Startup Advice

6 articles

A determined first-time founder at a crossroads, symbolizing the challenges and hopeful perseverance required for startup success.
Insights

Top 2 Essential Leadership Traits for First-Time Founders

Founders must convince people to join them on a grueling journey with a single-digit success rate, according to Reach Capital .

Ethan Calder·August 25, 2026
Two founders in a tense meeting, symbolizing co-founder conflict as a cause of startup failure.
Founders

Co-Founder Conflict: A Key Factor in Startup Failure

Roughly 90% of all startups fail, a staggering figure that often obscures the underlying causes.

Ethan Calder·August 22, 2026
Founder presenting a pitch deck to skeptical investors in a modern boardroom, emphasizing the need for validated traction and problem-solution fit in 2026.
Playbooks

6 Common Investor Pitch Mistakes to Avoid in 2026

In 2026, a polished pitch deck, ambitious forecasts, or product mockups alone won't impress investors, as capital is more selective and due diligence now starts earlier than ever.

Oliver Grant·May 15, 2026
A determined startup founder coding in a modern office, with a blurred traditional university building in the background, symbolizing the shift from MBA theory to practical startup building.
Founders

Your $200K MBA is Obsolete for Building a Real Startup

The hard truth is that the rigid, two-year MBA curriculum is being outpaced by faster, more practical, and capital-efficient alternatives. For founders, it's a costly detour from the real work.

Ethan Calder·April 10, 2026
A thoughtful product manager contemplating a strategic decision, choosing between relentless feature building and disciplined prioritization for long-term product success and avoiding bloat.
Product

Why the Discipline of Not Building Is Your Most Valuable Product Strategy

The discipline of not building is more crucial for long-term product success than relentlessly shipping new features. It's about strategic prioritization to protect products from bloat and complexity.

Lucas Bennet·April 7, 2026
A diverse group of first-time startup founders in a modern co-working space, intently reading essential business books, symbolizing knowledge acquisition and entrepreneurial growth.
Founders

10 Best Books Every First-Time Startup Founder Must Read

This guide breaks down the essential reads for first-time startup founders, offering a clear, actionable list to navigate the challenges of building a company from scratch.

Ethan Calder·April 1, 2026