Justin Moore’s Post

Startup Fuckups Founders Should Avoid: 1. Not communicating with users. 2. Growing the team prematurely. 3. Refusing to pivot even when necessary. 4. Making promises but failing to deliver. 5. Lacking adaptability to changing circumstances. 6. Assuming success in one market means success in all markets. 7. Sticking with a bad idea instead of pivoting. 8. Limiting yourself to a small number of funding sources. 9. Neglecting to start with angel investors or seek advice from experienced founders. 10. Focusing only on "playing startup" and ignoring core values. 11. Trying to progress without a clear plan. 12. Failing to understand all parties' interests and just focusing on numbers. 13. Ignoring local and global laws and regulations. 14. Not clarifying equity, shares, partnerships, and roles upfront. 15. Signing contracts without full understanding, leading to future surprises. 16. Using outdated templates and avoiding hiring legal help when necessary. 17. Relying on non-binding handshakes and informal agreements. 18. Damaging your reputation by neglecting investor relations, company culture, or transparency with employees. 19. Getting caught in an emotional roller coaster, such as avoiding conflicts and fearing big moves. All of these are based on real stories from founders at today's Fuckups Night. #GoogleCampus #StartupJourney #FounderStories

#CofounderSearch #StartupStruggles #TechFounders Hey everyone! 👋 I've been on quite the journey trying to find a technical co-founder. It's been 6 months of searching through YC's platform, and to be honest, it hasn't gone as smoothly as I'd hoped. I’ve had a chance to chat with 15+ potential matches, but here’s the kicker: I just can't find someone who has the right technical skills (think backend and machine learning) and is also ready to commit seriously to a startup. Here are a few pain points I've noticed along the way: Misaligned Goals: Many candidates seem more interested in their own projects rather than teaming up, which makes it challenging to build something together. 🔍 Equity Discussions: Some prospects propose equity splits that are far from reasonable. It’s frustrating trying to find a balance that feels fair for both parties. 💰 Lack of Commitment: Finding someone who shares your vision and is willing to invest time and energy into the project can feel like searching... Struggling to Find a Technical Co-Founder? What Are Better Options? Answers: https://lnkd.in/gnMuUvAE

#CofounderSearch #StartupStruggles #TechFounders Hey everyone! 👋 I've been on quite the journey trying to find a technical co-founder. It's been 6 months of searching through YC's platform, and to be honest, it hasn't gone as smoothly as I'd hoped. I’ve had a chance to chat with 15+ potential matches, but here’s the kicker: I just can't find someone who has the right technical skills (think backend and machine learning) and is also ready to commit seriously to a startup. Here are a few pain points I've noticed along the way: Misaligned Goals: Many candidates seem more interested in their own projects rather than teaming up, which makes it challenging to build something together. 🔍 Equity Discussions: Some prospects propose equity splits that are far from reasonable. It’s frustrating trying to find a balance that feels fair for both parties. 💰 Lack of Commitment: Finding someone who shares your vision and is willing to invest time and energy into the project can feel like searching... Struggling to Find a Technical Co-Founder? What Are Better Options? Answers: https://lnkd.in/gERWcyJG

#CofounderSearch #StartupStruggles #TechFounders Hey everyone! 👋 I've been on quite the journey trying to find a technical co-founder. It's been 6 months of searching through YC's platform, and to be honest, it hasn't gone as smoothly as I'd hoped. I’ve had a chance to chat with 15+ potential matches, but here’s the kicker: I just can't find someone who has the right technical skills (think backend and machine learning) and is also ready to commit seriously to a startup. Here are a few pain points I've noticed along the way: Misaligned Goals: Many candidates seem more interested in their own projects rather than teaming up, which makes it challenging to build something together. 🔍 Equity Discussions: Some prospects propose equity splits that are far from reasonable. It’s frustrating trying to find a balance that feels fair for both parties. 💰 Lack of Commitment: Finding someone who shares your vision and is willing to invest time and energy into the project can feel like searching... Struggling to Find a Technical Co-Founder? What Are Better Options? Answers: https://lnkd.in/gZtk8ZA4

