What are the must-have tools for early-stage startups?
mohit vyas

 

1️⃣ Project Management & Collaboration

πŸ“Œ Why? Stay organized, track progress, and collaborate seamlessly.
βœ… Trello – Simple, Kanban-based task management.
βœ… Asana – More advanced workflow automation & team collaboration.
βœ… Notion – All-in-one workspace for notes, docs, and project tracking.
βœ… Slack – Real-time team communication & integrations with other tools.


2️⃣ Development & Code Collaboration

πŸ“Œ Why? Build products faster and manage code efficiently.
βœ… GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket – Version control & code collaboration.
βœ… Visual Studio Code – Lightweight, powerful code editor.
βœ… Postman – API testing & development made easy.
βœ… Figma/Zeplin – UI/UX design & developer handoff.


3️⃣ Product & Customer Feedback

πŸ“Œ Why? Build what users actually want.
βœ… Hotjar – Heatmaps & user behavior tracking.
βœ… Typeform/Google Forms – Collect user feedback & surveys.
βœ… Intercom – Live chat & customer support.
βœ… FullStory – Session recordings to analyze user experience.


4️⃣ Sales & Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

πŸ“Œ Why? Track leads, close deals, and nurture customers.
βœ… HubSpot CRM – Free & scalable CRM for startups.
βœ… Pipedrive – Easy-to-use sales pipeline management.
βœ… Close CRM – Great for outbound sales teams.
βœ… Apollo.io – AI-powered lead generation & outreach.


5️⃣ Marketing & Growth

πŸ“Œ Why? Automate marketing and acquire users faster.
βœ… Google Analytics – Track website traffic & user behavior.
βœ… SEMRush/Ahrefs – SEO & competitive analysis tools.
βœ… Canva – Quick, easy graphic design for social media & branding.
βœ… Mailchimp/ConvertKit – Email marketing automation.
βœ… Buffer/Hootsuite – Schedule & manage social media posts.


6️⃣ Finance & Accounting

πŸ“Œ Why? Manage cash flow, payments, and financial tracking.
βœ… Stripe – Payment processing & subscriptions.
βœ… QuickBooks/Xero – Accounting & bookkeeping software.
βœ… Brex/Ramp – Startup-friendly business banking & expense management.
βœ… Wave – Free invoicing & accounting for small businesses.


7️⃣ Fundraising & Investor Relations

πŸ“Œ Why? Keep investors informed and raise capital efficiently.
βœ… Carta – Cap table management & equity tracking.
βœ… Gust – Helps startups connect with angel investors.
βœ… AngelList – Fundraising & hiring in the startup ecosystem.
βœ… DocuSign/PandaDoc – Digital contract signing for funding agreements.


8️⃣ HR & Hiring

πŸ“Œ Why? Build a strong team and manage employees effectively.
βœ… AngelList/Toptal – Find top startup talent & freelancers.
βœ… BambooHR/Gusto – Payroll, HR, and benefits management.
βœ… Lattice – Performance reviews & employee engagement.
βœ… Calendly – Easy scheduling for interviews & meetings.