Research
Deliberately gathering evidence, from users or elsewhere, before assuming an answer. The instinct to skip it is strongest exactly when a team is most confident it already knows what people want.
What actually breaks when a startup hires too fast
Rapid hiring is usually framed as a capacity risk. The more common failure is subtler: onboarding and culture quietly breaking well before headcount does.
Splitting equity fairly is harder than it sounds on paper
An equal equity split feels like the fair, conflict-avoiding choice at the start. It can quietly become a source of resentment once contributions diverge.
Talking to users before you have anything to show them
Founders often wait for a prototype before talking to potential users. Some of the most useful conversations happen earlier, with nothing to show at all.
Splitting equity fairly is harder than it sounds on paper
An equal equity split feels like the fair, conflict-avoiding choice at the start. It can quietly become a source of resentment once contributions diverge.