ABSS

🎯𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 📌The role of a technical founder goes beyond just coding—it’s an intense commitment to the startup’s success, doing whatever it takes. Here are the key stages: 📌𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲: — Build a prototype ASAP to demonstrate the idea, even if not fully functional. — Use tools like Figma, scripts, 3D renderings to create a clickable prototype. — Timebox it to just a few days of work. — Don't overbuild; the goal is just to show something to users. 📌𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗩𝗣: — The goal is to quickly build and launch an MVP in weeks, not months. — Embrace “doing things that don’t scale” like manually onboarding users. — Create a lean “90/10 solution” by limiting scope to core functionality. — Choose tech stack and prioritize speed over perfection. — Use third-party APIs/tools instead of building from scratch. Example: Stripe manually processed payments initially. 📌𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: — Set up analytics to track key metrics and understand user behavior. — Quickly update based on analytics data and user interviews. — Continuously launch new versions every few weeks, adding high-impact features. — Balance building new capabilities vs. fixing bugs/tech debt. — Don’t overfocus on refactoring—tech debt is okay if it enables faster iterations. 📌𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁/𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘁: — With traction, now scale by hiring trustworthy engineers. — Identify bottlenecks and rework/refactor pieces for scalability. — Evolve from hands-on coding to an architect/manager role. — Define engineering processes and culture as the team grows. The key is moving quickly without getting bogged down early on. Successful startups embrace scrappiness and finding clever hacks to launch fast! #innovation #technology #creativity #future #futurism #entrepreneurship #marketing #socialmediamarketing #venturecapital #money #sales #fundraising #publicrelations #business #networking #leadership #emotionalintelligence #jobs #artificialintelligence #hiring #health #happiness #engineering #mentalhealth #jobsearch #jobseekers #mindfulness #positivepsychology #linkedingrowth #job #startup 

🎯𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 📌In the world of startups, choosing the right business model and pricing strategy can make or break your venture. Here are some valuable insights: 📌The top 9 business models: SaaS, transactional, marketplaces, hard tech, usage-based, enterprise, advertising, e-commerce, and bio. Most billion-dollar companies are built on these proven models. 📌Learn from the YC Top 100: SaaS, transactional, and marketplaces account for 67% of the most valuable YC companies. Marketplaces like Airbnb and Instacart have a winner-take-all advantage, while transactional businesses like Stripe and Coinbase thrive by being close to the transaction. 📌Pricing insights: — Charge for your product to learn customer willingness to pay and uncover the true value. — Price based on the value you deliver, not your costs. — Most startups undercharge, so incremental price increases can boost revenue. — Pricing isn’t permanent; adjust as you build more value. — Keep pricing simple to reduce friction and boost conversions. 📌𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 $𝟯 "𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 $𝟭𝟮𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲." Embrace proven business models and strategic pricing to unlock your startup’s potential. Stay tuned for more invaluable insights! #innovation #technology #creativity #future #futurism #entrepreneurship #marketing #socialmediamarketing #venturecapital #money #sales #fundraising #publicrelations #business #networking #leadership #emotionalintelligence #jobs #artificialintelligence #hiring #health #happiness #engineering #mentalhealth #jobsearch #jobseekers #mindfulness #positivepsychology #linkedingrowth #job #startup 

🎯𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀: 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜’𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 💡In the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), concerns regarding its potential dangers loom large. With the rise of generative AI tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT and deepfake technology, worries about scams, abuse, and misinformation abound. Deepfakes, in particular, pose a significant threat, with instances ranging from voter scams to nonconsensual creation of explicit content featuring celebrities. According to a Microsoft survey spanning 17 countries, 71% of respondents expressed concerns about AI-assisted scams, followed closely by worries about deepfakes and online abuse. 💡Additionally, hallucinations by AI chatbots and data privacy breaches are key apprehensions, reflecting an overall sentiment of unease. Despite the immense market for AI, estimated to be worth billions, neglecting its potential pitfalls could have dire consequences, especially in critical areas such as politics. As society grapples with the implications of AI, understanding and mitigating its perceived dangers are paramount to safeguarding democracy and societal integrity. Source #CapitalStats #innovation #technology #creativity #future #futurism #entrepreneurship #marketing #socialmediamarketing #venturecapital #money #sales #fundraising #publicrelations #business #networking #leadership #emotionalintelligence #jobs #artificialintelligence #hiring #health #happiness #engineering #mentalhealth #jobsearch #jobseekers #mindfulness #positivepsychology #linkedingrowth #job #startup 

