Startups For the Rest of Us

Episode 781 | A Founder's Regret List: 12 Mistakes I’ll Never Make Again

104 snips
Jul 1, 2025
Discover the 12 key mistakes a seasoned founder regrets in their entrepreneurial journey. From believing venture capital was the only route to launching ideas without validation, each lesson is packed with insights. Learn about the pitfalls of sole decision-making and the elusive quest for happiness, which often leads to overreliance on achievements. The importance of building an email list and managing external advice is emphasized. This candid reflection offers valuable takeaways for anyone navigating the startup landscape.
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ADVICE

Bootstrapping Over Venture Capital

  • Do not believe raising venture capital is the only way to start a software company.
  • Focus on building independently without waiting for external funding approval.
ADVICE

Validate Before Product Launch

  • Launch with validation instead of building multiple untested products hoping for success.
  • Use methods like landing pages and direct customer conversations to gauge interest first.
ADVICE

Choose Bootstrappable Ideas

  • Avoid bootstrapping business ideas that require massive scale or venture capital to be viable.
  • Target problems that can be solved sustainably on a smaller scale, preferably for businesses.
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