Why I'll be a solo founder next time
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Why I'll be a solo founder next time
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Re: Why I'll be a solo founder next time
#2A partnership is more work and harder than marriage because you have to:
- get on and stay on the same page
- agree on both of your live's direction and commitment to a path has to be the same for the next 2-3 years
- have the ability to defer to each other in your area of competence
- have to be skilled at learning and getting anything done, whether its business or tech.
- know that your entry and exit goals have to be compatible. Some people want to get rich quick, others are happy with organic growth that scales as well.
- be able to have a disagreement and move on for what's best.
- remember it's not about who's right, but what's right. Have a overarching vision, mission and values that you agree with so you can test any idea against them to see "does it fit how we're trying to do?"
- understand that it's about creating value for your customers, not making your own lives easier through the latest technology that makes something easier for you in development
- remember building channel to a market is more important than anything you build.
- building a financial engine early is the biggest indicator of whether your partnership will last
- building a partnership that grows in to friendship is easier than the other way around. Build things with people who you have experience building things with, and if you're new to each other, see if you can build something small together before taking the plunge.
Re: Why I'll be a solo founder next time
#3Interesting points, but a lot of it is contradictory to the advice you hear from successful startups, so I'd take this with a grain of salt.
"I believe that my previous two ventures failed mainly because of the founding team (which I’m included in). How do I know? Because companies with almost identical products and value propositions succeeded afterwards."
I'm not sure if you're drawing the correct lesson there. Sounds more like implementation issues. I'd recommend you spend some effort improving your ability to implement / find people who can implement and then try again.
Re: Why I'll be a solo founder next time
#4Interesting points, but a lot of it is contradictory to the advice you hear from successful startups, so I'd take this with a grain of salt. "I believe that my previous two ventures failed mainly because of the founding team (which I’m included in). How do I know? Because companies with almost identical products and value propositions succeeded afterwards. " I'm not sure if you're drawing the correct lesson there. So…
You're right, correlation doesn't equal causation. However, in my specific case the implementation issues were came from issues in the team. In the end, implementation comes down to team.
(Hindsight is always 20/20, but everything we did wrong had to do with marketing and building and audience)
Re: Why I'll be a solo founder next time
#5I think most of the 'tips' and lessons learned make sense and are useful but I don't agree with the overall message. This is like saying 'I went to two restaurants and they were no good (for various reasons that can be avoided in the future), now I'll always eat at home'
Re: Why I'll be a solo founder next time
#6I think most of the 'tips' and lessons learned make sense and are useful but I don't agree with the overall message. This is like saying 'I went to two restaurants and they were no good (for various reasons that can be avoided in the future), now I'll always eat at home'
Re: Why I'll be a solo founder next time
#7I think most people recognize that the team is the most important aspect of a startup - from Paul Graham allowing people to apply to YCombinator without an idea, to investors my co-founder and I have talked to being much more interested in who we are, what we know, how we get along, and why we do what we do than product or traction, I think it's safe to say that the team is the most important aspect of a company.
I wouldn't, however, decide to "go solo" next time; that may even be a worse option. You'll never find someone who you work with 100%, but you need a co-founder. Keep "shopping," find someone you click with, and have another go.
Re: Why I'll be a solo founder next time
#8I think most of the 'tips' and lessons learned make sense and are useful but I don't agree with the overall message. This is like saying 'I went to two restaurants and they were no good (for various reasons that can be avoided in the future), now I'll always eat at home'
I don't think entirely ruling out partnership, or thinking it's the only way is right.
I've done both, and both offer interesting pros and cons. Namely if you have the ability to fund a project yourself while building it, you can be in the drivers seat more and some partners are okay with that.
Would you mind sharing your experiences?
Re: Why I'll be a solo founder next time
#9I think most people recognize that the team is the most important aspect of a startup - from Paul Graham allowing people to apply to YCombinator without an idea, to investors my co-founder and I have talked to being much more interested in who we are, what we know, how we get along, and why we do what we do than product or traction, I think it's safe to say that the team is the most important aspect of a company. I w…
Good points, but I think blindly following the advice can be dangerous. That's exactly what I did. I went out to find a founding them because I knew (from books, YC, PG's essays) that teams are more likely to succeed.
What I really should have done is not "look for some team to increase the chance of success", but rather start solo, and take my time looking for the right team. Of course that's easier said then done. You don't get to know people unless you work with them over a longer period of time.
So, just to clarify, I'm not suggesting that one should go solo completely, but rather wait for the right team. Don't settle for "some team" just because someone says that teams are "better".
Re: Why I'll be a solo founder next time
#10I think most people recognize that the team is the most important aspect of a startup - from Paul Graham allowing people to apply to YCombinator without an idea, to investors my co-founder and I have talked to being much more interested in who we are, what we know, how we get along, and why we do what we do than product or traction, I think it's safe to say that the team is the most important aspect of a company. I w…
Not true for me. Got two failed business with bad co-founders. Now, two years alone and never made so well. I really think it´s "co-founder" law is much more relative then it really appears, specially outside SF Bay area.