𝗨𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹𝘀: 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 HeadSpin ex-founder Manish Lachwani’s fraudulent actions landed him in prison for fabricating revenue and falsifying invoices, signaling a concerning trend within tech startups. His case, alongside controversies at Bolt, BloomTech, Nikola, Binance, and FTX, paints a worrying picture of deceit in the industry. This surge in fraudulent behavior is partly attributed to the influx of capital during periods of low interest rates, leading to rushed due diligence and a lax regulatory environment. As markets peak, fraud tends to escalate, serving as a stark warning for investors to exercise caution. The startup landscape demands heightened scrutiny, with integrity and transparency becoming paramount for sustainable growth. Let’s remain vigilant and prioritize ethical practices to foster a trustworthy ecosystem. #innovation #technology #creativity #future #futurism #entrepreneurship #marketing #socialmediamarketing #venturecapital #money #sales #fundraising #publicrelations #business #networking #leadership #emotionalintelligence #jobs #artificialintelligence #hiring #health #happiness #engineering #mentalhealth #jobsearch #jobseekers #mindfulness #positivepsychology #linkedingrowth #job #startup 

🎯𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲: 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 📌Jack Schuler’s journey is a cautionary tale for philanthropists and investors alike. The former Abbott Laboratories president founded the Schuler Education Foundation in 2001 with a noble mission: helping underprivileged students gain admission and funding to attend elite colleges. 📌Over two decades, Schuler poured over $150 million into counseling and supporting 1,800 scholars through the program. However, his fortune took a disastrous turn when he became overly bullish on volatile healthcare and biotech stocks like Quidel, Accelerate Diagnostics, and Soleno Therapeutics. 📌As these speculative bets soured, Schuler stubbornly kept doubling down instead of cutting losses, inadvertently draining his $1.1-billion net worth down to around $200 million. This eventually forced the abrupt shutdown of the education foundation in 2024, leaving hundreds of students stranded. 📌The lessons? For philanthropists, keep a clear separation between your charitable work and personal investments. Diversify assets prudently. And know when to walk away from a losing bet before it consumes your charitable mission. For investors, don’t let ego or entrenchment blind you to imprudent risk-taking that can evaporate your fortune. #innovation #technology #creativity #future #futurism #entrepreneurship #marketing #socialmediamarketing #venturecapital #money #sales #fundraising #publicrelations #business #networking #leadership #emotionalintelligence #jobs #artificialintelligence #hiring #health #happiness #engineering #mentalhealth #jobsearch #jobseekers #mindfulness #positivepsychology #linkedingrowth #job #startup 

 💡𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 In the realm of startups, one fundamental aspect often overlooked is the significance of effective user communication. YC’s insights shed light on why founders should prioritize engaging with users throughout their journey: 1. Learning from real insights: Unlike the Hollywood portrayal of startup inception, successful founders don’t rely solely on late-night epiphanies. Instead, they engage in meaningful conversations with real users, gaining invaluable insights that shape their product development. 2. Building trust and loyalty: By fostering direct connections with users, founders establish trust and loyalty, laying the foundation for long-term relationships. This trust translates into valuable feedback and early adopters crucial for startup growth. 3. Honesty and accountability: Users paying for the product or service are the ultimate stakeholders. Engaging with them fosters a culture of honesty and accountability within the startup and drives continuous improvement and innovation. 4. Driving user-centric innovation: Founders who prioritize user communication understand the importance of aligning their products with customer needs and preferences. By actively listening and responding to user feedback, startups can refine and tweak their offerings to better serve their target audience. In essence, effective user communication is not just a checkbox on the startup checklist—it’s the lifeblood that fuels innovation, fosters trust, and drives sustainable growth. #innovation #technology #creativity #future #futurism #entrepreneurship #marketing #socialmediamarketing #venturecapital #money #sales #fundraising #publicrelations #business #networking #leadership #emotionalintelligence #jobs #artificialintelligence #hiring #health #happiness #engineering #mentalhealth #jobsearch #jobseekers #mindfulness #positivepsychology #linkedingrowth #job #startup 

💡𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗩𝗖𝘀 📌In the world of startups, founders often find themselves at a crossroads, torn between following their instincts and seeking validation from others, particularly venture capitalists (VCs). However, there are compelling reasons why founders should resist the temptation to think like VCs, as outlined in the following points derived from the provided text: 📌Expertise over conformity: Founders possess unique insights and expertise in their domains that may diverge from mainstream opinions. By trusting their judgment, they pursue innovative solutions with potential for success. 📌Long-term vision vs. short-term gains: Founders prioritize creating sustainable value over rapid returns, aiming for enduring businesses. 📌Embracing risk: Founders understand innovation requires taking risks and embracing uncertainty, unlike VCs who prioritize proven market traction. 📌Empowering user-centric innovation: Founders intimately understand their audience, creating products that resonate deeply with customers. In essence, founders should trust their expertise and vision, charting their path to success fueled by innovation and commitment to customer value. #innovation #technology #creativity #future #futurism #entrepreneurship #marketing #socialmediamarketing #venturecapital #money #sales #fundraising #publicrelations #business #networking #leadership #emotionalintelligence #jobs #artificialintelligence #hiring #health #happiness #engineering #mentalhealth #jobsearch #jobseekers #mindfulness #positivepsychology #linkedingrowth #job #startup 

