operations and building large teams. But today, founders are finding new ways to scale with less capital.

‍

At nuom, we believe in doing more with less. Over the past 18 months, our work with early-stage startups like CLIQ and Mindora AI has shown us that solving real problems can be done with minimal or even zero funding. By prioritising technology, design thinking, and user collaboration, founders can validate ideas and scale efficiently and sustainably—without relying on excessive later-stage funding.

‍

The goal has shifted: generate revenue as quickly as possible.

‍

Early-stage investors are now looking for companies that can prove profitability early on. After just one to three rounds, the vision is to build tech companies without further VC funding, which ultimately puts more control in the hands of the founding team.

‍

Technology: Doing More with Less

The costs of building and scaling a startup have drastically reduced thanks to advances in technology. Tools like AI-powered automation, no-code platforms, and cloud computing enable founders to bring products to market faster and with fewer resources. AI, for instance, can streamline operational efficiencies, making it possible for startups to scale without large teams. AI-driven automation is becoming the future.

‍

Startups today don’t need massive budgets or teams to achieve growth. Pieter Levels, who built Nomad List, scaled a multimillion-dollar business using automation and tools like GitHub and AWS—without a large workforce. This approach allows for speed, efficiency, and fewer overheads while still delivering significant results.

‍

‍

Design Thinking & User-Centered Innovation

At nuom, we know that technology alone isn’t enough. It’s the combination of innovation and design thinking that makes the real difference. By putting users at the heart of everything, we create solutions that solve tangible problems.

‍

Design thinking encourages real user research, engaging early adopters to co-create and ensure that products address genuine needs. This not only validates the product but also reduces costly missteps and unnecessary iterations. Startups can avoid overbuilding by focusing on solving core problems from the outset, saving both time and money.

‍

Co-Creation with Early Adopters: A Key to Growth

Engaging directly with potential customers is critical. When startups collaborate with early adopters, they create stronger connections, validate their products, and drive organic growth. Early adopters provide essential feedback and can become passionate advocates for the brand.

‍

This co-creation approach reduces the need for heavy marketing spend and allows startups to grow naturally. By involving your early adopters in building solutions, particularly in areas like HR wellbeing, startups can develop tools that genuinely address customer pain points. This engagement strengthens relationships and reduces the need for excessive capital, as organic growth is driven by customer satisfaction.

‍

The Power of Lean Teams and Experts

Gone are the days of needing large, bloated teams to scale a business. Lean teams, composed of experts in Product, Technology, Sales, and AI, can execute faster, iterate quickly, and deliver impactful results.

‍

Trends show that startups can achieve unicorn status with fewer resources. Pieter Levels built Nomad List as a solo entrepreneur, leveraging automation and tools like GitHub and AWS​.

‍

Similarly, MailChimp and Lynda.com achieved unicorn status without significant VC funding, focusing instead on capital efficiency and lean operations.

‍

This lean approach reduces costs and allows teams to remain agile, responding to market changes without the burden of slow-moving, large organisations.

‍

Funding Strategy: Lean and Intentional

The funding environment has evolved. More founders are raising pre-seed or seed rounds and focusing on profitability earlier in their journey. The rise of “one and done” funding reflects the growing belief that startups no longer need multiple rounds of funding to scale.

‍

This shift is empowering founding teams to maintain control and independence. By generating revenue quickly and becoming less reliant on external capital, founders are able to make strategic decisions without the pressure of late-stage investors. The focus is no longer on chasing valuations but on building sustainable, profitable businesses.

‍

While late-stage funding may still hold importance in certain regions (like Europe), globally, the trend is moving toward a more agile, capital-efficient model. Founders can now build and scale without the constant need for large injections of capital.

‍

AI and Automation as Growth Enablers

Startups that integrate AI and automation from the outset are in a prime position to reduce their dependency on additional funding. Automation, both in product development and internal operations, can significantly cut costs and free up capital for growth.

‍

Automating back-end operations or marketing processes enables startups to operate efficiently at scale without expanding headcount unnecessarily. This efficiency allows capital to be focused on areas that drive long-term growth, like product expansion or entering new markets.

‍

Conclusion: The Future of Startup Growth

Looking ahead, it’s clear that capital-efficient, lean startups are here to stay. By solving real customer problems through design thinking, lean methodologies, and AI-driven solutions, startups can achieve significant growth with far fewer resources.

‍

At nuom, we’re passionate about helping startups not just survive but thrive in this new landscape. By leveraging technology and methodologies that enable more with less, the future of startups looks leaner, faster, and more efficient than ever—putting power firmly in the hands of founding teams.

‍

Ready to take your startup to the next level? Contact us today to explore how nuom’s strategic design and digital innovation services can help you scale smarter and faster.