Arvind Verma’s Post

🚀 Founder Mode: The Game Changer in Scaling Startups Last week at a YC event, Brian Chesky gave a talk that left the room buzzing. It wasn't just good—it was unforgettable. Founders, some of the most successful ones we know, said it was the best they'd ever heard. It even caused Ron Conway to forget to take notes—a first in his life. Chesky challenged the conventional wisdom on scaling companies. Like many founders, he was told to "hire good people and let them do their jobs." It sounds like great advice, right? But for him, it was a disaster. So, he turned to Steve Jobs' approach to find a better way—and it worked. Airbnb’s success is proof. What’s fascinating is that many founders face this same problem. They're pushed to run their companies like managers, but this advice backfires. The reason? It’s the wrong playbook. What works for a professional manager doesn’t work for founders. Founders need to stay hands-on in ways that managers don’t, and when they don’t, it feels off because it is. What we’re seeing is the rise of **Founder Mode** vs. **Manager Mode**. Until now, we’ve assumed scaling meant switching to manager mode. But founders who’ve tried it are pushing back—and succeeding. Founder Mode isn’t well-documented (yet!), but it’s shaping up to be the key to scaling without losing your company's soul. We need to study this more, but one thing is clear: Founders aren’t just eccentric—they’re paving the way for something better. Imagine what’s possible when founders can scale like Steve Jobs, not like John Sculley. #FounderMode #Leadership #StartupJourney #YC #Scaling

Interesting discussion on HN about Paul Graham’s latest essay, Founder Mode. In short, there are things founders can do that professional managers can’t or won’t, that make a company much more successful. If you are a founder, lean into these things… —- “At a YC event last week Brian Chesky gave a talk that everyone who was there will remember. Most founders I talked to afterward said it was the best they'd ever heard. The theme of Brian's talk was that the conventional wisdom about how to run larger companies is mistaken. As Airbnb grew, well-meaning people advised him that he had to run the company in a certain way for it to scale. Their advice could be optimistically summarized as "hire good people and give them room to do their jobs." He followed this advice and the results were disastrous. So he had to figure out a better way on his own, which he did partly by studying how Steve Jobs ran Apple. So far it seems to be working. Airbnb's free cash flow margin is now among the best in Silicon Valley.” — Not sure I buy this, but he concedes it is just an idea he wants the startup community to explore. He doesn’t yet have it fully thought out. The advice "hire good people and give them room to do their jobs" is not too different from saying: “if you want to build a successful business, sell the product for less than it costs you” 🙂 There are 100 little details you need to get right. #startups #ycombinator #techstars #technology #business #ceos #management

Ever wondered what drives a startup’s success amidst all the chaos? I really enjoyed reading the interview with Flawless' Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Nick Lynes, in Authority Magazine with Yitzi Weiner. It's always inspiring to hear the 'rhyme and reason' from our leaders, especially when the day-to-day craziness of startup life can sometimes overshadow the bigger picture! Some key takeaways that stood out to me: 🔹 Solve a Real Problem: Startups often get caught up in selling an idea, but real success comes from addressing a genuine problem for people or businesses. Before seeking investor backing, ask yourself, "Is this truly worth my time?" Brutal self-awareness is key. 🔹 Vision and Resilience Are Essential: Building a successful startup isn't just about having a great idea. It demands a steadfast commitment to your long-term vision and a deep well of resilience. Embrace the ups and downs, knowing that the real reward is the growth and self-discovery along the journey. 🔹 The Power of an Outstanding Team: Success hinges on hiring talented individuals and creating a culture rooted in honesty and shared purpose. As Peter Drucker famously said, "Culture eats strategy for breakfast," and that’s especially true for innovative startups. Check out the full interview on our website — link in the comments!

In 2025, Dear fellow Founders, can we please stop with this nonsense? I’ve noticed a surge of YC founders getting excited about their journey, only to mindlessly copy and paste posts from one another and then argue in the comments about who’s the original author. Folks, you even steal content from other well-known creators, adding your own branding to it. And when someone confronts you, you show zero accountability. What if I told your mom? What would she say? What will your investors say? When you claim that focus, discipline, and hard work alone are enough to succeed, you’re planting false hope in thousands - maybe even millions - of people, depending on how widely the post spreads. But the truth is, that’s far from enough. It makes for a beautiful and motivational post, but it overlooks the critical elements: - PMF - GTM - Team - Timing - Market - Execution And that’s being generous. Many inexperienced people see these posts and think: ‘Wow, if I just do my best, I’ll succeed.’ No, you won’t. Success takes far more than that. If it were that easy, we’d all have 69 exits - hell, even my cat! Ready to scale your startup? Let’s chat about building a solid foundation for your business success. Book a FREE Bedrokk call here bit.ly/3BkXBLS #startups #founders #investors #gotomarketstrategy #venturecapital ___________________________________ Did you like this post? Connect or Follow Evaldas Girskus Want to see all my posts? Ring that 🔔 and Follow #thestartupguy

Founder mode is overrated. Yes, I said it. Continuously being in 'Founder mode' is a double-edged sword. The perpetual hustle, the constant micromanagement, the hands-on approach to every task—this can stifle innovation and burn out your team. What is required is a delicate balance between Founder mode and Empowering your team to take the reins doesn't just free you up to focus on the bigger picture; it also breeds a culture of trust and creativity. Think about this: If you're always making the decisions, where's the room for fresh perspectives? How can your team grow if they're never given the chance to lead? Examples: - When a developer proposes a better solution, trust them. You've hired skilled people for a reason. - If your marketing team suggests a bold new strategy, give them the freedom to execute. They bring expertise you might not have. Remember: A startup founder's job isn't to do everything—it's to ensure everything gets done. Sometimes that means letting go. What do you think? 🚀 Drop your thoughts below! #foundermode #startups #founders #teambuilding

