It's essential for founders to focus on creating something that people genuinely want, rather than getting sidetracked by other operational challenges.

Many successful founders funded by Y Combinator had little to no online presence in the early stages of their companies, and focusing too much on establishing thought leadership can distract from what truly matters: making your company work.

In the early stages of a startup, focus on building a great product; nothing else matters until that is achieved.

For first-time founders, the only thing that matters is working on your product and finding product-market fit; everything else is a waste of time.

Successful founders focus on their product, customers, revenue, and team, rather than getting distracted by the noise in the startup ecosystem, such as fundraising news and social media chatter.

As a repeat founder, I believe it's crucial to avoid raising money too early; focus on achieving strong product-market fit before seeking investment.

As a founder, it's crucial to balance the development of products with the capabilities needed to bring those products to market, creating organizational clarity.

Aspiring founders often mistakenly believe that the first step to starting a company is to create a pitch for investors, but the first step should be identifying who you want to work with and what you want to build.

As a founder, you need to sell yourself, especially when your product is still in development. Making potential customers feel valued and showing your commitment to their success can lead to stronger relationships.