Red Plaid Tie Habit Fuels $30B Hedge Fund
Who wore the same red plaid tie every day — and built a $30 billion hedge fund on 3am wake-ups?
Skip Academic Advice: 9 Counterintuitive Tips for Success
This is Steven Bartlett. At 30, he's built multiple 8-figure companies, hosts Europe's #1 business podcast, and sits on Dragons' Den. He believes 99% of entrepreneurs fail because they follow advice from professors who’ve never built anything. His 9 counterintuitive advice every entrepreneur...
Defining SaaS: What Truly Counts for Founders
Is your product actually a SaaS? I gave the definition of SaaS more thought than I ever have before, and it turns out ChatGPT and I disagree on a few things. In this week's episode, I answer listener questions covering...
Skip High School Startups to Preserve Curious Exploration
Don't start a startup in high school. What if it works? You'll lose the opportunity you'd otherwise have to explore random, interesting ideas, driven only by curiosity. Because while you will indeed learn a lot from a startup, you won't...
Validate Your Business Idea in Under Five Minutes
How to figure out if your business idea is any good in 5 minutes or less:
Serial Home‑Service Founder Turns Pool Industry Into Scalable Brand
Here is @jeremyyamaguchi explaining his thesis on why he decided to acquire pool services businesses. So far, he has acquired 10 companies in a short 18 months. Jeremy has previously built, scaled, and exited three home services businesses: 1. Golden Shine (housekeeping)...
Mastery Precedes Passion: Become Great, Then Love It
Passion follows mastery — not the other way around. The entrepreneurs who built something they love didn't start by following their heart. They got exceptionally good at something first. "Follow your passion" is how a lot of people end up broke doing...
Solo Founder’s Daily Tech Stack for Side Project
My actual tech stack for building BlackTwist as a solo founder with a full-time job. No fluff. Just the tools I use every day and why.
Win by Loving the Problem, Not the Solution
Most entrepreneurs don't have a marketing problem. They have a problem problem. They built a solution first — then went looking for a problem to attach it to. Fix your diagnosis before you fix your product. The entrepreneurs who win don't fall in love...
Critical Loop Secures $26M Series A for Modular Microgrids
Modular microgrid company Critical Loop announces $26 million Series A round #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/QdfhDyUOUP
Realized My Idea Was Flawed: I'm Funding It Alone
This was my idea. As it turns out it was a bad idea as I am the only one putting fucking money in it. https://t.co/kIOEqsfSvZ
Repeat Customers Prove Your Product’s True Value
The market always tells the truth. If customers keep coming back for the next product and the next, your product is good. If they don’t, it isn’t. It’s that simple.
Crossing the SynBio Valley of Death with Proven Solutions
Most synbio companies die between "works in the lab" and "works at scale." Freedom-to-operate issues, process robustness, CMC readiness. The valley of death is real and it swallows good science. @IngenzaLtd has been helping teams cross it for 20 years. Leonardo Magneschi...
Handshake's AI Labeling Hits $1B Run Rate in a Year
Holy shit. @joinHandshake’s AI data labeling business went from zero to a $1B run rate in basically a year. I know everyone loves debating the margins on this revenue, but what an achievement for @GarrettLord and the Handshake team.
Solid Linear Businesses Beat Hype‑driven 100M Targets
Apparently hot take: Investing in something that has a rock solid linear business model is still a smart move. Saying anything that doesn't reach 100M valuation in 3 years is a waste is terribly myopic. VC theses are truly hilarious most...
Choose Cofounders Wisely when Launching Your Startup
On starting a startup and why you should hand cofounders, a clip from the Exit Paradox podcast. https://t.co/piSoHxZOfT
From Stanford to Bootstrapped Comedy Empire, No VC Needed
In 2021, @zoyagarg_ had a Stanford CS degree and Silicon Valley at her feet. She walked away from all of it and built a bootstrapped family comedy empire to multi-7 figures instead. No VC. No safety net. Just vision. 🧵...
Answer Cash Amount, Not Valuation, when Asked Fundraising
I had back to back convos today where I asked a founder, how much are you raising? And instead of telling me the $$ amount they’re raising, they told me the valuation they’re raising at. So if someone asks, how much are...