Finding the right co-founder is no less than finding a life partner in the startup world. It’s about aligning values, vision, and the willingness to endure the rollercoaster journey together. When you find someone who shares your fire and even fuels it more than you do, it's a game-changer. While finding the right person can transform your startup journey, the search itself can lead you down roads that backfire in ways you never anticipated. You might meet people who seem perfect on paper but lack the long-term commitment or the resilience to weather tough times. Sometimes, early partnerships crumble, leaving behind fractured trust and wasted time. A wrong choice can set your vision back, drain your energy, or, worse, derail the startup entirely. Misaligned goals, clashing egos, or differing work ethics can turn the dream of collaboration into a nightmare. Yet, these challenges teach invaluable lessons. Each setback sharpens your understanding of what you truly need in a co-founder—not just someone who shares your vision but someone who is prepared to fight for it with the same grit and passion, no matter how hard the road gets. #startup #cofounder

What’s the key ingredient for making an early-stage startup successful? A great idea? A solid MVP? Unwavering motivation and dedication? Naive optimism? Or maybe just a bit of salt and pepper? 😋 While all these elements play a role, in my humble opinion, the true driver of early success is the founding team. Ideas evolve, and products pivot. Both are malleable and should adapt as needed (we did earlier this year). But what remains critical is having the right team that can navigate these changes, adapt to feedback, and keep moving forward 🏃♀️ Here are some key qualities to look for in a founding team, whether you’re starting a company or investing in one: 🧠 Entrepreneurial mindset - founding members who understand the hustle required to build a company from scratch—long hours, stress, little pay, and initially, minimal rewards. 🔀 Cross-disciplinary skillset - it’s essential for founders to have the combined ability to build, market, and sell the product. Missing one of these skills often increases costs and can lead to a loss of control if outsourced or hired externally. 🤔 Diverse thinking - neurodiversity or at least a mix of different perspectives is crucial. Being able to challenge ideas and strategies constructively and mindfully leads to much stronger decisions. 😁 Keeping it fun - a team that can consistently enjoy each other’s company is vital, especially when the going gets tough. 👫 Shared values - perhaps the most important and often overlooked aspect is a founding team that shares the same core values. This alignment is what ultimately keeps the team united for the long term (I'll share our values next week!). I’m incredibly grateful to be on this journey with Lydia Hartley and Richie Ganney — two unbelievably talented and kind individuals. Thanks for making startup life enjoyable and fulfilling - I couldn't be luckier ❤️ #StartupLife #FoundingTeam #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #StartupJourney

I was a first-time CEO, building a startup with just enough investor pressure. ;) I was in way over my head. But, hey, that’s startup, right? Fast forward to today, and I’ve learned a few lessons in leadership, scaling, and fundraising. Mostly the hard way. One thing I wish I knew back then is the value of “no”. “No” is a hard word to say, but it’s essential to growing your company. It’s tempting to say “yes” to everything. “Yes” to every opportunity, every client, every investor. But saying “yes” too often will lead to a loss of focus, a plagued product roadmap, and a drain on your resources. So, here’s my advice: Learn to say “no”. Say “no” to bad deals, bad hires, and bad partnerships. Say “no” to distractions that take away from your core mission. Say “no”  to any meeting that doesn’t have a clear agenda and misaligned to the mission. Saying “no” is not easy, but it’s necessary. The best of the best are masterful with their time. As an early stage founder, you should be saying “no” 5x more than you should be saying “yes”.

🚀 New Startup Management Concept: Founder Mode by Paul Graham, YC's OG In his latest blog post, Paul Graham dives into a fresh management style called "Founder Mode," shaking up the old "Manager Mode" approach. Inspired by Airbnb’s Brian Chesky at a YC event, Graham highlights how typical management strategies just didn’t cut it for Airbnb. 🤔 Chesky pointed out that the usual advice to "hire good people and let them run wild" sometimes backfires. 😬 So, what are these two modes? - Founder Mode: A hands-on, flexible approach where founders dive deep into all aspects of the biz—think skipping hierarchies and rolling up your sleeves!  - Manager Mode: A more modular style where leaders let teams handle their own mess—often missing the mark for scaling startups. Right now, there are no textbooks or biz school courses on Founder Mode—so it's trial and error for many founders out there! 📚💡 Graham gives a shoutout to Steve Jobs’ annual retreat with 100 key Apple players—not just top-tier execs. 👏 This highlights how Founder Mode can adapt and evolve within a company. He believes mastering Founder Mode could lead to major gains in management effectiveness. But watch out! 🚨 There’s a risk of misuse—like founders who can’t delegate or managers trying too hard to be visionary. Let’s see how this shakes up the startup scene! 💥 #StartupLife #FounderMode #ManagementMatters

Social media makes starting and scaling a business look easy. I’ve built 2 startups: PURE Private Label LLC and RevMulti. And I can tell you → reality is far from what’s shown online. If I could give advice to my younger self, it would be this: 1) Not everything matters. Focus on the few things that drive growth and say no to anything that pulls you off track. 2) Your team is everything. Their growth, well-being, and trust are what will help your company thrive long-term. 3) It’s hard to let go, but you can’t do it all. Learn to trust your team, delegate clearly, and step back. 4) Plans rarely go the way you expect. Stay flexible, face challenges head-on, and pivot when needed. 5) Your values are your company’s backbone. When things get tough, a strong culture will hold everything together. Scaling a startup will push you to your limits. But overcoming challenges, seeing growth, and learning along the way is worth it. Stay focused on what matters most. Take care of your people. Learn from mistakes. And keep moving forward. *** What’s the best lesson you’ve learned while scaling a business? Let me know in the comments! #startup