Don't launch
Here's a common question I get from startups, especially in the early stages: when should we launch? My answer is almost always the same: do...
An Investor Wanted to Give Me $50,000. Here’s Why I Said No
It was money they needed, but it came with strings attached.
Lessons Learned: The Lean Startup Book is here
I am no longer writing a book. The Lean Startup Book is done. Finally, really, truly, done. On July 4, I celebrated Independence Day by m...
How to make $250 a day (and get banned from the Android Market)
A few weeks ago I did something which, in retrospect, was probably rather stupid. But it was surprisingly successful while it lasted. As I wrote earlier, I'
Fear and Loathing at Zigfu: My Y Combinator Experience
Applications for YCombinator's winter 2013 cycle are due October 30. Let me tell you about my experience in YCombinator with Zigfu . Zigf...
Why Startups Die
Startups die due to a variety of causes. Over the course of the last three years, I've watched many of my friends pour their hearts and souls into companies that, for one reason or another, just fizzled out of existence. In 2007, Paul Graham gave a variety of causes for…
Last Minute Advice for YC Applicants
In 2009 I wrote a blog post here about advice for startups applying for YC. Little did I know years later I'd become a partner at Y Combinator and have the chance to shape hundreds of new startups...
Six Lessons Learned from Domain Pigeon’s First Six Weeks
On January 29th I launched Domain Pigeon, a web site to help people find available domain names. The site lets visitors browse thousands of available .com domain names which they can register for t…
Let's get real about the one-person billion dollar company
The biggest hurdle is not AI capability, but founder pain tolerance.
Automattic Purchases .blog TLD for $19M
It’s now public that Automattic is the company behind Knock Knock Whois There LLC, the registry for the new .blog TLD. (And a great pun.) We wanted to stay stealth while in the bidding process and …
A conversation with Shel Kaphan, Amazon’s first employee (2016)
A conversation with Shel Kaphan, Amazon’s first employee. Employee #1 is a series of interviews focused on sharing the often untold stories of early employees at tech companies. Shel Kaphan was the first employee at Amazon. He is currently pursuing personal interests and still living in Seattle. Discussed: Getting…
Why the cloud isn't for your startup
BlueScripts is a boutique Clearwater software studio. We build custom software, web apps, iOS apps, and APIs for startups and SMBs across Tampa Bay. Senior engineers, no juniors, no offshoring.