Five Best Pieces of Advice for Startup Founders
After more than two years and nearly 100 episodes hosting the Found podcast, I have gained significant insights into how founders approach the startup world.
I’ve been privy to narratives about when to expand from a core product, approaches to hiring, and the moments that pushed entrepreneurs to take the plunge, among other topics.
Although I'm not a founder myself, certain pieces of advice from the podcast have resonated deeply. Here’s a distilled list of the top five practical and philosophical pointers I share with fellow founders.
Founders Should Lean into What They Aren’t Good At
While many founders seek co-founders or early hires to fill their skill gaps, Rippling's co-founder and CEO, Parker Conrad, suggests a different approach.
"You should find the things that you hate within the company, and you should run towards them and bear hug them and just really take them on," Conrad said. "Those are the things that are probably going to kill you."
VCs Aren’t Always Right
The right venture capitalist can offer invaluable insights, but their advice isn’t always tailored for every startup. Ashley Tyrner, the founder and CEO of FarmboxRx, ignored VC advice to pivot her model to a meal-kit service, a decision she doesn't regret.
"Every VC wanted us to become a meal kit," Tyrner recalled. "Now, I’m really glad we never raised capital, as most of those meal kits have slowly died."
Instead, FarmboxRx found a profitable niche working with insurance companies to send produce boxes as prescriptions, a lucrative shift for the company.
It Pays Off Not to Be First
Many startups strive to be the "first" in their sector. However, Jordan Nathan, founder of Caraway, found benefits in being last to launch his non-toxic cookware, enabling him to spot market gaps others missed.
"It helped us change our color palette, our price point, and the product pieces we included," Nathan said.
Companies Should Get to Market Right Away
Regardless of long-term goals, startups should try to enter the market quickly. Joe Wolfel of Terradepth emphasized setting up immediate revenue streams even while their main product is in development.
"There’s no substitute for on-the-ground learning," Wolfel shared, stressing the importance of real-time feedback.
Similarly, Paul Hedrick of Tecovas began selling boots directly to refine the product and customer feedback lines.
Don’t Forget to Build a Company Around Your Product
Lastly, Gavin Uberti of Etched reminds founders to focus on the company, not just the product. Etched faced a challenge when it didn't establish employee benefits in time, underscoring the importance of comprehensive company planning.
"When moving fast, ensuring the company foundation is not neglected is crucial," Uberti advised.