Building A Business Your Way
One of my favorite founders recently raised a Series C round. They aren’t even on #linkedin. And I’ve learned a ton from this founder. I’ll share 3 lessons.
I invested in this founder's company 8 years ago. It was my first personal check into a company after spending a few years (combined) at Evergreen Climate Innovations and VestedWorld.
This founder has (by far) taken me up on the time + talent + treasure commitment I make to founders I invest in; you can text, call or email me anytime and (when I can) we roll up our sleeves and tackle the issue you are dealing with. Be it product, strategy, positioning, recruiting, and/or #fundraising. Just ask.
But I’ve ended up being more of a #student to this #founder. Here are 3 lessons
1. The depth of your conviction about your startup must be based on a foundation of deep (profound) knowledge of the problem, solution, market, and (most importantly) non-market forces in the space you are operating in.
This founder is THE expert in the space. Especially when it comes to the nuances of human behavior and what makes people act the way they do. Incentives drive decisions. People will do the weirdest stuff and make the craziest decisions. But once you know what's driving them, those decisions will make sense.
Know the 'non-market' reasons why people do what they do.
2. Jump: On the plane. Into the car. On your dreams. This founder would get in a car and drive to meet prospects during the dark days of COVID-19.
Because of point #1 above, this founder knew to engage with people face-to-face especially when no one else would. We were all craving connection. This founder built those connections even in the darkest days. Because of their conviction.
Conviction. This founder has jumped on a plane early to come to spend a day with me white-boarding and solving knotty problems. The conviction level is sky-high.
3. Honor your main commitments: And play this #startup game on your terms: This founder is not on LinkedIn. Who isn't on LinkedIn? :)
Those one-day whiteboarding sessions? This founder would still make it back home in time to be with their spouse/kids. Overnight trips? Video calls with the kids at the same time every morning and night.
There will be no press release about the raise. This founder will hire the best people by jumping on the plane to meet with them. The press release means nothing.
This founder is quietly but powerfully changing an industry. And only needs validation from their customers.
There is a lot we can all learn here…
