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JL

Jeff Lawson

05/24/25

@ a16z speedrun

The key lesson I learned is to follow your customers rather than investors, as they are the true indicators of what will be successful.

Video

as

No Money, No Support, Just Code: The Twilio Founding Story

@ a16z speedrun

No Money, No Support, Just Code: The Twilio Founding Story

05/24/25

Related Takeaways

DS

Dan Siroker

10/26/13

@ Y Combinator

I learned that without customer feedback, I had no idea what to build, which was a critical lesson I missed in my previous startup.

MS

Michael Seibel

09/06/18

@ Y Combinator

The key to success is to engage with users and build what they want, which fosters loyalty and growth.

KM

Kathryn Minshew

06/20/14

@ Y Combinator

Understanding your users and their needs is crucial, especially when facing rejection from investors.

MS

Michael Seibel

11/30/21

@ Y Combinator

Many founders mistakenly prioritize investors over customers, thinking they need to please investors to succeed, but the focus should be on solving customer problems instead.

AP

Avni Patel Thompson

09/22/17

@ Y Combinator

I learned that instead of following my passion, I should focus on building what's missing by talking to users and understanding their needs.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

05/21/16

@ Y Combinator

It's important to maintain good relationships with investors, as they can provide valuable insights even if they don't invest.

DS

Dan Siroker

10/26/13

@ Y Combinator

After graduating, I focused entirely on my startup but struggled to achieve profitability, which taught me the importance of having paying customers.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

04/30/22

@ Y Combinator

The key takeaway for founders is to believe the no and not the why, maintaining confidence and understanding that there are always more investors to approach.

CL

Carolynn Levy

09/20/19

@ Y Combinator

Communication with investors is crucial, as they expect you to turn their investment into a successful business, and maintaining that relationship is key.