Lessons from My Failed Startup

How not to be a founder

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@hernanarber almost 3 years ago

Francisco, Tank you for being Real and putting your lessons out there. I Too have failed many times. It is also important to acknowledge the things that DID Work out. You managed to build a product that people actually used, that is HUGE. It's important to remember the Positive things about your experience too...

Y sigale chingando Cabron! Que esto no se acaba hasta que se acaba ;-)

@patrickfitzg over 2 years ago

Good lessons, Francisco.

For others reading this - remember the Anna Karenina rule - all happy startups are the same, all unhappy startups are unhappy in their own, different way. Points 1,2, and 7 are common. The "save money and do it myself" problem (in examples 4 and 9) is also very common.

Often it pays to think about saving time than money - get something in front of customers and cycle quickly. If you are getting hired help in, test them out first with smaller jobs. Learn to coax extras out of them (without pushing the friendship too far).

My experience very much validates the importance of talking to customers. It is pretty cheap and helps you not delude yourself that you *know* what customers want.

Paddy