Month: July 2026
The best time to raise money is when you don’t need it. The best way to not need it is …
The best time to raise money is when you don't need it. The best way to not need it is…
What I’d tell my younger self at that desk: the “no”s aren’t a verdict. They’re a filter.
What I'd tell my younger self at that desk: the "no"s aren't a verdict. They're a filter. Originally posted on…
The 90-day founder builds while the 5-year founder plans. Guess who learns more.
The 90-day founder builds while the 5-year founder plans. Guess who learns more. Originally posted on X
A founder I backed ten years ago sent me an SOS.
A founder I backed ten years ago sent me an SOS. He wasn’t asking for more money. He was asking…
Fundraising is a means. Somewhere along the way we let it become the scoreboard.
Fundraising is a means. Somewhere along the way we let it become the scoreboard. Originally posted on X
We don’t hand founders a playbook and disappear. We’re in the room. Then, when it’s wor…
We don't hand founders a playbook and disappear. We're in the room. Then, when it's working, we get out of…
Founders don’t fear hard work. They fear wasted work. A real process removes the second…
Founders don't fear hard work. They fear wasted work. A real process removes the second fear. Originally posted on X
Startups aren’t won at incorporation. They’re won at the thousandth unglamorous decision.
Startups aren't won at incorporation. They're won at the thousandth unglamorous decision. Originally posted on X
Investors ask “what’s your traction?” A co-founder asks “what do you need?” Know the di…
Investors ask "what's your traction?" A co-founder asks "what do you need?" Know the difference before you take money. Originally…
A dream with a paying customer is called a business.
A dream with a paying customer is called a business. Originally posted on X
Every job AI touches becomes a question: will you operate the tool, or own the business…
Every job AI touches becomes a question: will you operate the tool, or own the business that uses it? Originally…
Hot take: most startups don’t need venture capital. They need a customer and 90 focused…
Hot take: most startups don't need venture capital. They need a customer and 90 focused days. Originally posted on X
Every business I’ve run had a year I don’t talk about at dinner parties. Survive those …
Every business I've run had a year I don't talk about at dinner parties. Survive those years. That's the job….
Strategy is choosing what to do. Execution is doing it before the excitement wears off.
Strategy is choosing what to do. Execution is doing it before the excitement wears off. Originally posted on X
Carta data, 45,000 startups: median founder owns 23% by Series B. Of a company still bu…
Carta data, 45,000 startups: median founder owns 23% by Series B. Of a company still burning cash. Read that twice….
The best thing we remove from a founder’s plate isn’t paperwork. It’s loneliness.
The best thing we remove from a founder's plate isn't paperwork. It's loneliness. Originally posted on X
A gate that says STOP is not failure. It’s the market returning your years to you, unsp…
A gate that says STOP is not failure. It's the market returning your years to you, unspent. Originally posted on…
The founder who starts with nothing and earns everything has something no term sheet ca…
The founder who starts with nothing and earns everything has something no term sheet can give: proof. Originally posted on…
Behind every “overnight success” is a night someone chose to believe when there was no …
Behind every "overnight success" is a night someone chose to believe when there was no evidence yet. Originally posted on…
Fall. Get up. That’s the whole resume.
Fall. Get up. That's the whole resume. Originally posted on X
The next decade belongs to small teams with big systems.
The next decade belongs to small teams with big systems. Originally posted on X
Series B founders with 23% ownership advising new founders to “protect your equity” is …
Series B founders with 23% ownership advising new founders to "protect your equity" is the quietest comedy on this app….
The silence of not knowing what you’re doing – every founder knows that silence. Build …
The silence of not knowing what you're doing – every founder knows that silence. Build through it. Originally posted on…
Your competitors can copy your idea, your design, your pricing. They cannot copy your p…
Your competitors can copy your idea, your design, your pricing. They cannot copy your pace. Originally posted on X
The most underrated growth strategy of 2026: charge money for a thing people want.
The most underrated growth strategy of 2026: charge money for a thing people want. Originally posted on X
A studio that wants to run your startup is an agency with equity. Run.
A studio that wants to run your startup is an agency with equity. Run. Originally posted on X
Conviction without a checkpoint is just stubbornness with better branding.
Conviction without a checkpoint is just stubbornness with better branding. Originally posted on X
Almost everyone has suddenly become a coder.
Over the last 10 days, I spoke with more than 100 founders. One thing surprised me. Almost everyone has suddenly…
Read 900+ founder applications this summer. The pattern is clear: talent is common. Som…
Read 900+ founder applications this summer. The pattern is clear: talent is common. Someone who believes in the talent is…
Clarity is kindness. Especially in business.
