Our first customer was a VC who ended up investing in us, and being part of Y Combinator helped us get meetings with many interested VCs.

Successful founders remember the names and stories of their first customers, emphasizing the importance of personal connections over impersonal marketing tactics.

I leveraged personal connections to get introductions to investors, which was crucial in raising my first million before Y Combinator.

To gain the trust of early customers, we initially targeted fellow companies in Y Combinator who were also new and had never paid themselves, which was a strategic move to build our initial customer base.

Having been a founder myself helps me as an investor because I understand the challenges and can identify kindred spirits among entrepreneurs.

It's important to be proactive in seeking co-founders and to engage with multiple people to find the right fit, as my own journey into entrepreneurship began through meeting my co-founders.

During Y Combinator, we focused on building strong relationships with our first 100 customers, doing things that don't scale to ensure they loved our service.

Exceptional founders often attract other talented individuals, making it easier to find co-founders who share a vision and can contribute significantly to the startup's success.

The founders of successful startups often have genuine relationships with their customers, knowing their stories and customizing their services based on that understanding.