Many founders work on the wrong thing before discovering the right one, often internalizing a fear of failure.

Some founders attempt to disprove established startup advice while trying to help their customers, which can lead to unnecessary complications and distract from their primary mission.

Founders who know very little about startup advice often avoid developing bad habits or strange ideas about how to run a startup, which can be beneficial.

Founders often mistakenly believe that the reasons investors provide for rejection are the actual problems with their startup, rather than considering other potential issues.

A common misconception among founders is that raising money will magically solve all their problems. They may believe that their investors will save them from failure, which leads to a lack of critical thinking and preparation for ongoing challenges.

Overthinking can be a founder's biggest mistake, leading to stress and indecision due to the lack of constraints and guidance in a startup environment.

Founders often ignore the reality of their startup's potential failure, which is an uncomfortable truth to discuss.

Founders often underestimate their unique skills and the specific challenges of their startup, thinking that hiring experienced executives will solve their problems.

Founders sometimes mistakenly believe they should sell to startups just because other successful companies did, without understanding the unique challenges involved.