At Andreessen Horowitz, we talk about the notion of being ‘too hungry to eat.’ That’s to say, we often see startups that are so entrenched in the product that the founders forget they need muscle to grow. Scott Weiss Read Quote
Part of the magic of a startup is the fear of death. You have only so much money in the bank, and if you don’t get to the right milestone before you run out, then the company goes under – it’s over. Scott Weiss Read Quote
One of the rookie mistakes first-time entrepreneurs often make is to be too guarded about their idea – in fact, many will actually spend their first $25,000 on patent lawyers without ever fully vetting their product. Scott Weiss Read Quote
Nothing helps make a leader more approachable than admitting your struggles, screw-ups and behind-the-scenes thinking on hard calls. If the leader makes this a priority, the whole company will be more open and methodical learning from failure. Scott Weiss Read Quote
I wouldn’t suggest that being resourceful has anything to do with doing something illegal or unethical, but I’ve definitely noticed a pattern of being ‘creative.’ Scott Weiss Read Quote
Hold at least one all-hands meeting every quarter and, to underscore the startup’s team concept, make sure at least one additional executive joins you in leading the meeting. Scott Weiss Read Quote
Your happiness is at the intersection of your passions and learning from great people. Scott Weiss Read Quote
At the core, coaching authenticity is complicated – some might say impossible. Telling someone to be authentic sounds pretty low calorie, especially to a founder plowing through a list of product and operational goals. But it’s important. Scott Weiss Read Quote
Being on a board is not just about showing up for the meetings. A board member needs to materially contribute to the success of the business. Scott Weiss Read Quote
