Preparing Your Startup for the Fallout of a Tariff War

By Jeff Burkland and Sid Trivedi

Here’s an actionable playbook for founders to navigate the coming uncertainty:

1. Meet with your top 5-10 customers: Understand how they’re adjusting plans. Are they reducing spending? Which areas are highest at risk?
2. Assemble your crisis leadership team: Schedule a meeting early this week to ensure alignment and readiness for swift decision-making.
3. Build scenario plans now: What if you only achieve 50% of your revenue targets this year? Where would you need to cut if you wanted to add 6 more months of runway?
4. Rethink your product roadmap and marketing strategy: Can you introduce features that save your customers money or make your platform essential in tougher economic conditions?
5. Diversify your pipeline: Given the broad reach tariffs can have, we still don’t fully understand which companies might be most exposed. Expand your outreach across different sectors and geographies (US and international) to minimize exposure to concentration risk.

This moment feels reminiscent of early COVID-19, but there’s a crucial difference – government action could rapidly shift the landscape again. This means we need to be prepared for multiple scenarios.

Don’t underestimate the potential impact of this evolving macroeconomic climate. Use this time wisely – your startup will thank you.