About Us
Look, we get it. You've got a killer idea, some funding, and absolutely no idea what you're doing. That's where we come in. Compass Partners has spent the last 11 years watching startups succeed and fail (mostly fail, if we're honest). We've narrowed down what actually works versus what sounds good in pitch decks. Our job? Help you avoid the expensive mistakes and get to profitability without losing your mind. We're based in Prague but work with founders everywhere who are tired of generic advice and want someone who'll actually tell them when they're headed in the wrong direction.
Over time, we’ve built a reputation for reliability, quality, and clear communication. We treat each project as a partnership and aim for outcomes that last.
Our Approach
Our approach combines proven methods with modern tools. We start with discovery, align on goals, plan clearly, and execute with quality checks at every step.
Our Core Values
The principles that guide everything we do
Brutal Honesty
We're not here to make you feel good. If your product doesn't solve a real problem, we'll tell you. If your burn rate is unsustainable, we'll show you the math. Sugarcoating kills companies.
Skin in the Game
We don't charge ridiculous retainers and disappear. We tie our advice to your results. Want to know we believe in what we're saying? Look at how we structure our engagements.
Experience Over Theory
Every recommendation comes from what actually happened, not what some business book claims. We've failed. We've pivoted. We've fired people and raised money and launched products that flopped. That's our real education.
Founder First
Your success matters more than our billable hours. Sometimes the best advice takes 15 minutes. Sometimes you need us for 6 months. We adjust. Your runway is precious—we don't waste it.
Our Story
Compass Partners started in 2013 when our founder got tired of watching brilliant founders make preventable mistakes. After 8 years running a tech company that nearly went under (twice), she realized most startup advice comes from people who've only seen the win column. We started small—just coffee meetings with struggling founders. Word spread. By 2016, we were advising 23 companies. Today we work with startups across Europe, from pre-launch to Series A. We've seen what kills companies. We've also seen what saves them.
Company founded with a team of 3 passionate professionals
Expanded services and reached 500+ satisfied customers
Opened new headquarters and doubled our team size
Celebrated serving over 2,000 clients with 98% satisfaction rate
Meet Our Team
The people behind Compass Partners
We’re a team that values ownership, clarity, and growth. We celebrate wins, learn fast, and keep client outcomes at the center.
Petra Novotná
Founder & Chief Advisor
Ran a SaaS company for 8 years before joining the consulting side. Has watched 47 startups through growth cycles. Drinks too much coffee. Knows when founders are lying to themselves (and when they're lying to her).
Martin Štěpánek
Operations & Scaling Specialist
Spent 9 years helping founders build systems that don't fall apart at 100 employees. Former CFO who actually understands cash flow. Enjoys spreadsheets more than is probably healthy.
Sophie Lefevre
Market Strategy Consultant
French-Czech background gives her weird insight into European markets. Advises on positioning, pricing, and why your target customer doesn't actually exist yet. Breaks things on purpose.