Clarity is kindness. Especially in business. Originally posted on X
Capital is being repriced: it used to buy teams. Now it buys time for one determined pe…
Capital is being repriced: it used to buy teams. Now it buys time for one determined person with leverage. Originally…
Product-market fit is not a milestone. It is a feeling founders fake to close the round…
Product-market fit is not a milestone. It is a feeling founders fake to close the round. Real PMF is when…
AI tools did not give small teams superpowers. They gave average operators the ability …
AI tools did not give small teams superpowers. They gave average operators the ability to produce average output faster. The…
A co-founder you met at a hackathon is not a co-founder. That is a stranger with shared…
A co-founder you met at a hackathon is not a co-founder. That is a stranger with shared enthusiasm. Real partnership…
Your best employee leaving is not a betrayal. It is the bill for the ceiling you put on…
Your best employee leaving is not a betrayal. It is the bill for the ceiling you put on them. You…
Founders spend 6 months fundraising to buy 18 months of runway. A paying customer takes…
Founders spend 6 months fundraising to buy 18 months of runway. A paying customer takes a week and buys forever….
Knew nothing about business when I started. Built anyway. Knowledge follows courage, no…
Knew nothing about business when I started. Built anyway. Knowledge follows courage, not the other way around. Originally posted on…
One founder with a deadline beats five founders with a vision statement.
One founder with a deadline beats five founders with a vision statement. Originally posted on X
Your startup isn’t a startup after 90 days without a paying customer. It’s a hobby with…
Your startup isn't a startup after 90 days without a paying customer. It's a hobby with a pitch deck. Originally…
Our success is your success. The way parents feel when their children succeed, that’s t…
Our success is your success. The way parents feel when their children succeed, that's the only exit we're chasing. Originally…
The thin line between “the business I dreamed” and “a business customers pay for” is in…
The thin line between "the business I dreamed" and "a business customers pay for" is invisible from inside the dream….
You don’t get strong by starting with the weights already lifted.
You don't get strong by starting with the weights already lifted. Originally posted on X
The most valuable thing in a founder’s cap table doesn’t appear on the cap table: one p…
The most valuable thing in a founder's cap table doesn't appear on the cap table: one person who believed early….
The market is the only pitch meeting that matters.
The market is the only pitch meeting that matters. Originally posted on X
AI writes the code. AI drafts the emails. AI can’t want it for you. Wanting it is still…
AI writes the code. AI drafts the emails. AI can't want it for you. Wanting it is still the moat….
The startup press covers fundraises like wins and profitability like a curiosity. Backw…
The startup press covers fundraises like wins and profitability like a curiosity. Backwards. Originally posted on X
Nobody claps at the desk-after-day-job stage. That’s exactly the stage that decides eve…
Nobody claps at the desk-after-day-job stage. That's exactly the stage that decides everything. Originally posted on X
Ship the embarrassing version. The market forgives ugly. It doesn’t forgive absent.
Ship the embarrassing version. The market forgives ugly. It doesn't forgive absent. Originally posted on X
Profitable and boring beats viral and burning. Every single time the music stops.
Profitable and boring beats viral and burning. Every single time the music stops. Originally posted on X
It was never our company. We were just holding it until you proved it was yours.
It was never our company. We were just holding it until you proved it was yours. Originally posted on X
We built kill switches into our program. Not to kill founders. To save them from spendi…
We built kill switches into our program. Not to kill founders. To save them from spending 5 years on what…
Day one equity is a promise. Earned equity is a fact. Build on facts.
Day one equity is a promise. Earned equity is a fact. Build on facts. Originally posted on X
Nobody remembers where a founder started. They remember what she built.
Nobody remembers where a founder started. They remember what she built. Originally posted on X
Earned beats given. In equity and in everything.
Earned beats given. In equity and in everything. Originally posted on X
The future of work isn’t remote vs office. It’s owner vs renter. Build equity in someth…
The future of work isn't remote vs office. It's owner vs renter. Build equity in something. Originally posted on X
Raising money is not a business model. It’s a countdown timer.
Raising money is not a business model. It's a countdown timer. Originally posted on X
My children grew up watching me fall and get back up. That was the real inheritance.
My children grew up watching me fall and get back up. That was the real inheritance. Originally posted on X
Meetings feel like progress. Customers are progress.
Meetings feel like progress. Customers are progress. Originally posted on X
A $10M ARR profitable business you own 45% of beats a $100M valuation you own 8% of and…
A $10M ARR profitable business you own 45% of beats a $100M valuation you own 8% of and can't sell….
Our model in one line: the co-founder who clears the path, then steps back and watches …
Our model in one line: the co-founder who clears the path, then steps back and watches you walk it. Originally…
No founder is a bad founder. But some dreams are not businesses. Knowing the difference…
No founder is a bad founder. But some dreams are not businesses. Knowing the difference early is a gift. Originally…
Every year on my birthday, messages arrive from a company that no longer exists.
Every year on my birthday, messages arrive from a company that no longer exists. This photo is from that dinner…
Everyone wants to start with ownership. Winners want to end with it.
Everyone wants to start with ownership. Winners want to end with it. Originally posted on X
Capital is everywhere. Belief is scarce. That’s the real check we write.
Capital is everywhere. Belief is scarce. That's the real check we write. Originally posted on X
Belief is a currency. Spend it on builders.
