A lot of these teams, the really core thing going on is is ego protection. And nothing else. How many founders do we know who are never testing the important key hypothesis of their company for the exact reason you talked about because if I know that I'm wrong, my ego shatters or my investors will hate me? That seems like a crippling decision to any scientist. Some founders just it doesn't accrue to them to think this way.
Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel on the importance of talking to your users, why successful founders are ok with rejection from potential customers, and how protecting your ego by not talking to your users can kill your startup.
To create Rookies Mistakes we asked YC founders: Is there a simple fact you wish you knew when you started your company or a rookie mistake you wish you could take back?
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