As a startup founder, I’ve often found myself in the hot seat, making big decisions in a short span of time. In the early days, I leaned heavily on signals — the reputation, background, and credentials of potential co-founders, employees, or VCs. It seemed logical; after all, what better way to gauge potential than through prestigious degrees and glowing reputations?
But here’s the kicker: I learned the hard way that signals are just the tip of the iceberg.
It's not just about what's on paper. It's about the person behind those accolades. How do they behave in a crunch situation? What’s their working style? These questions became my compass.
I started digging deeper, sparing no detail. When considering a collaboration, I’d reach out to people they’ve worked with before. Not just for formal references, but for real stories. I wanted to know how they solved problems, how they handled stress, and, most importantly, how they treated people when no one was watching.
This approach of leaving no stone unturned came from a stark realization: A wrong decision could be the death knell for a startup. We’re in a high-stakes game where every choice counts. The balance between quick decisions and thorough due diligence is delicate, but essential. It’s not about slowing down; it’s about being smart and minimizing mistakes.
In the world of startups, it's not just about making decisions; it's about making the right ones. Signals are a good starting point, but they’re not enough. Dive deeper.
On-chain trading requires extra computation, pays gas fees, and often looks more expensive than centralized exchanges (CEXs) like Binance or Coinbase. So who is actually using Uniswap, and what makes them stay?
We often talk about talent, capital, and timing. But “environment” quietly shapes what’s possible. Some places are just better suited for certain kinds of bets. And understanding that might be the most underrated edge there is.
Recently, I was casually browsing a list of global stock exchanges ranked by market cap. Buried in the rankings, something made me stop and double-check: Iran’s Tehran Stock Exchange was sitting at number 15 in the world.
In the early 1980s, Airbus was developing its breakthrough A320 jet. To break the near-monopoly held by GE’s CF6 and CFM56, four aerospace companies—Pratt & Whitney (PW), Rolls-Royce (RR), Germany’s MTU, and Japan’s JAEC—formed a joint venture called International Aero Engines (IAE).
Generative AI has advanced to the point where it can handle tasks that previously required human intervention. My hypothesis is that the DeFi projects that will succeed in this cycle are those that enhance user experience and drive broader adoption.
2024 has been a year of lessons and new beginnings. In the first part, I faced challenges with my startup in Saudi Arabia, learning the hard way that both internal decisions and uncontrollable external factors shape a venture's success. Though it didn’t work out, I gained valuable experience and connections. In the second part, I’ve been fortunate to start a new venture with a friend, developing models to process brainwave data. It’s an exciting and challenging path, and I’m hopeful for what’s to come.
Through my experiences, I've formed a method for starting a business from the ground up. This method combines lessons from the Lean Startup with my personal stories.
"Lan Yu" - a love story, set against the backdrop of a transformative period in Beijing, brings to light the complexity of love, power dynamics, and societal changes.
As a young entrepreneur fresh out of college, one of my biggest challenge was to find the right problem to solve. Here I try to provide my thoughts on this issue.
This article unfolds my journey through a co-founder departure, emphasizing the lessons learned in team building, the importance of aligning skills with startup needs, and fostering a growth-oriented company culture.
