Relying on part-time consultants or development shops instead of having a dedicated technical co-founder can lead to failure.

It's important to avoid creating a product that requires excessive consulting time from the founder, as this indicates the product isn't truly scalable. If you're solving a small, rare problem, even a billion people in the addressable market may not be inclined to pay real money for it.

Engaging early customers in a consultative manner can help refine your product and ensure alignment with their needs.

Startups should seek partnerships with companies that offer complementary products or services to create a whole product solution, enhancing their market presence.

Project-based pricing is common in consultancy and professional services, but founders should transition to more scalable pricing models as soon as possible.

Successful startups rarely attribute their success to paid advisors; instead, valuable advice often comes from informal relationships without equity exchange.

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.

The most effective ways to de-risk a startup are talking to customers and building a product, rather than relying on advisory boards or mentorship.

Working closely with founders allows for tailored advice that can differ from general guidance, enhancing the startup's chances of success.