“I've interviewed 50 technical co-founders. None of them worked out.” That's what a founder told us last month. Today, his startup is thriving without one. Here's how 👇 The Challenge: 6 months wasted searching Development stalled Investors getting nervous Running out of runway The Reality Check: We asked him three questions: “What do you need right now?” “What can you afford to give up?” “What's your 12-month goal?” The Discovery: He didn't need a co-founder. He needed: Technical validation Development leadership Architecture planning Team building The Solution: Month 1: Technical Strategy Validated idea Planned architecture Created roadmap Month 2: MVP Development Built core features Tested with users Gathered feedback Month 3: Team Building Hired two developers Set up processes Created technical documentation The Results: MVP launched in 90 days No equity dilution Full control retained The Lesson: You might not need a technical co-founder. You might just need the right technical partner. Building a startup? Let's talk about your technical needs. #StartupAdvice #TechnicalCoFounder #StartupLife

Ashutosh Garg’s story of leaving a successful venture like Bloomreach to start afresh with Eightfold is both inspiring and thought-provoking. His commitment to making a broader societal impact rather than chasing further financial success highlights a rare kind of dedication. However, it’s worth considering the sustainability and risks involved in such decisions. While Garg’s focus on improving employment opportunities is commendable, starting a new venture without a clear initial idea brings up questions about scalability and the real impact he can achieve. This story reminds us that behind every success story, there are complex motivations and risks, and the pursuit of impact is often intertwined with financial realities. #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #SocialImpact #VentureCapital #FounderMindset #ImpactOverProfit #InnovativeLeadership #Business #Entrepreneurship

We (first time founders) are like magpies when it comes to building tech. It’s shiny, it’s cool, it’s necessary, it can’t be that hard. I’ve had a few conversations recently with some amazing people in the first year of their startup journey. They all want to build tech to solve a problem in their industry. My advice has consistently been to make money first, then layer tech on top once you have a very long runway. If the business idea, marketing and your personal sales skills are good enough, that’s enough to get early revenue and traction. With that revenue and traction, you are in control and can decide the next moves. It took me 4 years of stubbornness and poor prioritisation to learn this.

#ProductHunt #StartupJourney #FeedbackWanted Hey everyone! 🎉 I just took the plunge and launched my political startup on Product Hunt today. As a solo non-technical founder without any outside capital, it feels a bit like tossing my hat into the ring and seeing what happens. Given how much folks love discussing politics – especially around the Thanksgiving table – I thought this was the right time to make my move. Right now, my top priorities are: Finding technical collaborators: I know that without the right team, it’ll be tough to grow. Gathering constructive feedback: Understanding user needs is crucial for refining my idea. I’m already reaching out to everyone I interviewed during my customer research and sharing the launch in a startup Slack channel I'm part of. But I’d love your insights on how to really make the most out of this launch day! 🌟 Here are a few challenges that often pop up for founders like me during their Product Hunt launch: Visibility: Without a network or ... What Essential Steps Should I Take After Launching on Product Hunt? Answers: https://lnkd.in/g-u-DsTf

If your startup just need more 'hands' to get the job done, you're not using the brains that come attached. You'll never scale your company this way. Listen to this short video on what the best CEOs do to scale tech start-ups fast. --- PS - I help tech CEOs scale; learn more about my approach here: Midstage.org

November is Text Request’s 10-year anniversary month! 🥳 We’re counting down the days to our 10th birthday with some special posts that celebrate all the hard work our team has put into growing Text Request into a business that has: ✅ Appeared on the Inc. Magazine 5000 list of fastest growing companies four times ✅ Received a “best place to work” recognition by EDGE magazine three times ✅ Achieved 60% growth per year over the last three years ✅ Rapidly approached $15 million annual recurring revenue (ARR) and $20 million in total revenue ✅ Served more than 7,500 business customers across the U.S. and Canada ✅ Been recently acquired by global leader in business messaging solutions, Commify Brian Elrod, our CEO, said it best 👉 “We've hit milestones that very few bootstrapped tech companies achieve, and we're especially proud of what our recent acquisition means for our local startup community. More importantly, Text Request is staying in Chattanooga, and will become an integral part of a global messaging brand.” Here’s to an amazing journey thus far, and all the continued growth ahead. Happy 10-year anniversary month team! 🚀 #businesstexting #startup