Recurring revenue models are crucial for startup success, as they provide predictable income and higher customer lifetime values.

A defensible business model is essential for long-term success, and real moats, such as network effects, are more valuable than perceived ones.

The key to building a successful startup is to focus on creating a great business rather than getting caught up in the noise of inflated valuations and market trends.

As a startup grows, the focus shifts from just acquiring users to ensuring sustainable growth and revenue. We learned the hard way that even if users love our product, we must also pay attention to our overall growth metrics to avoid becoming a beloved startup that fails due to lack of financial viability.

Startups should focus on maintaining momentum, especially in the early years, as it drives results beyond what the team believes they can achieve.

Once you have an initial go-to-market strategy, the real challenge is retaining customers, as many companies experience high churn despite early traction.

Defensibility in startups often comes from doing something unique that others aren't pursuing. The most enduring companies typically find ways to differentiate themselves from the competition.

Startups often churn as they grow, meaning that acquiring early customers doesn't guarantee long-term retention.

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.