Belief is a currency. Spend it on builders. Originally posted on X
One founder + AI + a proven playbook can now do what took a 15-person team in 2020. The…
One founder + AI + a proven playbook can now do what took a 15-person team in 2020. The cost…
“Congrats on the raise” – you just sold a fifth of your company. We really need better …
"Congrats on the raise" – you just sold a fifth of your company. We really need better greeting cards. Originally…
Twenty-five years of building companies taught me one thing: the scars teach more than …
Twenty-five years of building companies taught me one thing: the scars teach more than the wins. Originally posted on X
The idea you’re protecting with an NDA is worth less than one week of actual execution.
The idea you're protecting with an NDA is worth less than one week of actual execution. Originally posted on X
Revenue is oxygen. Valuation is applause. You can’t breathe applause.
Revenue is oxygen. Valuation is applause. You can't breathe applause. Originally posted on X
Booting a founder makes no sense to us. It would destroy the very thing we invested in.
Booting a founder makes no sense to us. It would destroy the very thing we invested in. Originally posted on…
The future belongs to people who invest their intelligence … not just rent it.
The future belongs to people who invest their intelligence … not just rent it. For more than a century, we’ve…
Passion pointed at the wrong idea is the most expensive mistake in a founder’s life. Cl…
Passion pointed at the wrong idea is the most expensive mistake in a founder's life. Clarity is the fix. Originally…
Started at 0%. Ended owning 45% of a profitable business. The direction matters more th…
Started at 0%. Ended owning 45% of a profitable business. The direction matters more than the starting point. Originally posted…
Every founder remembers the first person who believed in them. Be that person for someo…
Every founder remembers the first person who believed in them. Be that person for someone this week. Originally posted on…
AI didn’t lower the bar for starting a company. It raised the bar for excuses.
AI didn't lower the bar for starting a company. It raised the bar for excuses. Originally posted on X
VC dilution is the only tax people celebrate paying.
VC dilution is the only tax people celebrate paying. Originally posted on X
Coded HTML pages after my day job at 1-800-Flowers. Twenty-five years later, I read fou…
Coded HTML pages after my day job at 1-800-Flowers. Twenty-five years later, I read founder applications past midnight. Same fire,…
Execution First. Cash Positive Always. Everything else is commentary.
Execution First. Cash Positive Always. Everything else is commentary. Originally posted on X
We don’t chase valuation. We build cash-positive businesses that survive without funding.
We don't chase valuation. We build cash-positive businesses that survive without funding. Originally posted on X
Here is what 48 years of jumping without a net looks like.
Here is what 48 years of jumping without a net looks like. Six companies. Six industries I had no business…
We have no interest in running your business. The startup exists as long as the founder…
We have no interest in running your business. The startup exists as long as the founder is there. No founder,…
The kindest thing a co-founder can do: tell you fast that the idea isn’t working. Years…
The kindest thing a co-founder can do: tell you fast that the idea isn't working. Years of your life are…
It is not important where you start. It is important where you end.
It is not important where you start. It is important where you end. Originally posted on X
A founder wrote in their application: “I have the idea. I have the fire. What I don’t h…
A founder wrote in their application: "I have the idea. I have the fire. What I don't have is anyone…
Sunday night founder energy is real. That restless feeling before Monday? Some call it …
Sunday night founder energy is real. That restless feeling before Monday? Some call it dread. Builders call it fuel. Same…
Holiday weekends are honest. Away from the noise, you either miss building your thing o…
Holiday weekends are honest. Away from the noise, you either miss building your thing or you feel relieved. Pay attention…
Sunday of a long weekend. If your idea kept tapping your shoulder through every BBQ and…
Sunday of a long weekend. If your idea kept tapping your shoulder through every BBQ and beach trip, that's not…
Independence Day. The founders signed a declaration with no proof it would work, funded…
Independence Day. The founders signed a declaration with no proof it would work, funded by believers, executed under fire. History's…
Freedom isn’t a day off. It’s a business that runs without asking permission.
Freedom isn't a day off. It's a business that runs without asking permission. Originally posted on X
My first July 4th weekends in America were spent working. Not because I had to. Because…
My first July 4th weekends in America were spent working. Not because I had to. Because the dream didn't take…
Somewhere this weekend, at a family BBQ, a founder will pitch their idea to a cousin wh…
Somewhere this weekend, at a family BBQ, a founder will pitch their idea to a cousin who doesn't get it….
Taking the weekend off from your job is rest. Taking the weekend off from your dream, t…
Taking the weekend off from your job is rest. Taking the weekend off from your dream, that one costs more….
Long weekend starting. Some founders will rest. Some will build. Both are right. Burnou…
Long weekend starting. Some founders will rest. Some will build. Both are right. Burnout builds nothing, but neither does waiting…
Last night, past midnight. Founder application number 972.
Last night, past midnight. Founder application number 972. One line stopped me cold: “I have the idea. I have the…