Founders often hide behind their keyboards instead of engaging in person with potential customers, which is crucial for validation.

The best founders maintain a direct connection to their users.

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.

It's crucial for founders to engage directly with users and the market rather than relying on external opinions to gauge their startup's potential.

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.

Most founders fail to build personal connections with their users, often hiding behind anonymous emails instead of reaching out directly.

The best founders maintain a direct connection to their users throughout the lifespan of their company to extract valuable information at all stages.

Engaging directly with customers as a founder can create a strong impression and foster trust, making it easier to build relationships and gain feedback.

Many founders mistakenly focus on complex growth strategies instead of simply getting their first customer and validating their idea.