3 Early Stage Startup Lessons
Pivoting this past year from running my own successful business to working with early-stage startups has put my curiosity into overdrive and reignited my entrepreneurial excitement. I’ve become so passionate about championing other people’s missions and helping founders solve their challenges, I wanted to share some things I’ve learned along the way.
Everyone is just figuring it out. First time founders, serial entrepreneurs, and even the 10th hire, we are all experiencing doubt, uncertainty, and flying by the seat of our pants—this is what makes the world of early-stage startups so exciting and frankly manic. In 2021 when I became a Day One Fellow I was overcome with imposter syndrome. How do you get from an idea to funding? The reality: there are a million steps along the way and no one is walking the same path. So don’t be afraid to fail, make a wrong move, and my #2 lesson…
Ask probing questions. Because everyone is figuring it out, thoughtful probing questions not only showcase your interest and intelligence as a collaborator, but allow you to bring a new perspective to the table. Each of us has different life experiences, which color the way in which we see the world. At early-stage startups, this is an asset. When collaborating with Mandar on his purpose driven leadership company, he chuckled at my probing content and marketing questions as he said it made him confront issues he was hoping to push down the road.
Find a leader to believe in. One of the first questions I was asked shortly after becoming an On Deck First Fifty Fellow was “what is non-negotiable when evaluating working with early-stage startups?”. After collaborating with a few, I learned that no matter how brilliant the startup idea is, aligning with the founder, believing in their skills, experience, and leadership style is paramount. Why? Companies pivot, missions re-align, and investors can drive focus so it’s best to jump in with people who you will support and who can you support throughout the process.
