For founders & entrepreneurs
Most founders reach a point where the business stops growing - not because of the market, not because of the competition, but because they've become the ceiling. I help you break through it.
The Founders Forge is Daryl Woodhouse's 1:1 entrepreneur mentoring programme for ambitious UK founders who want to scale, reduce founder dependency and build toward a genuine exit. From £175 per session. Free Founder Scale Score™ diagnostic included.
Let me ask you something
If the honest answer is no - or even "probably not" - then you haven't built a business yet. You've built a job. A demanding, all-consuming, often brilliant job. But a job.
That's not a criticism. Most founders get here. I got here. The difference is knowing how to build your way out of it - and having someone in your corner who's done it.
Sound familiar?
Every important decision, client call and problem routes through you. If you're not in the room, things go wrong - and you know it.
You work harder than anyone in the business. But revenue has plateaued and you can feel it - even if you can't quite explain why.
You know you should be working on the business. Instead you're in it - all day, every day - and the strategic work keeps getting pushed back.
Whether it's in two years or ten, you think about it. But deep down you know: a business this dependent on you isn't worth what you want it to be.
The drive is still there. But so is the exhaustion. The nights you can't switch off. The feeling that something has to change.
You need people you can actually trust to deliver. Finding, hiring and holding onto them is costing you more time and money than it should.
The programme
Intensive 1:1 mentoring with someone who has built a business from scratch, scaled it and won awards with it. Not a framework. Not a course. A real working relationship built around your specific situation.
Every engagement is different - because every business is. But the areas we almost always cover:
Pricing starts from £175.00
Book a free discovery call"I was you. Couldn't take a week off without my phone going. Built something good - but it ran me, not the other way round. I fixed that. The lessons I learned doing that are what you're getting access to."- Daryl Woodhouse, entrepreneur, FSB Business of the Year winner & leadership coach
15 questions across six areas. One honest picture of where your business is leaking time, money and momentum - and your three priority moves to fix it.
Hi there -
Your score by area
Based on your three lowest-scoring areas - these are your highest-leverage moves right now.
The diagnostic
A free, structured diagnostic designed to give founders a precise, honest picture of where their business is — and where it needs to go. 15 questions. 5 minutes. Instant results.
Revenue trajectory, profit margins, predictability, and whether the business is growing at the rate you need.
How reliant the business is on you personally — decisions, operations, client relationships, and daily execution.
The quality, capability and accountability of your team — and whether they can genuinely deliver without you in the room.
Whether your processes, tools and infrastructure are built to scale — or are held together with duct tape and goodwill.
Clarity on where you're taking the business, a credible plan to get there, and confidence that you're working on the right things.
Energy, resilience, work/life sustainability — and whether burnout is a distant risk or an immediate reality.
What you receive
What founders say
I listened to Daryl talk about Leadership and Strategic Planning and found it really inspiring and helpful. The tips Daryl gives are very relevant and easily applicable - specifically about burnout prevention. Definitely recommended!
Daryl delivered high-level leadership training that was informative and completely transformative for my own thinking, our company and the way we operate.
He truly wants to help people, and when you actually DO what he suggests, it makes a huge beneficial impact on your work/life balance and health. I highly recommend Daryl as a coach, advisor and human.
Daryl imparted a comprehensive array of tools to enhance leadership, navigate change and strategise effectively — supplemented with relatable real-life illustrations. It is evident that Daryl possesses a profound passion for developing individuals while prioritising their overall wellbeing.
Common questions
The Founders Forge starts from £1,500 per month for a monthly retainer, or £175 per individual session. There are no long-term contracts — monthly programmes require one month's notice to cancel. Bespoke engagements (project-based work) are scoped and priced after an initial conversation.
Mentoring means working with someone who has genuinely done what you're trying to do — built a business, navigated the hard decisions, and come out the other side. Daryl has founded, scaled and won awards with a business. He brings that experience directly to the table. Coaching, by contrast, is often a facilitated process focused on drawing out your own thinking. The Founders Forge is mentoring-led — direct, practical, and based on real-world experience rather than frameworks or theory.
A maximum of five founders at any one time. This is intentional — the depth of work required means Daryl cannot deliver the same quality across a large client base. Places are therefore genuinely limited, and there is usually a short waiting list. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
There is no fixed duration. Some founders work with Daryl for 3-6 months to solve a specific challenge; others continue for 12-24 months through a longer growth or exit journey. The programme is built around where you need to get to, not an arbitrary end date. You stay as long as it's adding value — and leave when it isn't.
The founders who get the most from The Founders Forge are usually those who've already proven there's something to build — some traction, some revenue, a clear sense of who the customer is — but have hit a ceiling they can't see their way through alone. You don't need to have everything figured out. In fact, the best time to start is usually before things get worse, not after. The free Discovery Call is a low-stakes way to find out whether it's the right fit right now.
Yes. All sessions are conducted by video call, so location is not a barrier. Daryl has worked with founders and leaders across the UK, Europe and internationally. If you're UK-based and prefer in-person sessions, that can be arranged on request.
Monthly programmes require one month's notice to cancel — that's it. There are no lock-in periods, no cancellation fees and no awkward conversations. If it isn't working, you leave. In practice, the discovery call and the way Daryl approaches the initial conversation are designed to make sure we only start if it genuinely makes sense for both sides.
Ready to take the next step?
Tell me where you are and where you want to get to. If it sounds like I can help, we'll work out the best way forward. No pressure. No pitch deck. Just an honest conversation.
⟡ Maximum 5 founders at any one time - currently reviewing applications
Free Discovery Call · No pitch · Honest conversation about whether this is right for you · prices from £175
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