Most founders waste months—or even years—waiting for the “perfect moment” to launch. YC’s advice is simple: just launch. Perfection is a myth, and the sooner you launch, the sooner you’ll learn what works.
The number one reason startups fail? They build something no one wants. Your priority should always be solving a real, painful problem for a specific audience.
YC famously advises founders to “do things that don’t scale.” Early on, that might mean personally onboarding every customer, answering support emails, or even hand-delivering products.
Not all problems are equal—90% of the impact often comes from solving 10% of the problems. Identify the core challenges that hold your startup back and focus on them relentlessly.
Before scaling, focus on finding a small group of passionate users who love your product. Their feedback will not only guide you in refining your offering but also ensure you’re meeting real needs.
YC emphasizes that all startups are badly broken at some point. Instead of giving up, treat every setback as a learning opportunity.
If you’re not writing code (building) or talking to users, you’re wasting time. These two activities are the most impactful tasks for early-stage startups.
Treat every dollar like it’s your last. Overspending on fancy offices, ads, or perks can kill your startup before it finds product-market fit.
Don’t chase growth before your product is solid. A great product will naturally drive retention and referrals.
Scaling your team or product too soon can lead to chaos. Focus on perfecting your product and processes first.