Founder Authenticity

Why are you and your team the right people to solve this problem?

Founder authenticity is paramount when funding a startup.

The best founders tried to solve a problem for themselves first.

Multi-billion dollar ideas don't happen overnight.

You will not decide to get married to someone on a first date.

Love evolves into something unique and enduring over time, with small but essential gestures. A multi-billion dollar company or idea also doesn't happen overnight.

You stumble on massive problems. Then, with the right amount of oxygen, they mature into something more substantial.

One must have an emptiness in their mind to create the new. Flow.

The founders of Rappi had a software development shop to help supermarkets for 4+ years. They then realized the big play was in last-mile optimization and same-day delivery.

The founder of Pipefy was a productivity freak. After going to Israel realized he had to build a global business first. It started with a better Kanban board.

Uber was a limo-service. Pinterest was a weekend project from ColdBrewLabs. Twitter was a side hackathon project at Odeo. Google started as a research project.

Your idea must be authentic to you, your personal story, and your existence on this planet.

Every time I meet with a founder I try to understand that.

Why are you building this company?

Why aren't you working at Facebook making 10x more capital with all the perks?

Are you willing to go through the excruciating process of doing whatever it takes to win?

Be authentic. You must be restless and ruthless.

It will pay-off over time and help you with your storyline.

“The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.”

— Friedrich Nietzsche