Alisa Chalakhyan

Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Alisa Chalakhyan, a founder, consultant, and researcher dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and helping them bring their ventures to life. Currently, I work closely with founders, guiding them through the early stages of building and scaling their businesses.

Alongside this, I’m growing my own consultancy, FoundWise, where I help solo founders with opportunity validation, fundraising strategy, and more. I’m also pursuing my Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at PennState, focusing on entrepreneurship and risk management. My passion lies in creating systems and strategies that help founders succeed while building businesses that have long-term impact.

What did it take/how did you get started?

My entrepreneurial journey began with an ambitious idea to create meaningful change. My first startup was a platform designed to connect housewives with flexible work opportunities that allowed them to earn an income while balancing their responsibilities at home. I wanted to tap into an often-overlooked workforce and help these women utilize their skills in a way that fit their schedules and lifestyle. The idea gained initial traction, and we saw how empowering it was for housewives to find flexible, meaningful work. Providing them with coaching was also my first experience as a consultant.

However, we faced several challenges in scaling the business and navigating the complexities of the marketplace and a coming up with a profitable business model. Ultimately, the startup didn’t succeed, but the lessons I learned from that experience were invaluable - from doing deep customer research before catering the market, to hiring the right talent and even managing my own motivation and resources. It was during this time that I developed a deep interest in risk management and how companies can better anticipate and navigate uncertainties. This led me to pursue a Master’s in Enterprise Risk Management at Columbia University.

After completing my degree, I began consulting for startups in industries ranging from SaaS to marketplace models in market-tech, fin-tech, etc. working with founders all over the world to grow their ventures. Each experience expanded my understanding of different industries and the unique challenges that come with them. This year I decided to pursue a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at Penn State, with a focus on how founders navigate decision-making in high-risk environments. My goal is to create a framework that helps entrepreneurs manage risk and make informed decisions while scaling their businesses.

What does the future look like for you and your business?

The future of my business is focused on developing methodologies and tools specifically designed for first-time and solo founders. The purpose of FoundWise is to create a structured approach that equips these entrepreneurs with the strategies, resources, and guidance they need to make informed decisions and scale their businesses effectively. Entrepreneurship is on the rise globally, and the numbers prove it. In recent years, we've seen exponential growth in the number of entrepreneurs entering the market.

According to global reports, the number of startups and small businesses is growing at a rapid pace, with millions of new ventures being launched every year. In fact, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor reported that nearly 300 million people were involved in early-stage entrepreneurial activity worldwide in 2022, and this trend is only accelerating. What makes this even more exciting is how technology—particularly AI—is transforming the landscape. AI is now making it easier for entrepreneurs to handle everything from market research to product development and customer engagement.

At FoundWise, I’m leveraging AI to build tools that empower founders to automate repetitive tasks, gain insights, and make data-driven decisions. These tools allow founders to focus on the bigger picture while minimizing the time spent on operational tasks.

What drives / motivates you on a daily basis?

What truly drives me is the passion I discovered while building STRIVE, a program I developed within the EPIC startup incubator. STRIVE is designed for early to mid-level professionals who are looking to transition from their traditional careers into entrepreneurship. It’s an intensive 10-week program that provides participants with the coaching, tools, and practical guidance they need to identify opportunities and take action on them.

With its over 500 graduates, the programs continues to expand geographically and demographically proving me that what I created provides a value at scale. Through STRIVE, I work closely with participants to teach them how to think and act like entrepreneurs. What I didn’t expect was how much I would enjoy the process of coaching them. Watching these professionals successfully make the leap into entrepreneurship became the most fulfilling part of my work. Whether it was seeing them launch a product, identify a promising business opportunity, or make meaningful career shifts, I realized that my purpose was to help them become better entrepreneurs. Their success is what motivates me.

I love working on new ventures and guiding people through the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey. The variety of projects and industries keeps me excited, but at the end of the day, it's their accomplishments that drive me. FoundWise is the very logical spin off of the STRIVE program.

What advice would you give someone interested in doing what you do?

Gain as much experience as possible. Hustle your way into different industries, and focus on learning—because knowledge and experience are the most valuable compensation you can get early on. Don’t be too focused on financial rewards right away; instead, immerse yourself in various fields and learn everything you can from each opportunity. With time, as you improve and gain expertise, you’ll naturally discover what you love and what you’re best at.

That’s when people will start coming to you, offering you opportunities to work with them. But until you find that niche, focus on growing intellectually. The financial rewards will come later, but the growth and learning you experience along the way will be what sets you apart and prepares you for long-term success.

What has been the hardest part of your business journey?

The hardest part of starting my business has been making sales. I know that I’m not a natural salesperson, and it’s a skill I’m still working on developing. Selling involves more than just offering a service—it’s about asking for a return on the value you provide. The challenge lies in first evaluating the value you bring to the table and then negotiating for what that’s worth. It’s not easy, and it’s an area I continue to improve on every day.

How have you managed burnout thus far?

This is one of the questions I get asked the most. I actually suggest my clients let themselves experience burnout at least once. It may sound unconventional, but I believe that once you reach that point, you’ll probably never go back. Here’s my story and formula. When I was 22, I experienced my first massive burnout. It left me dysfunctional for months, and it took another six months to fully get back on my feet. As a highly functional overachiever, I used to believe I could do anything—skip meals, pull all-nighters, and still maintain peak productivity.

I think many entrepreneurs and hustlers have the same mindset, believing they can push themselves endlessly because they haven’t yet discovered their limits or set boundaries. The truth is, the only way to truly understand your limits is to reach them. No matter how many times someone tells you about burnout, you won’t fully grasp it until you experience it firsthand. That’s why I believe every entrepreneur should go through burnout at least once. Once you’ve been there and made it back, you’ll understand your limits and start setting realistic boundaries. In my case, experiencing burnout taught me more than just how to manage my workload—it also helped me realize my personal priorities.

When I was at my lowest point, what I regretted most was not being present for my family. That made me realize that no matter how hard I work, my family will always be my top priority. This insight helps me control myself and avoid burnout by setting clear boundaries that align with my personal values. While I don’t expect everyone to have family as their number one priority, I believe everyone has something that matters most to them. Once you identify what that is, it becomes a catalyst to stop you from pushing yourself to the point of burnout again.

What are a few resources that you'd recommend?

My top 3 resources I highly recommend everyone I work with: "Think Again" by Adam Grant – This book encourages readers to question their assumptions and rethink their strategies. It’s been a huge inspiration for me, especially when working with founders who need to stay adaptable and open-minded.

"The Go-Giver" by Bob Burg and John David Mann – This is a powerful book that flips the traditional idea of success on its head. It emphasizes the importance of giving as a pathway to success and is a great read for anyone interested in building meaningful relationships in business. It helped me especially when designing my sales strategies.

Failory (Newsletter) – If you’re looking for real-world lessons from entrepreneurs, this newsletter by Nico is fantastic. It features interviews with founders who have experienced both success and failure, and the insights are incredibly valuable for anyone in the startup world.

The STATS
List the founders
Alisa Chalakhyan
How many hours a week do you work on this hustle?
25-30
# of Employees?
1
When did you start?
FoundWise was kicked off in 2023 though it is still in stealth mode.
How much did it cost to launch?
I never counted but something around $1,000. Of course I should give credit to my education and work experience that have directly contributed to this which would be over $200,000.
What were your funding methods and ballpark amount raised?

Self funded (I work in a startup studio along with this and the paycheck from this is directly invested in FoundWise when needed)
Annual revenue?
$1B
Projected revenue?

Not provided.
What's the #1 thing you need right now?
Automating more of my operations to scale