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Stories

First-person accounts from inside the startup grind.

305 posts
Stories·Aug 21, 20146

VC emails founder he just met: “I’m Not Leaving Without Having Sex With You”

For those who say sexual harassment topic is overblown, I give you turd #92785: Pavel Curda. He emailed the following to 3 female founders he just met at…

Stories·Aug 20, 201410

I’ve given up on my 3-year old startup

Four years back I quit my job to start my business. When asked about this so-called bold decision I had told a friend of mine, “I am going to try to…

Stories·Aug 13, 201417

Does anyone else feel like they are getting screwed?

I am seriously starting to feel like I’m getting screwed, all because I’m a white male. Seems like anywhere you go these days they are offering more…

Stories·Aug 11, 20149

Can’t make rent. In tears. What am I doing here?

Walking down the road, I look through the windows and see people from my race and people from my country cleaning offices, bars etc. They look happier…

Stories·Aug 8, 20141

CEO leaves to choose family and the press eats it up

We’ve all heard this line before… a CEO steps down and says its to spend time with family. Everyone knows its because they were replaced. The MongoDB CEO…

Stories·Aug 8, 20144

Mentors, Entrepreneurs, and ADHD… oh my!

So I’m using Founder Dating (super dumb name, btw) to hunt for local people who might be open to a mentorship. I find a person who seems ok, so we…

Stories·Aug 8, 20148

The big hoax

How often would you want to sign up to hang around the following: A bunch of washed up late 20’s to mid 30 year old sales, marketing, manager types that…

Stories·Aug 7, 20147

You may know my name, but I’m a fraud

I’m a total fraud. On the surface, it appears that I have everything together. I’m the founder of a fairly well-known (in the tech community) startup. If…

Stories·Aug 6, 2014

7 Huge Founder Mistakes

This article appeared in the Founder Confessions series on Inc.com . If you’d like to be a part of this series, look for the “Topical Confessions” on the…

Stories·Aug 4, 20147

Most startups are doomed because of their ignorant views on marketing

Most startups I consult for (growth/biz dev) are doomed because of their ignorant views on marketing (vague term, but I’ll use it as a catch-all). The bar…

Stories·Jul 30, 20143

When Raising Money Goes Bad

This article appeared in the Founder Confessions series on Inc.com . If you’d like to be a part of this series, look for the “Topical Confessions” on the…

Stories·Jul 28, 20143

6 Founders Share Their Secret Fears

This article appeared in the Founder Confessions series on Inc.com . If you’d like to be a part of this series, look for the “Topical Confessions” on the…

Stories·Jul 23, 20148

I’ve got one engineer, and a microphone.

Underpromise, overdeliver is the mantra of keeping customers happy, so it’s said. But in startup land, customer happiness falls slightly further down the…

Stories·Jul 19, 20146

Developer drama

Why are developers so emotional? I thought they were supposed to work logically, but we always have to manage their emotions more than any other type of…

Stories·Jul 17, 20147

A Motivational Speech From The Greatest Entrepreneur, Muhammad Ali

“I am the greatest!” Muhammad Ali called himself the greatest. In all of boxing and all the history of boxing, and all the famous older, stronger, better…

Stories·Jul 17, 20145

7 Lies These Entrepreneurs Told to Get Ahead

This article appeared in the new Founder Confessions series on Inc.com . If you’d like to be a part of this series, look for the “Topical Confessions” on…

Stories·Jul 16, 20142

17 Things Investors Say When Really What They Mean is, “No”

One lesson I learned the hard way as a founder is that investors never like to say “no.” They especially don’t like to say “yes,” but “no” is almost as…

Stories·Jul 15, 20144

Slow Progress with Co-Founder (developer)

I have an early stage startup with a co-founder who is the developer. I have a working prototype (self-funded) that is being used and receiving great…

Stories·Jul 14, 20142

Startups – let’s remember the positive

SA needs to show the positive spin on entrepreneurship. Yes, it’s a roller coster of emotions. Yes, many of us here are under the shadows of tech SC/VC…

Stories·Jul 13, 20147

IMGUR and a bunch of duped Appalachians in Athens Ohio.

You know that asshole who gets promoted and fails to thank or acknowledge the work and input from the team he was in? Or the company who lands VC money,…

Stories·Jul 10, 20143

Cofounder Relationships Gone Bad

This article appeared in the new Founder Confessions series on Inc.com . If you’d like to be a part of this series, look for the “Topical Confessions” on…

Stories·Jul 7, 20146

All that’s wrong with the Valley in one story today in the WSJ

(You might need to clear your chache to get across the paywall) http://online.wsj.com/articles/is-silicon-valley-investing-in-the-wrong-stuff-1404688048…

Stories·Jul 4, 20148

If you can’t even negotiate your office space agreement without getting taken, you are not an entrepreneur

After reading this article on valleywag about the founders of Bloodhound paying an astronomical rate for their office rent (and agreeing to a 5 year…

Stories·Jul 2, 20144

I became really close to one of my employees, and this has created a truly bad environment in the office

I co-founded a rather successful e-commerce business in Europe. We are doing quite well, have been growing consistently for seven years. The thing is that…

Stories·Jul 2, 20149

Questions That a Founder is Too Embarrassed to Ask

As a long-time founder, I feel I should have most of the answers. I’ve been at this startup game long enough where nothing should be new to me. Sadly, I…

Stories·Jul 1, 201418

Wanting to leave my startup, but can’t out of loyalty

My boss and I started at another company; I was his intern until he eventually quit his job to continue his families business. He immediately hired me on…

Stories·Jun 30, 201426

I broke down.

A few weeks ago, I broke down. I cried the hardest I’ve ever cried in my life. Like, ugly cried. My chest was tightening, my heart was going crazy and…

Stories·Jun 29, 201412

I’m the reason my startup is successful

I was originally hired as an (unpaid) intern but quickly built my way up to the head of PR and marketing. I’m only getting paid $10 an hour. I’ve landed…

Stories·Jun 29, 2014

Was burned out, nervous, chest pounding, nearly anxiety attack … then three opportunities hit.

It is true, when it rains it pours. This life is too up and down of an emotional rollercoaster. But if you stick it out, stuff can happen if you’re ALL…

Stories·Jun 27, 201412

CEO ~ CTO // Love ~ Hate

I’m super excited about my startup company, love the product, the team, everything … running as the CEO. I have a super talented cofounder as CTO, but…