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Startups Anonymous

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31–36 of 36 posts

Re: Startups Anonymous

#31
I think what is happening in the US right now is a wide sum of money but a shortage of good ideas.. (or there are so many projects that good ideas are hidden in the middle of confusion)

And i think part to blame, is a cultural aspect.. it looks to me that nobody want to work in a normal job these days.. so even when you need the talent for your startup.. or he will be working in a big company, or will be launching its own startup.. common guys, its madness..

For example when i see cases and protfolios here in Brazil, theres not that much of projects being backed up by investors.. but the one that does, are actually pretty good projects.. with more distinct ideas..

i fear that because of the cultural aspect of entrepreneurship a lot of people that shoudnt be starting a company, are jumping itself into the jungle.. so when the hard times hit theres no emotional spring to make the things workout in another way.. (and this emotional aspect is one of the most important things.. you need something to push you up.. no matter what)

Re: Startups Anonymous

#32
I would prefer to get someone's ear before my startup fails, not after. Sadly, most of my friends aren't into startups so I have few choices. Ideally, I would have a circle of say three other founders who serve as advisors to each other, but unlike typical advisors they would be peers rather than mentors.

I would call them co-dvisors.

Re: Startups Anonymous

#33

It's really nice to see entrepreneurs caring enough about other entrepreneurs failed endeavors to offer a helping hand. It's common for an entrepreneur to feel alone. We're a rare breed and sometimes hard to understand by others who have never experienced owning a business or building a startup. I myself have started and owned 4 different businesses in the last 10 years, from the age of 18 to now being 28. Each lasti…

Great post! Welcome to HN!

Re: Startups Anonymous

#34

It's really nice to see entrepreneurs caring enough about other entrepreneurs failed endeavors to offer a helping hand. It's common for an entrepreneur to feel alone. We're a rare breed and sometimes hard to understand by others who have never experienced owning a business or building a startup. I myself have started and owned 4 different businesses in the last 10 years, from the age of 18 to now being 28. Each lasti…

Great post! Welcome to HN!

Thanks Scott, glad to be here :)

Re: Startups Anonymous

#35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Startups aren't a sickness (unlike alcoholism for example). Starting one is a choice we are all making fully aware that failure is the expected outcome." I really don't think this is the case. Yes, people give lip service to that concept, but no one thinks they will fail, and investors don't think their investments will fail. Yes, they may know statistics, but no one would explicitly start something with the expecte…

That's a good test to evaluate startups. How honest are the founders on their expected failure rate? If you're not a person they need to be lying to (i.e. not a potential/actual employee, investor, customer, journalist, etc), will they tell you that their realistic probability for success is very low? If they can't do this, that's a red flag. Their irrationality will injure people in a relationship with them. They ma…

Everyone is a potential employee, investor, customer or journalist.

Re: Startups Anonymous

#36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a good test to evaluate startups. How honest are the founders on their expected failure rate? If you're not a person they need to be lying to (i.e. not a potential/actual employee, investor, customer, journalist, etc), will they tell you that their realistic probability for success is very low? If they can't do this, that's a red flag. Their irrationality will injure people in a relationship with them. They ma…

Everyone is a potential employee, investor, customer or journalist.

I agree, you have to dislodge them out of that mindset, so they don't see you that way. You're there to help, which means honesty and seriousness. Otherwise you get the businessman bullshit for public consumption.

Having interests in common (outside business) helps.

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