Being 'exceptional' is underpinned by the founder's ability to execute and at the earliest stage of startup development, this is all that matters.
Founder hiring time allocation: 50 % of a founder’s time should be spent on hiring.
A founder advisory board (not your board of directors) can be incredibly helpful for accessing talented individuals and with support on hiring decisions.
Social advantage: These products make users feel like they're ahead of everyone else in their social circles.
Fear of missing out: Users think they'll face problems or inefficiencies if they don't use the product.
Network value: The more people use the product, the better it gets for everyone.
With the health and wellness trends skyrocketing, it's fascinating to see these energy drinks like kombucha, and the likes gaining momentum.
I posted throughout April 2024 to share my thinking on pre‑seed investing, hiring, product design, and wellness trends, tying each insight to concrete decisions for founders and investors.