This Week in Startups

Where early-stage founders MUST focus to success | E2244

28 snips
Feb 3, 2026
William Barnes, early-stage operator and investor who scaled teams at Uber, and Amanda Bradford, founder of The League turned product and marketplace builder. They discuss what founders must focus on: cash conservation, building a taped-together MVP, prioritizing distribution, and using constraints to force clarity. Short, practical, and tactical startup priorities in fast-paced startup life.
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ADVICE

Validate With Cheap Prototypes

  • Validate demand with cheap, hacky prototypes like clickable mockups or vibe coding before raising money.
  • Use early tests to learn messaging and onboarding without spending investor dollars.
ADVICE

Preserve Cash Before PMF

  • Keep burn low until you find product-market fit and prove traction.
  • Spend minimal money to validate the product before recruiting investors.
ADVICE

Dominate A Narrow Niche First

  • Pick a narrow niche and tailor your MVP and messaging to that specific customer profile.
  • Learn faster and get higher engagement by repeating similar customer conversations.
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