83K MRR Equals $1M ARR, Attendees Surprised
A very MicroConf moment: Attendee: What does this number mean? Four people: $83k monthly recurring revenue is a million a year. https://t.co/T3JH26DOvg
Validate Ecom Demand Fast with Ugly Site Tests
If I lost everything and had to build a profitable ecom brand by summer, here's exactly what I'd do. 1. RUN THE UGLY WEBSITE TEST. Find a competitor with a horrible site, no real ads, and photos that look like they...
Entrepreneurship Thrives on Diverse Styles and Disagreements
We just have different styles, that's all. I started the first royalty deal, which every Shark copies now. I think there are different ways to think about different things. I have a lot of respect for Mark, obviously, and we've...
Start in Silicon Valley, Scale in Secondary Talent Hubs
I think Silicon Valley is a gr8 place to start a company, but a tricky place to scale a company. The talent is very expensive and hard to keep around when the inevitable bumps come. I'd pick a 2nd city...
Marketing and Distribution, Not Product, Drive $0‑$1 Success
The little-known truth about $0-$1 ... the hard part isn't the product, it's the marketing and distribution.
Isolation Blinds Founder to Her Own Success
A British founder I funded is doing everything right, but she doesn't realize it. She lives in the country and doesn't know any other founders, so she's never seen startups done wrong.
Free Startup Events: Lessons, Pitch Feedback, Community
Founders & investors, we’ve got a few great events coming up. Come join us: 💻 April 16: How @boltdotnew Went From Failure to $40 Million in 5 Months Webinar ⚾ April 27: Batter Up! San Francisco 🌲 May 11–13: Camp Hustle From big startup...
MicroConf Shows Founders Range From Pre‑revenue to $100k MRR
One of my favorite things about MicroConf over ~15 years of it: same room has ~20% of founders who are still before their first dollar and ~20% of founders above $100k MRR. Great to remind people that nobody got bitten by...
Pay $25/Mo, Lose Control and Exportability
Lovable just launched "Payments" Translation: • Pay $25/mo for the privilege • Lock your app to their cloud forever • Lose the ability to export your project Founders are building businesses they can't sell, can't migrate, and don't control.
Round Size Alone Tells Nothing without Financial Context
Imagine a funding announcement with actual financials… Why did we all decide to include one number: Round size Meaningless. Means zilch without knowing burn rate, profitable/not, margin, pre/ post money valuation, revenue multiple relative to peer set, growth rate.
Action and Idea Lists Accelerate Lean Startup Success
📚Blog Post: Action and Idea Lists for Lean Startups https://t.co/8xjrj833Ys @2048vc // #startuphacks // #VC
Steady Cash Flow Leads to Lasting Entrepreneurial Freedom
I've started 3 successful SaaS companies in 10 years. The biggest lesson: Calmly growing cash flow is the path to enduring freedom.
Turn Setbacks Into Opportunities: Rely on Yourself
There's always options. Got fired? Build something No industry? Learn a new skill No conferences? Start a podcast Cancelled projects? Create a new one. Is it easy? Nope. But you have to be resilient & embrace the reality that no one can save you...
Great Chef, Bad Business: Cooking Skills Don't Ensure Restaurant Success
A friend of mine was an excellent chef turned failed restauranteur. He loved cooking. Was excellent at it. Had friends over often and really enjoyed cooking for them. He would get told by everyone who tasted his food "You should open...
Enriching IDs Boosts Meta Match Rates, Cuts Costs
Most SaaS teams are sitting on a Meta ads lever that quietly breaks their match rates. And they assume it is a platform problem. It is not. It is an identity problem. When you upload only work emails into Meta,...
Started Coding at 28, Now Runs 8‑figure SaaS
He wrote his first line of code at 28 because he couldn't afford to hire anyone. Now he runs an 8-figure SaaS with 3,000+ customers and 350 people. https://t.co/zs5BJaKcZT
AI Founders Reveal Secrets Behind $140M Revenue
$140m revenue going live with 9 founders today they're sharing how they did it all AI focused lmk if you want invite https://t.co/08AhiYBUQR
Turn Job Hunt Downtime Into a Value‑Building Venture
Without meaning to be insensitive: Really find it hard to get inside the brain of someone sitting around applying for jobs for six months, waiting to be hired. It for sure doesn't take all day to apply. You have unbelievable amounts of...
