Bob Crimmins’ Post

This is the death spot for startups: Not quite failing, not quite succeeding. Stewart Butterfield (Slack founder) said it's the "hardest moment in a startup's life.” You're telling a story that people want to believe in, but reality keeps punching you in the face. I've been there, too. You're working insane hours, for months on end — trying everything to move the needle. But nothing quite sticks. Or parts stick, but not enough of the whole. You're not failing hard enough to call it quits, but you're not succeeding enough to feel confident. It's a special kind of hell. How you handle a middling time like this can make or break your startup. You have three options: 1. Keep pushing forward 2. Pivot to a new strategy 3. Quit and cut your losses None of them are easy. More often than not, your gut will guide you to the right decision. Maybe that means doubling down. Maybe it means pivoting to a new strategy. Maybe it means living to fight another day. Whatever you choose, trust yourself. Start by asking: • Do I still believe in the mission? • What are our strengths and weaknesses? • What can we do differently? • Are we serving the customers we initially thought? • What do our customers really want? • Is our product genuinely valuable? • Are we sure we’re in the right market? Take the time to really sit with these questions. Talk with your team. Ask your advisors. Consult your mentors. But at the end of the day, the decision has to come from YOU. Because here's the hard truth: There is no right answer. There's only the answer that feels right for you and your startup. But you need to be opinionated and make a decision no matter what… Because a bad decision has a chance of killing your startup. But indecision will kill it, guaranteed.

90% startups fail. Is it true? Here's the truth👇🏻 . It's totally not true, but hear me out. It's really sad to say this, but I'd say 99% never hit that "successful" milestone before they give up. Most founders can't bear through the long trough period and give up before they hit PMF. Startups are hard, never blame the founders, as any rational human will do the same. But if you want to be "successful", you have to bear with the long trough. 💬: "No way, I heard many founders get funding easily and grow really fast" Yes, that does exist sometimes, but it's mostly survivorship bias. You always hear about xyz company raised $10M in series A, but how often do you hear founders say "Hi Linkedin, my startup cease to operate"? Never compare yourself with those who SEEM super successful. This is a hot take but all founders are struggling in various ways, even the best founders in the world, e.g lack of runway, no sign of PMF, company politics, bad investor control, co-founder disagreements, I can name a hundred more. It's just that they don't / can't say it in public. In the end, we just have to know startups are about incremental progress. Do what you can control. What you should keep doing daily: 1. Talk to users 2. Build the product 3. Exercise (to stay alive lol) Eventually, good things will come, in any shape or form, it's just a matter of time. Have good faith and keep going, my stranger friend on Linkedin 🫶🏻

The often-cited statistic that 90% of startups fail can feel discouraging, but many entrepreneurs choose to step back before achieving Product-Market Fit. Let’s cultivate understanding for those navigating this journey. Focus on engaging with users, refining your product, and prioritizing well-being. Stay optimistic! Great post by Harris Cheng 👏 #Entrepreneurship #Startups #GrowthMindset #ProductMarketFit #MentalHealth

Such a refreshing and honest take on the startup journey. The reality is often far from the glamour of funding headlines, and this post captures it perfectly. Persistence, resilience, and staying connected to your users make all the difference. A great reminder for all founders to keep going! 💪

From Idea to Impact: Lessons from Startup Failures and the Path to Scalable Success. I saw this on my mentor status this morning ALABI Abdulhafeez (mralabi) he's going to give a lecture at Nile university with the topic above at first glance I fall in love with the topic, but before he takes the podium let me hear out my take on it base on the little experience I have as a startup founder We live in a time where startups are shaping industries, redefining markets, and inspiring people worldwide. Yet, behind every celebrated success story, there are countless ventures that didn’t make it. Research shows that nearly 90% of startups fail. Why? What differentiates those that succeed from those that falter? These are the questions we’ll explore today. 1: The Startup Journey Let’s start with the journey of a startup. It often begins with an idea—sometimes simple, sometimes revolutionary. But as entrepreneurs, we must remember: an idea is just the beginning. Consider this analogy: an idea is like a seed. Without proper soil, water, sunlight, and care, it won’t grow. Similarly, your idea needs validation, feedback, and nurturing before it can become something impactful. The startup journey can be broken down into five key stages: 1. Ideation – Where the idea is born. 2. MVP Development – Where you create a basic version of your product. 3. Launch – Taking it to market. 4. Scaling – Growing your business. 5. Maturity – Sustaining and expanding your impact. Each stage has its own challenges, and understanding these is crucial to navigating the path to success. 2: Lessons from Startup Failures Now, let’s talk about failure—a word many fear but one that’s fundamental to growth. Startups fail for many reasons. Some fail to understand their market. Others burn through their cash too quickly. And many others launch products that customers simply don’t want. One example that stands out is a startup that created a highly advanced smart home device. On paper, it seemed perfect—innovative technology, great design. But they didn’t research the market well enough. The price was too high for their target customers, and the product didn’t solve a pressing need. Within a year, they had to shut down. What can we learn from this? check the next post .......

