When you’re building a healthcare startup, there’s one resource you can’t afford to waste—your people.&nbsp;Too often, founders lose top talent because they rely on quick fixes instead of designing compensation and incentives that keep employees engaged for the long haul.In this episode, I sat down with Scott Trumpolt, a compensation consultant with 30+ years of HR experience, including 12 years advising startups and healthcare companies.&nbsp;We explore how founders can balance equity vs. pay, stay transparent with teams, and build incentive structures that attract talent, retain high performers, and strengthen investor confidence, all while making people feel valued and aligned with the mission.<h3>In this episode, you’ll learn:</h3>🔑 How compensation and engagement together drive retention🔑 Ways early-stage founders can balance equity, cash, and variable pay🔑 Why transparency builds trust and loyalty inside small teams🔑 How tying incentives to milestones strengthens investor confidenceTimestamps:&nbsp;00:00:00 – Why talent needs more than pay to stay 00:01:47 – Why retention matters in early-stage startups 00:03:16 – Scott’s 30-year journey in HR and consulting 00:05:58 – Appreciation as a retention factor 00:08:52 – Equity, variable pay, and survival mode 00:12:25 – Capital Engine: investor readiness support 00:16:51 – Hiring for today’s needs vs. future scalability 00:19:59 – Candidate frustrations: ghosting and misfit hiring 00:23:05 – Keeping people engaged during slow growth phases 00:25:23 – Career architecture as a hiring tool 00:29:51 – Using long-term incentives for senior leaders 00:33:15 – Sabrina’s closing call: apply lessons to your team 00:34:32 – Six key learning points from today’s episode🎧 Related Episodes You’ll Love<h2>✅Here are 3 ways we can support you right now:</h2>🎤 Be a Featured Guest on the Provider’s Edge Have traction and a story to share? Apply to join us on the show: <a href="http://pulsepointpath.com/Call-Sabrina" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">PulsePointPath.com/Call-Sabrina</a>📊 Ready to turn your pitch into a magnet?&nbsp;Send us your draft, let me rewrite it for you 👉 <a href="http://pitchtoyes.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">PitchToYes.com</a>🎯 Get You In Front of InvestorsWe match you with the most aligned investors and decision-makers who care about your niche already. Apply at <a href="http://capitalengine.vc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">CapitalEngine.vc</a>

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Why Great Startups Lose Great People with Scott Trumpolt

Provider's Edge | Peak Performance Guide for Healthcare Entrepreneurs

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