Startup leaders encounter a variety of common problems as they navigate the growth and evolution of their companies. Based on the insights provided by executive coach Ed Batista, some of the most prevalent issues include:

1. Navigating Role Transitions: Startup leaders often face the challenge of transitioning from a hands-on, problem-solving role to one that requires more strategic leadership and delegation. This includes focusing only on the most important problems and allowing others to handle the rest, which can be difficult when many people are seeking their attention.

2. Scaling Company Culture: As startups grow, the informal norms and tight-knit culture of the early days may no longer suffice. Leaders must guide the evolution of the company's culture to ensure it supports both the original spirit of the startup and the needs of a larger, more diverse workforce.

3. Managing Complex Group Dynamics: Startups are deceptively complex organizations with rapidly changing cultures that can be significantly affected by the arrival or departure of a single person. Leaders must be attentive to these dynamics and the impact they have on the company.

4. Effective Communication and Feedback: In a startup, efficient communication and effective feedback are critical for survival and learning. Leaders must work to improve these practices within the company to ensure information flows smoothly and that feedback leads to meaningful improvements.

5. Balancing Technical and Business Needs: As startups grow, there's a risk of losing the balance between the technical and business aspects of the company. Leaders must ensure that both "suits" and "nerds" see themselves as part of a greater 'us' to maintain harmony and focus on the company's goals.

6. Adapting to Growth Stages: Startups go through various stages of growth, from a family-scale business to a tribe, village, and beyond. Each stage requires different leadership approaches and adjustments to company functions like hiring, marketing, and product development.

7. Developing Leadership Skills: Many startup leaders lack formal management training and find themselves responsible for significant operations, revenue, and personnel. They must grow into their leadership roles and often need to develop new personal habits and self-care practices to sustain their effectiveness.

8. Handling Team Composition: Leaders must assess whether the right people are in the right roles, particularly as the company transitions from requiring innovative problem-solving to operational efficiency. This may involve coaching existing team members, hiring new talent, or making difficult decisions about terminations.

9. Pirate-to-Navy Transition: Startup leaders, often likened to pirates for their rule-breaking and fast-moving nature, must eventually transition to more structured and responsible leadership styles akin to naval officers. This shift is crucial for long-term success but can be challenging to navigate.

10. Embracing Structure and Systems: As startups scale, the need for structured processes and systems becomes more apparent. Leaders must balance the benefits of structure with the entrepreneurial spirit that characterized the early stages of the company.

These issues are not exhaustive, but they represent some of the most common and significant challenges that startup leaders confront as they strive to grow their companies successfully.