𝗘𝗱𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗩𝗖 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗨𝗽 The EdTech startup landscape is grappling with challenging times, as venture capital (VC) funding has plummeted to levels not seen since 2014. The hype surrounding EdTech during the pandemic has faded, and the sector is facing a 90% decline in funding value and a 50% drop in funding volume across most global markets. Q1 2024 set a new low for global EdTech VC funding, with just over 100 transactions totaling around $580 million. While the AI hype cycle has created some noise, the overall trend is one of decline, driven by high interest rates and the rising cost of capital. 🎯𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗤𝟭 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰: 📌International Education dominated VC trends, with India’s Avanse raising $120 million for education financing solutions. 📌AI-focused companies like Quora ($75 million) and Colossyan ($22 million) secured funding, but the broader EdTech sector is shrinking, with startups hiring below the rate of departures. 📌Other notable investments included Upwards ($21 million) for childcare provider matching, and PlanetSpark ($17 million) and Elice ($15 million) for STEAM learning support. Globally, major markets such as Europe, the United States, and China experienced a steady climb in EdTech investment during the pandemic, followed by a sharp decline, erasing years of growth. India’s investment levels remain relatively strong, driven by its rapid growth as a source country for international education. 📌As the funding landscape becomes increasingly challenging, EdTech startups face significant headwinds in securing capital and sustaining growth.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼-𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽’𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗻 Founders, are you flying solo? It’s time to consider finding a co-founder—your startup’s secret weapon for success! According to Y Combinator experts, having a co-founder dramatically increases your chances of making it big. 📌𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗰𝗼-𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 1. Productivity: With a co-founder, you can move 2–3x faster and get more done 2. Brainstorming: Bounce ideas off each other for higher quality solutions 3. Accountability: Keep each other motivated and on track 4. Moral support: Have someone to empathize with the startup rollercoaster Even companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Facebook had multiple co-founders at the start. 📌𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 1. Tap your network: Friends, classmates, colleagues 2. Try YC’s Co-Founder Matching Platform for global connections 3. Do trial projects to test work compatibility before committing 📌𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 1. Shared values, goals, and communication styles 2. Ability to have open, honest conversations 3. Aligned on finances, commitment levels, and salaries The right co-founder is invaluable. Don’t settle for skills alone; find someone you truly click with to join you on this crazy startup journey! #innovation #technology #creativity #future #futurism #entrepreneurship #marketing #socialmediamarketing #venturecapital #money #sales #fundraising #publicrelations #business #networking #leadership #emotionalintelligence #jobs #artificialintelligence #hiring #health #happiness #engineering #mentalhealth #jobsearch #jobseekers #mindfulness #positivepsychology #linkedingrowth #job #startup 

📌𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝘁 𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿? 𝗜𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 As startup founders, you often face the dilemma of whether to commit to your vision or validate your ideas with others. The answer depends on your level of expertise in the problem space you’re addressing. 📌If you have deep expertise in your startup’s domain, either from working in the industry for years or building similar products before, you should trust your gut more. Your instincts and taste are likely well-honed, and you probably know more than most people about what your target users need. In this case, focus on impressing yourself and building something you’d be proud of. 📌On the other hand, if you’re entering a new domain without much prior experience, you should trust your gut less. Your opinions might be similar to the mainstream, and you lack the depth of knowledge to make informed decisions. In this situation, your goal should be to build expertise rather than assuming you already have it. Start with a simple MVP and learn from your early users while staying open-minded about what they really want. 📌The key is to be self-aware about your level of expertise and adjust your approach accordingly. Experienced founders sometimes make the mistake of being too fearful and not leveraging their insights, whereas inexperienced founders can be overconfident and invest in the wrong things. By matching your strategy to your expertise, you can avoid these pitfalls and increase your chances of success. 📌Remember, it’s okay to not have all the answers upfront. Most successful founders start with limited expertise and learn along the way. The important thing is to pick a problem space you’re excited to dive into and stay humble as you gain knowledge. With the right mindset and approach, you can turn your unique insights into a thriving startup. #innovation #technology #creativity #future #futurism #entrepreneurship #marketing #socialmediamarketing #venturecapital #money #sales #fundraising #publicrelations #business #networking #leadership #emotionalintelligence #jobs #artificialintelligence #hiring #health #happiness #engineering #mentalhealth #jobsearch #jobseekers #mindfulness #positivepsychology #linkedingrowth #job #startup