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0 pointsHenriNext6y ago0 comments

Fair point. But if after 2 years you haven't found a business model, it might be better to fire couple of the product people and get dedicated biz people, as opposed to waiting 5.5 years and then go belly up.

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alexpetralia6y ago

Out of curiosity, do you have direct experience with entrepreneurship? This is extremely easy to say from a distance, and so naturally everyone does, only to bite their tongue once they've gone through it.

edoceo6y ago

I've built a few companies. I think it's super valuable to have some on the team who doesn't give shit at all about the tech and only cares about a) is this the right problem and b) who cares (read: pays).

This person helps you focus, forces (if given authority) the tram to focus on "things that move the needle". Devs and designers simply lack that customer-development focus.

I think every team would benefit from a qualitative analysis role like this - regardless of title. I have one now. We argue every day, but the balance of perspective is key.

jiofih6y ago

Autocomplete just gave away your European origin.

> Devs and designers simply lack that customer-development focus

That’s an unfair generalization. They will have that focus if imbued on them by the company, and the right motivated hires are made.

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HenriNextOP6y ago

Fair question, I totally get your point. But yes, i've been full-time entrepreneur since i was 19. 6 companies, 20+ years, and lot of mistakes by now.

x0x06y ago

I do -- founder of a funded company with customers -- and my observation is it's very very difficult to bake a business model into a business after the fact.

And fwiw, a founder friend with a successful exit counts his biggest mistake as not having a founder immediately focused on sales. He built a two-founder (PM, eng) business that had a successful exit but probably nowhere near as successful as could have been possible.

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