Confessions (page 11) — Startups Anonymous

Confessions·Jun 18, 20145

The name of my biz has meant more to me than to those seeking the service – it’s “too convoluted and long” – I’ve shortened it noticeably – part of it still on my car – friend says – “re-do the name of your biz” –

Confessions·Jun 18, 201410

People- we are being LIED to. It is complete bullsh*t that 9 out of 10 startups fail. There is no scientific research that supports this claim. It’s a potent myth.

Confessions·Jun 16, 201416

The site seems to have moved from something intriguing and (occasionally) edgy into a boring Q&A site. I like the AMA idea, but it seems to have turned into another Reddit. No real reason for the “anonymous” part anymore, be it authors or posters.

Confessions·Jun 13, 20143

I left my startup over a month ago and I still get every FedEx shipping call for customs info at all hours. I’m not sure if the remaining team is trying to rub it in my face, pretend things are looking up despite other evidence, or just lazy.

Confessions·Jun 12, 201410

The US government should issue low interest loans to startups just as they do for student loans. What better education could one ask for?

Confessions·Jun 12, 20144

My startup just landed an investment and I found out last week I’m having a child. My co-founder is being very supportive, but I hate having to go through both things at the same time!

Confessions·Jun 12, 201422

Your landing page is not an MVP. Your programming boot camp is not a developer’s background. Your MBA is not a sign of success. To those that keep it real, enjoy every moment – you deserve every high five.

Confessions·Jun 11, 201413

My CEO told me that it was OK if our flagship product never shipped, because it connected us to industry. I asked for more details and he just glared death at me.

Confessions·Jun 10, 20147

The day after our launch, my cofounder was nowhere to be found. In hindsight, I should have ended the relationship right there.

Confessions·Jun 9, 20146

My startup failed and I got a job at another startup, and now I’m miserable. I spend the whole day sitting in front of the computer, and I can’t stand it, it’s too boring. I hate days, and I can’t sleep at night. I don’t know wtf to do.

Confessions·Jun 9, 20148

I love my job as an entrepreneur, but there are times when I doubt myself and ask myself “Why didn’t I just take that job at (fill in any MNC here)_? That would have been MUCH easier.” Such thoughts make me feel guilty and shameful

Confessions·Jun 7, 201411

When a taxi company is valued at $15 Billion, it’s time to sell

Confessions·Jun 6, 201427

I’ve completely lost faith in Marc Andreessen after his recent CNBC interview calling Edward Snowden a traitor. I will never raise capital from him and neither should you.

Confessions·Jun 5, 20146

I’ve got this month to pull something off, otherwise I’m screwed and looking for a job. I’m scared as hell that I can’t do it.

Confessions·Jun 3, 20147

It was easier to raise money for my company with no revenue vs. the company that did. I realized it was because without revenue there was no trajectory, sky was the limit and anything was possible. I’ll be raising pre-rev from now on.

Confessions·Jun 2, 20147

Another day almost gone, another day having not completed the one major task on my list. Why can’t I motivate myself to get this done? I love accomplishment, but sometimes hate the work that goes into it.

Confessions·Jun 2, 20143

I got caught up drinking my own ‘kool aid’ regarding how wonderful my product is before even doing a consumer survey.

Confessions·May 30, 20144

Investors overvalue capital investment. Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile. Do you feel ill prepared to negotiate?

Confessions·May 28, 20147

If you are not cash flow positive, including being able to pay staff a reasonable salary, within 2 years based on real product shipments, then STOP! Shutdown, liquidate, just walk away… I spent 9 years making this mistake.

Confessions·May 28, 20148

And just to think, only yesterday Evan Spiegel was probably saying, it sure would suck to be Mahbod Moghadam right now.

Confessions·May 28, 20148

When I first started I did not think the people mattered that much. Turned out my partner was a jealous egotistical intregitless lying self server. Despite all the ways he screwed me, it was my mistake for deciding to go into business with him.

Confessions·May 27, 201410

My 1st startup failed. I started another one, launched it, got to the top page of hackernews & it crashed. New version is ready but I am too scared of failure to pull the trigger and launch again.

Confessions·May 27, 20148

I really dislike how much they moderate messages in this site. Why don’t you just let everyone speak their minds? If someone’s an ass, the community does a great job pointing it out by itself.

Confessions·May 26, 201416

Competitor went ~200 million IPO. We are growing at a faster rate than this competitor! Our costs are less than this competitor!

Confessions·May 26, 20144

I binge code; sometimes few days go by where I write no code. Then I turn it up and work 12 or so hours and spit features out. My startup is more than happy with my productivity as CTO. I imagine what would be possible if I could code 40 hours a week

Confessions·May 25, 201410

This bullshit on “hiring the best coder” makes me sick sometimes. You don’t need anything beyond determination and commitment to get the job done. I’m doing it and I’ve seen smart people pivot with zero domain knowledge and execute superbly

Confessions·May 25, 201410

I’m addicted to writing programs, designing them to scale, conduct load tests scenarios, monitoring disk, cpu, and memory during these tests, but I don’t go to production.

Confessions·May 25, 20148

I never had many friends, and I think working on my own Startup is making me more of a loner. Sometimes I wonder if I should get into a big company just to spend more time around people.

