A Tech Week evening with early-stage founders
A late night with early-stage founders on the dos and don'ts of building companies right now.
I might need to invest in a selfie stick. I stayed out way past my bedtime tonight with early-stage founders breaking down the dos and don'ts of building companies right now.
The don'ts that quietly kill companies:
- Chasing vanity valuation marks that look great in headlines but set impossible expectations for your next round
- Burning runway on marketing and hype before proving customer validation
- Playing startup theater instead of doing the unglamorous work of talking to users
The dos that build enduring businesses:
- Front-load your hardest tests to eliminate existential risks early
- Focus on customer truth and know who pays you from day one
- Check your ego at the door and hire people significantly smarter than you
Nights like tonight remind me why I love working with founders. Heading home exhausted, but energized by this next generation of builders. Thanks Arshan Ahmad and the Friday HQ community.
Originally posted on LinkedIn.
