I have lost a startup and millions of my own money. The lessons cost more than the money and were worth more too.
Serial entrepreneur, AFoundery venture studio founder, angel investor, mentor, and public speaker. Harvard Business School alumnus. 20+ years building ventures across USA, Mexico, India & Nepal. 30+ startup investments via TheSeedFund.vc.
I have lost a startup and millions of my own money. The lessons cost more than the money and were worth more too.
A co-founder you met at a hackathon is not a co-founder. That is a stranger with shared enthusiasm. Real partnership gets tested in the bad months, not the launch week.
Your best employee leaving is not a betrayal. It is the bill for the ceiling you put on them. You built the cage. They just finally found the door.
Founders spend 6 months fundraising to buy 18 months of runway. A paying customer takes a week and buys forever.