Useful start up playbook for founders

Why every startup needs an advisor told through a personal story: Think you can do it alone? I did too. But I was wrong. I had an amazing idea. I had the passion, the skills, and the time to execute it. I poured my energy into it, leaving no stone unturned. But success needs more than just hard work. It needs guidance. An advisor to challenge my assumptions. An advisor to help me see the bigger picture. An advisor to warn me of the common pitfalls. I stumbled upon this lesson the hard way. But trust me, startups need advisors. It's not just my opinion, stats prove it. 92% of startups fail in the first year. 49% of founders lose focus. 42% of startups fail simply because there’s no market for their work. A good objective advisor can help your startup beat these odds. They bring in invaluable outside perspective, help you validate the idea, connect you with the right people, and guide you through the difficult startup journey. So, if you're starting out on your entrepreneurial journey, find yourself an advisor. Your future self will thank you.

I love the analogy of a seed, requiring sunlight, water, care, and attention to grow. This perfectly mirrors the journey of building tech-enabled startups. It's not enough to simply conceive an idea or develop an app and assume it will thrive on its own and become a billion-dollar company. This is where the journey often becomes exhausting and painful, filled with doubts and uncertainty. Yet, it’s precisely at these moments that we, as founders, must dig deep and find the grit to keep moving forward—if we truly believe this is the path we want to pursue. The challenges at each stage are indeed significant. They stretch us to adapt to new phases, often in ways we never anticipated. While building our fintech startup, we faced these challenges head-on. I vividly remember feeling stretched to my limits, to the point where I almost wanted to give up. Each phase brought unique expectations, and meeting them required us to be mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared. Nice one Abdulazeez Ahmad for sharing your perspective.

What We Look for in Founders by YCombinator: Navigating the startup ecosystem requires a unique blend of qualities. Paul Graham, founder of Y Combinator, shares invaluable insights into what makes a successful startup founder in his piece, "What We Look for in Founders." Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned investor, understanding these traits can dramatically impact your approach and success in the startup world. Key Insights: 1) Determination: The most critical trait, determination involves pushing through countless obstacles and setbacks without getting demoralized. This quality has proven even more vital than sheer intelligence in the startup domain. 2) Flexibility: While determination is necessary, so too is the flexibility to pivot and adapt your dreams based on real-time feedback and market demands. The best founders navigate their startup journey with the agility of a running back, ready to change direction as needed. 3) Imagination: In a landscape where most groundbreaking ideas initially seem implausible, the ability to envision and execute on innovative concepts sets apart successful founders. It’s not just about solving problems but imagining new possibilities that others overlook. 4) Naughtiness: A bit of rebelliousness can be beneficial. Founders who don’t always play by the rules but know which ones are important to break can innovate and push boundaries in ways that more compliant individuals might not. 5) Friendship and Collaboration: The dynamics between co-founders can make or break a startup. Strong, trust-based relationships that withstand the pressures and challenges of startup life are foundational. Paul Graham’s article not only highlights these traits but also shares examples of founders who embody them, providing a practical roadmap for anyone looking to venture into the challenging yet rewarding world of startups. PS. check out 🔔 for a winning pitch deck the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel https://lnkd.in/e25HGm54

In the dynamic world of startups, founders often face challenges that seem unprecedented and insurmountable. Each problem appears unique, with no clear roadmap or guidebook to follow. This reality is especially stark due to the high stakes involved, both human and financial. Startup founders not only invest substantial capital but also commit immense personal effort and emotional energy. They must navigate through the complex interplay of innovation, market fit, and operational scalability, all while managing a team and ensuring continuous funding. The absence of a standardized 'how-to' manual means that founders must rely heavily on adaptability, learning quickly from both successes and failures. They need to cultivate a robust network of mentors, peers, and industry experts who can offer guidance based on experience. Participating in startup incubators and accelerators can also provide valuable resources and support systems. Furthermore, founders must develop a resilient mindset. The ability to pivot in response to feedback and market changes is crucial. They should embrace a culture of experimentation within their teams, encouraging innovative thinking and problem-solving. This approach helps in discovering unique solutions that can propel the startup forward. In essence, while the startup journey lacks a predefined path, it offers a rich landscape for growth and innovation. Founders who are flexible, learn continuously, and build strong support networks can navigate these challenges more effectively, turning potential obstacles into stepping stones for success.