As Y Combinator partners, we often see founders become overly focused on their competitors, which can lead to fear overshadowing their excitement for their own company.

Founders often deal with an incredible fear of failure, which can lead to negative emotions before important events like pitch meetings.

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.

It's a dangerous mindset for founders to think they must beat their competitors to succeed, which distracts them from focusing on their own customers and product development.

Founders often lose hope when they feel like they're failing, which can lead to giving up too soon.

Fear-based decision-making can lead founders to fundraise before their product is ready, especially if they believe their product is bad and fear failure.

The emotional stakes are high for founders when their investors back competitors, as it can undermine their credibility and the trust of their team.

Founders often focus too much on negativity surrounding competitors instead of addressing their own growth metrics and customer retention.

Founders often assume their competitors are winning based on external signs like fundraising announcements, but they should focus on whether their customers are satisfied and engaged.