The founders of DoorDash learned valuable insights by personally delivering food, which helped them understand the challenges of the business.

When starting a startup, it's crucial to talk to users rather than just relying on your own experiences, as most startups are not built solely for the founders.

Great founders engage with future customers even before having a product, as this helps them understand user motivations and gather honest feedback.

Access to underserved markets is crucial for startup success. Founders can gain insights by shadowing individuals in various industries, which can reveal unique problems worth solving.

Engaging with online communities is a great way to launch; for instance, Y Combinator founders can launch on Bookface to get early feedback.

Our initial idea for DoorDash came from observing a macaroon store owner who had turned down numerous delivery orders, which highlighted a significant market opportunity.

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

Once Founders launch their product, they often feel liberated to learn from customer feedback and improve their offerings, rather than waiting for a perfect launch.

The discomfort of engaging with customers and seeking feedback is often more productive than simply writing code in isolation. Founders often delay launching their companies due to fear of criticism and discomfort with social interactions, which can stall their learning process.