From the Startup Trenches to the Classroom: How Sandra Kobel Is Empowering Founders with Zealy Academy

Sandra Kobel isn’t just another startup founder — she’s a marketer turned mentor with a mission. As the CEO and Co-founder of zealy, Sandra has spent years in the thick of early-stage growth, helping startups find their voice, their market fit, and their momentum. Along the way, she noticed a recurring pattern: passionate founders often jumped straight into execution — running ads, posting content, chasing leads — without a clear strategy. It wasn’t a lack of ambition; it was a lack of guidance.

With a deep-rooted passion for marketing and a keen eye for startup realities, Sandra decided to change that. She envisioned a space where early-stage entrepreneurs and marketing teams could learn the fundamentals — not from textbooks, but from real-world playbooks. That vision became zealy Academy: an actionable, no-fluff learning platform built on experience, empathy, and execution.

In this interview, Sandra shares the story behind zealy Academy, the challenges she faced turning hands-on startup know-how into structured learning, and how she plans to reshape startup education for the AI era and beyond.

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To start, could you tell us about your journey and what inspired you to create zealy Academy?

Sandra: Thanks for having me! My journey has been deeply rooted in working with startups and seeing the challenges they face. Over the years, I’ve worked closely with many early-stage companies, and one consistent theme kept emerging: the struggle to establish a solid marketing foundation. Many founders were diving into tactics without a clear strategy, and I knew that we could do more to help. That’s how the idea of zealy Academy started – a place to give founders and early-stage marketers the tools, strategies, and knowledge they need to build strong marketing foundations from day one.

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That sounds incredible! So, what was the most significant challenge you encountered when building the Academy?

Sandra: The biggest challenge was translating years of hands-on experience into something that could be taught. We’ve done so much work in the trenches, helping startups scale, but distilling that into clear, structured, and digestible content wasn’t easy. We wanted to ensure that zealy Academy wasn’t just a series of generic marketing tips. We wanted to create a course that was actionable, realistic, and aligned with the specific struggles startups face today, especially with the rise of AI, shifting marketing channels, and tighter budgets.

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That leads me to my next question — what makes zealy Academy different from other marketing courses out there?

Sandra: Great question! What sets zealy Academy apart is that we’re not teaching theory; we’re teaching what works — right now. We’ve built this course from our own playbook, based on real-world results, not just concepts. The world of marketing for startups has shifted so much in recent years, especially with the rise of AI tools, changing ad dynamics, and the pressure to prove traction faster. zealy Academy reflects these realities, giving practical, no-nonsense advice and strategies. Our goal is to simplify marketing for founders and provide them with frameworks that are easy to implement, even when resources are tight.

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Can you share a moment or experience that truly shaped the course content?

Sandra: Absolutely. One moment that stands out was during a meeting with a startup founder who was doing everything but couldn’t seem to see results. She was running ads, posting on social, and doing everything that she thought was right. But it was all scattered, with no clear alignment to her business goals. That conversation really hit home for me. Marketing isn’t just about doing things; it’s about doing the right things that are tied to your business objectives. That’s when I realized just how much early-stage founders need clear, structured guidance. That’s the exact approach we’ve baked into zealy Academy.

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Looking ahead, how do you see zealy Academy evolving in the next few years?

Sandra: We’re always innovating and staying ahead of trends. In the next few years, I see zealy Academy becoming a hub not just for courses but for a community of startup marketers and founders who can share experiences, insights, and grow together. We’ll continue to adapt to the ever-changing landscape, especially with AI transforming how we approach content and marketing. We want to provide more hands-on, interactive learning experiences and potentially partner with industry leaders to bring even more cutting-edge content to our users.

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Lastly, what would you say to a startup founder who’s struggling with their marketing right now?

Sandra: My advice would be: You don’t have to do it alone. Marketing doesn’t have to be this overwhelming thing. Start with a strong foundation — understand your audience, set clear goals, and align your marketing efforts with your business objectives. It’s easy to get caught up in random tactics, but what really works is a thoughtful strategy. zealy Academy was built for this exact purpose: to help you create that foundation and scale your marketing the right way.

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Sandra’s journey is a statement to the power of turning insight into impact. With zealy Academy, she’s bridging the gap between ambition and action — giving founders and early-stage marketers the tools they need to build, grow, and thrive in today’s fast-moving digital world. Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen your strategy, zealy Academy is your shortcut to smarter marketing.

👉 Join zealy Academy today and build your marketing foundation the right way — with real guidance, proven strategies, and a community that’s here to grow with you.

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