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Why Build Toys
I first wrote this essay a few years ago. A founder mentioned it to me over the weekend, and so I decided to re-publish it here. One thing that's bothered me in the time since I wrote it is the way...
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Founding Stories Are Myths
Founding Stories Ignore The Most Important Parts of Starting a Business
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The Inside Story of a Small Startup Acquisition
Photo by psiaki Based on the title of this post you might be thinking I have mad stacks of money in the bank. That I’ve had a few “exits” and instead of hunkering down and writing code for 6 months I opted to talk to a few of my buddies at the yacht club and purchase a primed and growing s
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List of Y Combinator companies I have worked with (hacked)
Background: I have worked with lots of companies as security consultant through bug bounties either I asked them if they need my service or they approached. I’m a big fan of Paul’s essa…
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The Social Radar: What I Did at Y Combinator
Culture matters for startups. For a startup to succeed, it must have a culture that reflects what it wants to achieve. This is one of my areas of expertise. I've spent the past decade focusing on Y...
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I Reached $4k/Mo. But How Many Great Startup Ideas Have Died?
I just reached $4,000/month with my internet startup as a solo developer. Because I didn't let people talk me out of my startup idea.
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Launching a product in just 3652 days
A story about how I learned a lot of things the hard way
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Startup Idea: User Retention as a Service
An in-depth blog post talking user retention and lifecycle email marketing for startups.
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The Product is the Byproduct
Written pieces, talks, and other bits by Zach Holman.
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Product-focused and sales-focused companies
Every company has a focus, and for most it's either sales or product. Here's why both are the wrong focal points
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Startups Are Bands for Hackers
Growing up as a young musician in suburbia, I fantasized about being in a band: playing music in front of thousands of people, signing a record contract, enjoying the successes (and excesses) of...
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A Story Of Starting A Business In Japan
Making It In Japan is a first hand account of the process of starting a business in Japan. Elizabeth interviews five other entrepreneurs and gets their advice on how to go about setting up your business.
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Angel Investors, a Field Guide
I’ve been lucky to work with some of the best angel investors in the business. When I started Akita, my angel investors were my mentor Jason Hong, superangel Elad Gil, #ANGELS co-founder Jana Messerschmidt, Eventbrite co-founders Kevin and Julia Hartz, Stanford professor Dan Boneh, and NBA player Kevin Durant. I…
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Born in a Garage
We started a computer company!!! The Oxide Computer Company started in my garage, this is a story about its origins.
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Compelling Startup Pitch Archetypes (with examples from YC companies)
Over the past few weeks, I’ve helped a handful of startups work on their YC applications and interviews. I spent much of the time brainstorming with the founders on the best way to explain their business in the most clear and compelling way possible. These founders knew a lot
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A vote for me is a vote for dipshit businesses everywhere
Vote for my SxSW panel! VCs are increasingly unnecessary to get companies started, and I haven't heard cogent arguments for why a founder should elect to go with them for an early round. Until that changes, they'll continue to be useful for growth-stage but less and less useful for early-stage companies.