25 startup tips for 2025
Happy holidays 🎅🎆
You can’t prove product-market fit upfront, it’s a milestone you hit if you do the right things in the right order.
Each startup needs at least a seller and a builder. Check if you have both.
Bootstrapping instead of VC money is better for 90% of startups.
Focus on profitability before scaling, this has a higher success rate.
When in doubt, get out of the building and talk to (potential) customers
A paid (even discounted) pilot is better than a free pilot
Hire personnel based on gut feeling: ‘hell yes!’ or ‘no’, there is no in-between.
Do things that don’t scale. Focus on outcome over efficiency.
Never blame customers for not getting your solution; it’s likely your explanation or your solution that sucks.
Nobody will steal your idea, but just in case, share the cookie, not the recipe.
Not every societal problem can and should be fixed by a startup.
Your startup's goals are not the same as your customers' goals. While you ultimately need revenue, the customer wants to solve their problem.
A failed pilot, shipping late, etc is not the end of the world. Nobody really cares about your startup, luckily.
Always Google your startup idea to check if it’s a tarpit idea—thread carefully if it is.
Do not try to sell to people that have low problem urgency
Don’t jump on hype trains, like AI or Blockchain if your company doesn’t need to.
Your startup might be unique, but this doesn’t mean you can’t learn from other startups.
Love the problem and keep on revising the problem statement
MVPs are for learning, and not a goal in itself. Ask yourself: ‘What do I need to learn?’
Writing a business plan is not doing a startup.
Startup competitions and pitch contests are mostly time wasters.
Surround yourself with founders, if you don’t know them, build a network of founders via LinkedIn/Twitter/Local communities.
Not a single startup canvas or blog post will tell you your idea sucks. But your customers will.
Content marketing/SEO is often a too-slow strategy for most startups trying to get their initial customer base.
Not every startup needs to become a unicorn. Lifestyle startups are underrated.
Helpful!
Very helpful