Real Founder Lessons
The best startup advice from experienced founders...one real-world lesson at a time.
Focus all of your resources on the one key risk in your business
(at minute 41:10)
Common Founder Issue
I've spent the better part of 20 years working on startups and thinking about what makes founders successful. The single most important lesson that I’ve learned is that focus is the biggest competitive advantage that startups have, so I’m always on the lookout for additional thoughts on this topic. In this podcast . . .
A business is just a byproduct of solving a problem
(at minute 45:55)
Common Founder Issue
The very early stages of a startup look more like passion projects of the founders. Many times it’s just a single, small problem that they want to solve or just a general area of the world that needs some attention with no consideration for being a business. The addition of things like a company name, employees and . . .
The best founders are going to be entrepreneurs no matter what
(at minute 20:38)
Common Founder Issue
I tend to believe that the best founders are going to start something no matter what. The feeling of putting something new and amazing into the world and having their ideas touch lots and lots of people is what motivates these folks. And during tough times - like the downturn in SF during the financial crisis - the . . .
The best predictor of startup success is getting lots of small stuff done
(at minute 35:55)
Common Founder Issue
I tend to focus on startups that are very early stage. This typically means just a few passionate founders working 24/7 on an idea. Over the years I’ve struggled with how to identify the most promising teams before their businesses have had enough time to show traction.
Before even seeing this video, I . . .
