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Paul Graham

07/17/19

@ Y Combinator

Doing things that don't scale means engaging in handmade, artisanal efforts early on, even if you know you can't maintain them forever, because it helps you learn and grow your startup.

Video

Paul Graham: What does it mean to do things that don't scale?

@ Y Combinator

Paul Graham: What does it mean to do things that don't scale?

07/17/19

Related Takeaways

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Doing things that don't scale is crucial for early-stage startups because it helps founders engage directly with customers and understand their needs.

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Doing things that don't scale allows startups to experiment, fail fast, and quickly test assumptions before investing significant time in product development.

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In the early days, doing things that don't scale is crucial for recruiting customers and employees, as it allows for valuable learning experiences.

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Doing things that don't scale means founders must engage in manual, personal efforts rather than relying on scalable processes or code.

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The main goal of doing things that don't scale is to maximize learning and delight early customers, even if it requires manual and one-off efforts.

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Doing things that don't scale allows founders to learn directly from customers, leading to better products and services.

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Doing things that don't scale is essential in the early stages of a startup, and founders should expect to look very different from larger competitors.

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The advice to do things that don't scale is counterintuitive but provides startups with a unique advantage over larger competitors by fostering deep customer understanding and rapid experimentation.

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As a founder, you need to engage in activities that don't scale in the early days of your startup.