TLDR FOUNDERS 2024-07-05

A YEAR LATER, WHAT THREADS COULD LEARN FROM OTHER SOCIAL NETWORKS

Meta's social network, Threads, has reached 175 million monthly active users in its first year. While making progress in integrating with the diverse and providing an API for developers, shipping features at a rapid pace and gathering user feedback, Threads still has room for improvement in areas such as topic discovery, third-party app support, independence from Instagram, news and politics, its "For You" algorithm, and ability to surface local content.

VERTICAL SOFTWARE, RICHES IN NICHES

Vertical software companies focused on specific industries can be extremely capital-efficient and profitable, with durable long-term growth potential. While their total addressable market may initially seem limited, great management teams find ways to expand their opportunities over time. Valuation multiples for vertical software leaders can appear high but are often justified by their strong execution and ability to grow revenue and profits consistently.

DOES AI CHANGE HOW MUCH MY DATA IS WORTH?

The value of individual personal data has traditionally been viewed as insignificant, with only aggregated data being commercially valuable. However, with the emergence of a new market for consumer data to train large language models, the value of personal datasets may be increasing, though individuals are unlikely to be directly compensated by platforms in the near future. Instead, data collectives and cooperative models that allow individuals to own a stake in the economic benefits of their contributed data are emerging as potential ways for people to participate in this new data economy.

DOVETAIL: 15 IDEAS YOU CAN BORROW FROM THEIR $1B JOURNEY

Dovetail's path to unicorn status offers a blueprint for building category-defining products. From rethinking free trials to using wireframes for strategy, Dovetail's path to unicorn status is full of counterintuitive moves. Its story challenges common startup wisdom, offering founders a playbook for building category-defining products that prioritize long-term value over short-term growth hacks.

A GUIDE TO BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE TECHNICAL TEAM

A technical team is a group of developers focused on tasks that do not directly involve business operations. These teams can be structured around specific tasks or be more general, requiring a customer, such as a CTO, to provide direction and a long-term backlog of tasks. Building an effective technical team involves recruiting the right people, establishing a workflow, and evaluating their performance, which can be challenging due to the complexity and ambiguity of technical tasks.

HOW TO BECOME A MASTER NEGOTIATOR USING THESE 7 NEGOTIATION TECHNIQUES

To achieve your goals effectively, it is crucial to develop strong negotiation skills. This involves understanding the needs and emotions of the other party, using techniques like mirroring and labeling to build rapport, and guiding the conversation to reach a mutually beneficial outcome. By mastering these skills, you can navigate various situations, from personal relationships to business deals, with greater success and efficiency.

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STATE OF PRIVATE MARKETS: Q2 2024

Carta's latest report reveals a cautious uptick in private markets, with modest valuation increases and steady round sizes across most stages.

AIRCLAP

A tool for free file transfer between macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android devices within the same local network.

EUROPE AND ISRAEL'S FOUNDER FACTORIES

Europe and Israel are poised to produce a wave of category-leading GenAI companies as the region's world-class universities and big tech companies' local research labs fuel a new wave of founders.

THE MAGIC OF SMALL ENGINEERING TEAMS

One effective approach to maintaining the speed and innovation of a startup as it scales is to organize into small, autonomous teams that can own specific areas of the product or company. These teams should be small, run themselves, have one leader, and have a goal that aligns with the company's overall mission. This structure minimizes centralized processes and management layers, allowing for faster decision-making and execution.

GRADUALLY, THEN SUDDENLY: UPON THE THRESHOLD

Technological advancements often follow a pattern of gradual improvement until they suddenly surpass a critical threshold, leading to rapid and significant changes. This phenomenon is evident in the development of AI, which is rapidly improving and crossing thresholds of capability, leading to significant impacts on various industries and aspects of life. As AI continues to advance, it is essential to monitor these thresholds and recognize when they are crossed, as they can have profound effects on how we live and work.

APPLYING AN INVESTMENT MINDSET TO FINANCE WITH RAMP'S ALEX SONG (55 MINUTE PODCAST)

In this podcast, Alex Song, VP of Finance and Capital Markets at Ramp, dives into the unique financial challenges faced by payment companies, such as handling larger balance sheets, corporate risk, customer data, and company liquidity. Discussing topics from seismic shipping vessels to rough diamonds, rail cars, and Colombian litigation finance claims, Song also shares a number of fascinating stories about investments he has been involved in.

DON'T SLEEP ON LINKEDIN FOR GROWTH. HOW WE GOT OUR FIRST 189 BETA TESTERS

After building an MVP in just 48 hours, two founders struggled to find beta testers through their personal network but managed to recruit volunteer beta testers by posting a job on LinkedIn.

WHAT SEPARATES "OK" VERSUS "FIRE" DISCOVERY CALLS

Highly successful SaaS salespeople use specific formulas to achieve consistent success.

TRAITS A VC LOOKS OUT FOR IN FOUNDERS

Successful startup founders possess a unique combination of traits that enable them to achieve improbable outcomes.