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> Lesson: You can achieve a lot with just a few people and a little money ... if your rent/insurance etc. is magically paid for you by a fairy for the whole du

by mojuba 8y ago

> Lesson: You can achieve a lot with just a few people and a little money ... if your rent/insurance etc. is magically paid for you by a fairy for the whole duration of your startup's early stage. Easy! If you don't get the lesson, read it again: You can achieve a lot with just a few people and a little money. People seem to dismiss this factor too easily and assume that anyone can become an entrepreneur the moment they decide to become an entrepreneur. No, it's not that easy for the majority of people.

jondubois 8y ago
The whole article sounds insane from my perspective. If Google keeps acqui-hiring these kinds of people, it's going to turn into a mad house eventually. No wonder Google is starting to have issues about being out-of-touch now.
iamgopal 8y ago
I think major hurdles of being enterprenuer is achieving strong resilience to external changing factors. Problems will keep coming at every stage, a good one should expect and/or anticipate it and should not get tired by it. Not everyone's cup of tea. Some people are happy with good times and noodle salad.
thosakwe 8y ago
Not to mention, $16k in VC funding (or out-of-pocket) is not a “little money” for everyone out there.
- icebraining 8y ago
  $16k for five people, so $3.2k/person. Doesn't seem like a lot when it comes with the restriction of living in the Bay Area.
- ap3 8y ago
  Should someone’s story apply to everyone out there?
jakobegger 8y ago
Sure, if you have a cushy dev job, a nice apartment, a new car, expensive hobbies, no savings, and don't want to change your lifestyle, yeah, you're going to have a hard time starting something without cash. If, on the other hand, you share a cheap apartment, have parents or a partner who can support you, and are willing to skip the expensive vacation, you might get pretty far with little money. I think that's the reason why so many startups are started by people just out of college -- they're used to a modest lifestyle, and they usually don't have a problem being dependent on someone. It's amazing how quickly people think it's impossible to live on less money after a few years of having a regular job.
- mojuba 8y ago
  I'm definitely not among those who rent a nice apartment and I forgot what "vacation" even means. I don't own a car as thankfully it is not required where I live (like in most places in Europe). I don't buy stupid unnecessary things either. However, sharing a cheap apartment won't be easy for a 50 year old. Oh wait, that's not exactly a "startup age", so I guess I'm out anyway...
  - verelo 8y ago
    Sounds like you’ve been burnt a few times. It’s not easy, but frankly, attitude is a big part of the determining factors...is you look at the research, your age should actually give you an advantage. 40-49 is the most likely time to successfully start a company. https://hbr.org/2018/07/research-the-average-age-of-a-successful-startup-founder-is-45 https://hbr.org/2018/07/research-the-average-age-of-a-succes...
    - mojuba 8y ago
      The age does give an advantage, but lack of savings is a universally problematic thing for all ages. You do need a safety net if you want to switch to entrepreneurship, or otherwise you have to be exceptionally lucky to get the salary you need and the equity you think you deserve.

by mojuba 8y ago

jondubois 8y ago

The whole article sounds insane from my perspective. If Google keeps acqui-hiring these kinds of people, it's going to turn into a mad house eventually. No wonder Google is starting to have issues about being out-of-touch now.

iamgopal 8y ago

I think major hurdles of being enterprenuer is achieving strong resilience to external changing factors. Problems will keep coming at every stage, a good one should expect and/or anticipate it and should not get tired by it. Not everyone's cup of tea. Some people are happy with good times and noodle salad.

thosakwe 8y ago

Not to mention, $16k in VC funding (or out-of-pocket) is not a “little money” for everyone out there.

icebraining 8y ago
$16k for five people, so $3.2k/person. Doesn't seem like a lot when it comes with the restriction of living in the Bay Area.
ap3 8y ago
Should someone’s story apply to everyone out there?

jakobegger 8y ago

Sure, if you have a cushy dev job, a nice apartment, a new car, expensive hobbies, no savings, and don't want to change your lifestyle, yeah, you're going to have a hard time starting something without cash. If, on the other hand, you share a cheap apartment, have parents or a partner who can support you, and are willing to skip the expensive vacation, you might get pretty far with little money. I think that's the reason why so many startups are started by people just out of college -- they're used to a modest lifestyle, and they usually don't have a problem being dependent on someone. It's amazing how quickly people think it's impossible to live on less money after a few years of having a regular job.

mojuba 8y ago
I'm definitely not among those who rent a nice apartment and I forgot what "vacation" even means. I don't own a car as thankfully it is not required where I live (like in most places in Europe). I don't buy stupid unnecessary things either. However, sharing a cheap apartment won't be easy for a 50 year old. Oh wait, that's not exactly a "startup age", so I guess I'm out anyway...
- verelo 8y ago
  Sounds like you’ve been burnt a few times. It’s not easy, but frankly, attitude is a big part of the determining factors...is you look at the research, your age should actually give you an advantage. 40-49 is the most likely time to successfully start a company. https://hbr.org/2018/07/research-the-average-age-of-a-successful-startup-founder-is-45 https://hbr.org/2018/07/research-the-average-age-of-a-succes...
  - mojuba 8y ago
    The age does give an advantage, but lack of savings is a universally problematic thing for all ages. You do need a safety net if you want to switch to entrepreneurship, or otherwise you have to be exceptionally lucky to get the salary you need and the equity you think you deserve.