TLDR FOUNDERS 2025-02-21

* New trends such as AI-driven pricing and outcome-based models

* 2025 pricing predictions and how to stay competitive

Join live next Wednesday →

THE LNO FRAMEWORK

The LNO Framework is a way to categorize your tasks into three buckets—Leverage (L), Necessary (N), and Optional (O)—to ensure you use your limited energy on the things that truly move the needle. Leverage tasks (L) are the high-impact work that directly advances your product or strategic objectives. Necessary tasks (N) are routine responsibilities you can't ignore—like approvals or maintenance—but don't spark huge outcomes. Optional tasks (O) are the ones you can drop without significant consequences.

WHEN IS A MARKET TOO SMALL FOR VCS?

“Too small a market” from a VC's mouth doesn't mean your startup is worthless. It means it's not big enough to yield the 10-100x returns they need. Venture math demands massive exits to power their portfolios, so a $500M outcome might be too small for some big funds. Thus, the lesson: find investors aligned with your realistic exit potential. If you're not aiming for multi-billion scale, micro-VCs or angels might fit you better rather than chasing top-tier funds that pass due to market size constraints.

TOGETHER AI ANNOUNCES $305M SERIES B

Together AI has announced a $305 million Series B funding round led by General Catalyst and Prosperity7, with participation from investors like NVIDIA and Salesforce Ventures. This investment will enhance Together AI's position as a leader in AI Cloud solutions, with a focus on supporting open-source AI models and NVIDIA Blackwell GPU deployment.

NON-OBVIOUS SEO ADVICE FOR STARTUPS

For early-stage software startups, it's easy to get stuck following surface-level SEO tips, but truly effective SEO means doing a few less obvious but powerful things: first, be defensive by creating content about direct comparisons and integrations so potential customers find your page instead of a competitor's. Second, focus on low-volume, high-intent keywords (like “Electron analytics”) that match specific user needs—hundreds of these niche terms add up quickly. Third, Google is largely “looking at the people,” i.e., user behavior, not just your content, so do everything possible to ensure visitors stay on your pages and like what they see.

HOW TO TELL A CONSISTENT STORY

This article introduces a framework: “perceptions,” a set of big-picture themes that unify your brand's narrative. Once defined—3 to 5 of them—use them to guide all campaigns and content so everything aligns. This process prevents random, disjointed marketing. It's practical because if your brand story is fuzzy or scattered, your audience tunes out. With perceptions as your North Star, you can quickly evaluate ideas for consistency, ensuring your marketing feels cohesive across channels.

GETTING PRESS FOR YOUR STARTUP

Cold-emailing journalists seldom works. They're bombarded by PR blasts all day. Instead, build relationships well before you need coverage: follow them, share their articles, and become a helpful source. Then pitch a real story that benefits their readers. It's crucial because real press coverage can spark new users, partners, and even investors, but only if you're delivering something truly newsworthy. By approaching it as a long-term game, you avoid that typical “spray and pray” approach that yields nothing.

BASEDASH (PRODUCT)

Basedash is an AI-native Business Intelligence platform that can create dashboards and instantly understand your customers using natural language.

NOWADAYS (PRODUCT)

Nowadays is an AI-powered event planning copilot that takes the hassle out of organizing corporate events.

SENSE (PRODUCT)

Sense uses AI to automatically organize related resources and updates across all apps for each project and person in your team.

6 HARD-WON LESSONS FROM SELLING MY STARTUP

A founder recounts the months-long grind to a 9-figure acquisition. The biggest takeaways: companies are “bought, not sold,” so keep building until you have leverage. Lawyers can drag things out for bigger fees, so it helps to push for a quick close. Also, watch out for how your employees fare in deal negotiations. Many founders dream of that big exit but are unprepared for the emotional whiplash, endless legal slog, and potential heartbreak. This piece highlights how to keep your company strong (and less distracted) until the wire hits.

HOW TO GROW ON TWITTER (2025 EDITION)

For startup founders feeling lost in the noisy world of social media, this guide shows that Twitter can be a surprisingly personal space for sharing your unique journey. It breaks down practical tips—from crafting hooks that grab attention to repurposing content that resonates—reminding us that real growth comes from connecting authentically with people who care about your story.

WHERE WILL THE AI HORDE STRIKE NEXT?

AI disruption isn't one big invasion; it's a wave of startups simultaneously probing every market niche, from Hollywood to social media. Legacy players can't just defend one fortress; there's always another angle for AI founders. AI's expansion is like a roving horde of nimble companies. You either partner up or risk being overrun—because the AI horde can adapt, pivot, and push wherever it sees weakness.

THE GIFT OF GRATITUDE

Teachers, mentors, and friends often shape our paths in powerful ways, yet we rarely take the time to thank them deeply or pay forward their kindness.

WHAT I LEARNED FROM “LEADING TO THRIVE”

Energy management and purpose-driven leadership were important in transforming large companies like Siemens and Alcoa.

WHEN YOU RAISE VENTURE CAPITAL, A CLOCK STARTS TICKING

VC funding starts a ticking countdown, typically giving startups 18-24 months to significantly grow their valuation.