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What qualities do the best founders have?
At seed, I believe being able to identify outstanding founders is more important than being able to identify outstanding market opportunities.
Sharing 10 things I’ve learned to look for below
At seed, I believe being able to identify outstanding founders is more important than being able to identify outstanding market opportunities.
Sharing 10 things I’ve learned to look for below
1/ Can clearly articulate what success looks like
Founders who have a vision for where we want to be in 5 years.
They have a pointed view of the future & how their company will fit into it.
Founders who have a vision for where we want to be in 5 years.
They have a pointed view of the future & how their company will fit into it.
2/ Are ruthless prioritizers
Founders who won’t get bogged down by the demands on their time & can focus effort on what matters for the success of the company.
@Spotify CEO @eldsjal is known to aggressively manage his time
(found via @ProfileRead) https://www.fastcompany.com/90213545/exclusive-spotify-ceo-daniel-ek-on-apple-facebook-netflix-and-the-future-of-music
Founders who won’t get bogged down by the demands on their time & can focus effort on what matters for the success of the company.
@Spotify CEO @eldsjal is known to aggressively manage his time
(found via @ProfileRead) https://www.fastcompany.com/90213545/exclusive-spotify-ceo-daniel-ek-on-apple-facebook-netflix-and-the-future-of-music
3/ Have urgency around needle-moving activities
In order to build a multi-billion dollar company in <10 yrs, the pace of product releases, hiring & growth has to be supercharged.
However, urgency around execution must be for the things that actually matter.
In order to build a multi-billion dollar company in <10 yrs, the pace of product releases, hiring & growth has to be supercharged.
However, urgency around execution must be for the things that actually matter.
4/ Are meticulous with the operating details
Founders who seek to understand & manage the unit economics of their business.
The @DoorDash founders drove orders themselves to understand the details behind how a delivery operation works.
@evancharles https://twitter.com/evancharles/status/1336835867768279040?s=20
Founders who seek to understand & manage the unit economics of their business.
The @DoorDash founders drove orders themselves to understand the details behind how a delivery operation works.
@evancharles
https://twitter.com/evancharles/status/1336835867768279040?s=20
5/ Are fast learners
Founders who can take in new data from users, competitors, regulators, etc. & adapt quickly.
The world isn’t stagnant and market dynamics may be very different a year from now, or 5 years from now.
Founders who can take in new data from users, competitors, regulators, etc. & adapt quickly.
The world isn’t stagnant and market dynamics may be very different a year from now, or 5 years from now.
6/ Are obsessed with the user experience
Founders who demonstrate customer empathy & strive for many moments of surprise & delight.
The @Airbnb founders took photos of properties themselves early-on to ensure users had high-quality images of rentals https://greylock.com/airbnb-reflections/
Founders who demonstrate customer empathy & strive for many moments of surprise & delight.
The @Airbnb founders took photos of properties themselves early-on to ensure users had high-quality images of rentals
https://greylock.com/airbnb-reflections/
7/ Are entrenched in their community
Founders who intimately know the forces at play in their space.
This can come from work experience, exposure as a customer, user interviews or community project involvement.
Founders who intimately know the forces at play in their space.
This can come from work experience, exposure as a customer, user interviews or community project involvement.
8/ Know what their team's strengths need to be
Founders who understand the key capabilities their company needs to succeed (marketing expertise, specific technical expertise, etc.) and the gaps they have.
Founders who understand the key capabilities their company needs to succeed (marketing expertise, specific technical expertise, etc.) and the gaps they have.
9/ Are ready for the ups, and the downs
The role of a founder is sometimes glorified skimming over the challenges startups often go through.
Successful companies have struggled to raise ( @stitchfix, @onepeloton, @Airbnb) or had to make drastic cuts during their journey.
The role of a founder is sometimes glorified skimming over the challenges startups often go through.
Successful companies have struggled to raise ( @stitchfix, @onepeloton, @Airbnb) or had to make drastic cuts during their journey.
10/ Can recognize & attract top talent
Founders who target the best engineers, advisors, etc. instead of just working with who is convenient.
Identifying top talent is only part of the battle. Founders also need to convince the best of the best to help build their vision.
Founders who target the best engineers, advisors, etc. instead of just working with who is convenient.
Identifying top talent is only part of the battle. Founders also need to convince the best of the best to help build their vision.