Build Systems First, Then Launch Agencies Every 90 Days
I know a guy who started 4 agencies in 1 year. Here’s how it went: - Starts an Amazon Agency in 2008. - Does 8-figures in revenue with 100 people before selling in 2020. - Learned the importance of systems after scaling from...
Build an OS, Not Just Another AI Tool
Stop asking “Which AI tool should I use?” Start asking “What OS will run my launches and content on repeat?” For digital‑product solopreneurs, my answer is clear: - Stage‑aware roadmap - Launch dates + revenue targets - Agents that handle social, code, and simple finance I’m...
AI Powers One-Person Companies, Replacing Whole Teams
The One-Person AI Conglomerate Is Here: Forbes analysis confirms the trend -- AI now enables ultra-lean, one-person companies replacing entire teams. This is the "organizational singularity" playing out in real-time - transforming business structure, efficiency, and taxation norms globally. https://t.co/F9vIxpxyv8
Earn $400k with AI Newsletter, 4‑hour Weeks
Our paid “Write With AI” newsletter does around $400k/year. This is over *double* my old Wall Street salary. That job required 80-hour weeks. But this newsletter only takes 4 hours every week. Use this to build your own newsletter:
Efficiency Means Trimming Nonessential Tasks, Not Passion Projects
Often we act as if “efficiency” means minimizing all types of work. It is, for work that needs to be done but isn’t key to your winning, or fun for you. Like paying taxes. But don’t minimize work you love, or that...
Future‑Focused Hard Work Means Building What’s Missing
Paul Graham’s essay on hard work is full of gems, but this one really stuck: 'To do hard work, live in the future, then build what's missing.' What comes next shifts your whole perspective. Here’s what he had to say:
Tight 10‑Day Constraints Drive Our Best Work
Before heading out to Lisbon, @vitaliidodonov told me that the greatest work gets done when there's a tight constraint. That's why we've decided on 10 days. From "idea/vision" to finished product in that short time span forces us to do our best...
Clear Tagline Boosted Olipop to $200M Revenue
Olipop doubled revenue to $200M in one year by changing their tagline from "A Sparkling Tonic" to "A New Kind of Soda." Meanwhile you're using confusing niche jargon on your packaging and wondering why you can't scale past your early...
AI Workflows Will Eclipse $5k SEO Agencies by 2026
By Q4 2026, traditional SEO agencies charging $5k+/month for content will lose 90% of their clients to solopreneurs using AI workflows. The moat isn't publishing, but knowing which workflows move the needle.
Self‑Driving Can Thrive on $999, Not Billions
Everyone says self-driving needs billions. Comma ai built a very uncomfortable counterexample for $999. That is what makes this story so interesting to me. While Waymo, Cruise, and others spent billions building robotaxis, custom vehicles, and tightly controlled systems, George Hotz took a...
From Refugee to Hot Sauce Billionaire, No Ads Needed
This guy fled Vietnam with nothing in his pockets. Today, he has become the first hot sauce billionaire of America. His company Huy Fong's Sriracha does an annual revenue of $150M without any advertisements or sales team. Here's the story:
Founders Must Codify Early Sales Before Handing Off
Most founders who close the first deals never write any of it down. Amanda Zhu did. As co-founder and COO of https://t.co/89V4UujZHN, she personally closed $7M in enterprise deals. Then she built a playbook from everything she learned before handing sales...
Prioritize Early Rounds that Capture Real Attention
I’m good with this. Better to have the first round series people will actually pay attention to.
Orchestrate Launches First, Content Follows Naturally
I studied a dozen tiny solopreneur businesses doing $3k–$30k/month. The pattern: They’re not short on content ideas. They’re short on orchestration. Hours writing posts. Minutes mapping launches. When your OS starts with: - launch dates - revenue targets - offer stack …content becomes downstream, not a separate job. That’s the mental...