Confessions·May 23, 20145

Our core value we created for the past 2 years is slowly being eaten away by competitors and large companies that are difficult to work with. Here’s hoping the next pivot works, or we stick a fork in it.

Confessions·May 22, 201415

I am a tech journalist and I have never once written an article based on a press release. I only write about my friends or people/companies that give me great swag.

Confessions

The name of my biz has meant more to me than to those seeking the service – it’s “too convoluted and long” – I’ve shortened it noticeably – part of it still on my car – friend says – “re-do the name of your biz” –

People- we are being LIED to. It is complete bullsh*t that 9 out of 10 startups fail. There is no scientific research that supports this claim. It’s a potent myth.

The site seems to have moved from something intriguing and (occasionally) edgy into a boring Q&A site. I like the AMA idea, but it seems to have turned into another Reddit. No real reason for the “anonymous” part anymore, be it authors or posters.

I left my startup over a month ago and I still get every FedEx shipping call for customs info at all hours. I’m not sure if the remaining team is trying to rub it in my face, pretend things are looking up despite other evidence, or just lazy.

The US government should issue low interest loans to startups just as they do for student loans. What better education could one ask for?

My startup just landed an investment and I found out last week I’m having a child. My co-founder is being very supportive, but I hate having to go through both things at the same time!

Your landing page is not an MVP. Your programming boot camp is not a developer’s background. Your MBA is not a sign of success. To those that keep it real, enjoy every moment – you deserve every high five.

My CEO told me that it was OK if our flagship product never shipped, because it connected us to industry. I asked for more details and he just glared death at me.

The day after our launch, my cofounder was nowhere to be found. In hindsight, I should have ended the relationship right there.

My startup failed and I got a job at another startup, and now I’m miserable. I spend the whole day sitting in front of the computer, and I can’t stand it, it’s too boring. I hate days, and I can’t sleep at night. I don’t know wtf to do.

I love my job as an entrepreneur, but there are times when I doubt myself and ask myself “Why didn’t I just take that job at __(fill in any MNC here)___? That would have been MUCH easier.” Such thoughts make me feel guilty and shameful

When a taxi company is valued at $15 Billion, it’s time to sell

I’ve completely lost faith in Marc Andreessen after his recent CNBC interview calling Edward Snowden a traitor. I will never raise capital from him and neither should you.

I’ve got this month to pull something off, otherwise I’m screwed and looking for a job. I’m scared as hell that I can’t do it.

It was easier to raise money for my company with no revenue vs. the company that did. I realized it was because without revenue there was no trajectory, sky was the limit and anything was possible. I’ll be raising pre-rev from now on.

Another day almost gone, another day having not completed the one major task on my list. Why can’t I motivate myself to get this done? I love accomplishment, but sometimes hate the work that goes into it.

I got caught up drinking my own ‘kool aid’ regarding how wonderful my product is before even doing a consumer survey.

Investors overvalue capital investment. Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile. Do you feel ill prepared to negotiate?

If you are not cash flow positive, *including being able to pay staff a reasonable salary,* within 2 years based on real product shipments, then STOP! Shutdown, liquidate, just walk away… I spent 9 years making this mistake.

And just to think, only yesterday Evan Spiegel was probably saying, it sure would suck to be Mahbod Moghadam right now.

When I first started I did not think the people mattered that much. Turned out my partner was a jealous egotistical intregitless lying self server. Despite all the ways he screwed me, it was my mistake for deciding to go into business with him.

My 1st startup failed. I started another one, launched it, got to the top page of hackernews & it crashed. New version is ready but I am too scared of failure to pull the trigger and launch again.

I really dislike how much they moderate messages in this site. Why don’t you just let everyone speak their minds? If someone’s an ass, the community does a great job pointing it out by itself.

Competitor went ~200 million IPO. We are growing at a faster rate than this competitor! Our costs are less than this competitor!

I binge code; sometimes few days go by where I write no code. Then I turn it up and work 12 or so hours and spit features out. My startup is more than happy with my productivity as CTO. I imagine what would be possible if I could code 40 hours a week

This bullshit on “hiring the best coder” makes me sick sometimes. You don’t need anything beyond determination and commitment to get the job done. I’m doing it and I’ve seen smart people pivot with zero domain knowledge and execute superbly

I’m addicted to writing programs, designing them to scale, conduct load tests scenarios, monitoring disk, cpu, and memory during these tests, but I don’t go to production.

I never had many friends, and I think working on my own Startup is making me more of a loner. Sometimes I wonder if I should get into a big company just to spend more time around people.

Our core value we created for the past 2 years is slowly being eaten away by competitors and large companies that are difficult to work with. Here’s hoping the next pivot works, or we stick a fork in it.

I am a tech journalist and I have never once written an article based on a press release. I only write about my friends or people/companies that give me great swag.

I love my job as an entrepreneur, but there are times when I doubt myself and ask myself “Why didn’t I just take that job at (fill in any MNC here)_? That would have been MUCH easier.” Such thoughts make me feel guilty and shameful

If you are not cash flow positive, including being able to pay staff a reasonable salary, within 2 years based on real product shipments, then STOP! Shutdown, liquidate, just walk away… I spent 9 years making this mistake.