Stay informed about competitors but don't let their actions demoralize you; focus on creating a superior product for your users.

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.

In discussions about competition, it's beneficial to ask founders how they plan to win against competitors rather than making them defensive about their market position.

Don't let competitors' press coverage distract you; focus on improving your own product instead.

I believe that it doesn't matter what investors think; you need to focus on making your business so good that they can't ignore you.

As you scale, competition changes. Initially, you focus on survival, but as you gain traction, you face existential threats from competitors who may try to copy your model and undermine your success.

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

The biggest threat to your startup might not be competition or the market; it might be you. Founders often overlook their own psychology, which can either sabotage or supercharge their startup.