Andrew Chang’s Post

Starting a startup can feel daunting. But it’s always nerve-wracking until it works. When you’re building something new: ↳ Discomfort is the cost of entry. But that discomfort shouldn’t stop you from chasing your vision. → A few months ago, I was hesitant to dive into the startup world. → Now, I’m building something I believe in every day. I’m SO glad I didn’t let my fear hold me back from starting. Here’s how you can push through the early challenges in building a startup: 1. Stop waiting for the “perfect” time → There will never be a perfect moment to start → Chasing the “right time” kills momentum—focus on getting started 2. Be kind to yourself as you learn → You’re not failing, you’re figuring it out—give yourself room to grow → Challenge the belief that you need to know everything to begin 3. Who cares if others doubt you? → Most people won’t understand until you succeed → Surround yourself with people who encourage and believe in you Every journey starts with a first step. Don’t let the fear of others’ opinions keep you from building something great. ♻️ Repost to inspire someone to take that leap with their startup.

I founded 3 startups in 3 years. These are the 3 biggest misconceptions I always hear about founders: 1. We are rich My 1st startup - I took $0 salary (failed) My 2nd startup - I took $2,000 salary (failed) My 3rd startup - I took $3,000 salary (exited) The reality is that 95% founders are broke. Only when we have a big exit (life-changing amount), then we're rich. Until then, we're broke af. Sad, but true. 2. We promote hustle culture (toxic mindset) We don't promote hustle culture, but working hard is the only thing we can control to increase the chances of success, hence we hustle hard. There is no work-life balance, only work-life integration. Work = Life 3. We are crazy We are ambitious to solve important problems and have an impact on the world. Sometimes being ambitious means thinking out of the box to do things differently to achieve our goals. We're not crazy, we just think differently. *** Many people glamorise being a founder. That being a founder can make you rich. That being a founder can make you look good. That being a founder can make you look special. The question founders should be asking before deciding to quit their jobs and build their startups is not, "How much money am I gonna make?" But rather, "Would I see myself solving this problem for the next 10 years?" Thought? *** Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost to share with others and follow Admond Lee for more in future. 📌 Interested in learning from startup mistakes? Join 1,300+ others who get my free newsletter: www.therunway.ventures 🤝🏻 #startups

𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩.... Before you say yes to that startup offer, 𝐀𝐬𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟: Can you handle the responsibility? ✅ Joining a startup isn't just another job. ❌ Founders have made huge sacrifices. 💪 They’ve put in their time, energy, and sometimes even their life savings. Every person on the team is critical to bringing the vision to life. If you’re not accountable, you do more harm than you think. It’s not just about missing targets. Your lack of accountability impacts the whole team. Those putting in the hours feel it. It chips away at their confidence. Startups don’t have room for passengers. Everyone has to drive the mission forward. So before you say yes, 𝐀𝐬𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟: Can I step up? Can I bring real value? ✅ Because anything less can slow down the very thing you want to be a part of. Follow me Nikunj Adeshra for content on sales and building Bootstrapped Businesses.

DEPLOY is my 5th startup, and people often ask, why do you keep doing this? Simple, it is what I was born to do. It is part of my DNA, and I love it. Also, I have never met a company I liked enough not to sell it, maybe one day. I have learned a ton and made many mistakes. If I can help other founders not make the same mistakes I am all in. Founders if you are thinking about bringing in a Co-Founder or your first C level hire keep an eye out for certian things, good and bad. 1). If he or she demands a certian title - MOVE ON. It might work at a larger company but not at a startup. 2) If there is any evidence of narcisism - MOVE ON. There is a belief that great CEO's or leaders have to have a certain level of narcisism to be successful. This is an old school way of thinking and complete nonsense. 🤡 3) If he/she still believes in the "if we build they come" nonsense - MOVE ON. Listen to your clients they will help you build. 🤡 4) If there is gaslighting or they have issues with controlling their temper - MOVE ON. He/she are to childish to be succesful at a startup. 👹 5) If He/she believes everyone needs to "stay in their lane." - MOVE ON. They have no idea how a startup works. 🤡 6) If they believe in your vision and mission and you will feel it - HIRE IMMEDIATELY. Your vision and passion will get you to 0-1 and 1-10. 💪 7) If you are great at sales and they are technical and a good fit(6) - HIRE IMMEDIATELY. 👏 8) If you are technical and they are great at sales and a good fit(6) - HIRE IMMEDIATELY. This can be a magical partnership. 👏 9) Bootstrap until you are ready not to. The game changes. 👈 10) Build a small and strategic board. 💪 #startups #community #mistakes #wins #bettertogether #deploy

Your startup team is failing because of this 2 team members/quarter = 8 team members/year That's the churn rate killing your startup's performance To build a high-performing startup team you need to: 1) Hire for attitude train for skills 2) Set clear goals and expectations 3) Foster open communication 4) Empower your team 5) Celebrate wins learn from failures It'll only take you 30 days to start In 365 days you'll have: - A team that exceeds expectations - An environment of trust and innovation - A culture that attracts top talent Don't say: "I want to fix my startup team today" Instead say: "I will implement one team-building strategy today" Remember the way to win here is simple: Pick small wins that come DAILY over big changes that come RARELY P.S. Which of these 5 steps will you start with today? Share below -- Found this useful? 📌 - Save 🔔 - Follow 🔄 - Repost #teams #startups #growth

🌟 Ready to challenge some conventional startup wisdom? Take a peak at this article I stumbled upon from Sam Altman, filled with some of the best advice for startup success. Here are some compelling ideas from the article that got me thinking: - Is it really all about making something people want? Or does a great team and a great market play an equally pivotal role? - "Write code, talk to users, and build the company—" How many other aspects of a startup are a waste of time? - Are we overestimating the power of growth? What about the value of growing towards something valuable? So many nuggets of insight here from Sam. What are your thoughts and feelings on these unconventional ideas? ✨ https://lnkd.in/evutPrUY

🌟 Joining a Startup: It's More Than Just a Job 🌟 Having navigated through roles in multinational corporations and corporate settings, I made a deliberate decision to transition into the startup realm. Here's why: When you join a startup, you're not just becoming another employee. You're joining a journey, a mission, and a community. Here's why: 🤝 Join the Founder, Not Just the Company: Startups are fueled by the passion and vision of their founders. By aligning yourself with the founder, you become part of something bigger than just a job. 🚀 Join the Mission, Not Just the Business: Beyond profits and revenue, startups are driven by a sense of purpose. When you join a startup, you're committing to a mission that's about making a difference in the world. 💡 Join the Value, Not Just the Valuation: It's not just about the numbers on a balance sheet. Startups value innovation, creativity, and the unique contributions of every team member. When you join a startup, your ideas and skills are what matter most. Remember, treating new team members well sets the tone for the entire startup culture. Let's build something amazing together! 💪 #StartupCulture #JoinTheMission #MakeADifference #purposedriven

Here’s why most startups fail (and what no one’s telling you) Sam Altman said it best: "Startups fail when they are 7 months into something that should have taken 3 weeks." I’ve seen it happen. ↳ A strong vision. ↳ A motivated team. ↳ But stuck in endless delays. The product takes too long. The market strategy isn’t clear. Decisions keep getting postponed. Weeks turn into months. Opportunities pass by. 👉 Here’s the reality: Startups don’t fail because of bad ideas. They fail because of slow execution. Focus on speed. Make decisions faster. And prioritize progress over perfection. Momentum matters more than getting every detail right. What’s the hardest lesson you’ve learned about moving faster? Let’s talk. --- ♻️ Repost & Comment ➕ Follow Me & Hit My 🔔

🌟 The Real Struggles Startups Face (And How to Tackle Them) 🌟 Here are my 2 cents based on my experience working with over 50 startups in the last 5 years. Building a startup is exhilarating—but let’s face it, it’s also one of the toughest journeys. Along the way, startups often encounter challenges that can feel overwhelming. Here are some common struggles I see founders face—and tips on how to overcome them: 1️⃣ Idea Validation It’s easy to fall in love with your idea, but the real question is: Will your customers love it too? 💡 Tip: Talk to potential users early and often. Build a simple prototype or MVP to test assumptions before investing heavily in development. 2️⃣ Scaling Too Soon Scaling is exciting, but if the foundation isn’t solid, it can lead to cracks. 💡 Tip: Focus on nailing your product-market fit before expanding. Build scalable systems and processes from day one. 3️⃣ Burning Through Funding The pressure to show rapid growth often leads to overspending. 💡 Tip: Prioritize spending on things that drive value. Stay agile and adapt quickly to what’s working—and what’s not. 4️⃣ Misaligned Tech and Business Goals It’s easy to get caught up in the tech itself, but does it align with your business objectives? 💡 Tip: Treat your tech roadmap as an extension of your business strategy. Regularly revisit and refine it as your goals evolve. 5️⃣ Finding the Right Talent Your startup is only as good as the team behind it, but hiring the right people is tough. 💡 Tip: Hire for culture and adaptability, not just skills. Startups need problem-solvers who thrive in uncertainty. 6️⃣ Maintaining Momentum The early buzz can fade, and keeping your team motivated through the grind is critical. 💡 Tip: Celebrate small wins and stay laser-focused on your mission. Remind your team why you started in the first place. Startups are a rollercoaster of highs and lows, but the most successful founders are those who learn, adapt, and persevere. What struggles are you facing in your startup journey? Let’s spark a conversation in the comments!👇 #Startups #GrowthMindset #MVP #TechStrategy #StartupJourney #ProblemSolving Image ref : prosales connections

It’s ironic – the more I support others on their startup journeys, the more inspired I am to dive back into my own. I founded my first business back in 2009. Over the past 15 years, I’ve explored 58 different ideas (yes, I still have my one-minute pitch for every single one), which led to 16 real businesses. These have ranged from a few weak ideas that never took off to ventures valued close to £100m – and everything in between. So, what does it really take to build a successful startup? • An idea that truly solves a problem you and others face • The passion to see it through • Access to capital • Mentorship from those who’ve been there • A strong support network • A clear plan with a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) • Mini milestones that mark progress At the heart of every great startup is an idea that solves a real problem, driven by founders and the core team. Those first 10 hires make all the difference (I still have two of my first 10 with me 11 years on). But even with passion and a fantastic team, without capital, experience and a clear plan, your startup will struggle. So, if you’re a startup looking for capital, mentorship, strategic support, and a roadmap to success, let’s talk. Drop me an email at dan@danware.co.uk, or reach out via DM. Let’s make something great happen!