Insights
What we’ve learned building companies.
Lessons from the businesses we’ve built with founders, and the ones that taught us the most.
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One decision that led to 400% growth in SaaS revenueI had a mind-blowing chat with a SaaS CEO last week. He grew his European startup by 400% by entering the US (which now represents 75% of $13m ARR). He also slashed overheads 40% by offshoring successfully to India, and overhauled his entire product via acquisition. Here are my 5 takeaways: #1.Read the post →
10 ways top execs manage stress to outperform their peersA study of 2 million people showed that 90% of top performers are skilled at managing stress to optimise performance. Here are the 10 ways they do it. (Research shows that intermittent stress actually makes you more alert and boosts performance.Read the post →
How not to lose your own startupIs there a better way to start a business than handing over 49% to a cofounder? Yes, there is. In this post I described some of the cofounder car crashes I’ve seen. But what’s the alternative? Answer: Do the first part alone You wouldn’t hire someone on a salary before it became unavoidable,Read the post →
10 cofounder clashes I’ve witnessed first-handI understand the urge to start your business with a cofounder, but after 7 ventures and 50+ investments, here are 10 co-founder situations I’ve witnessed first-hand: One company with huge potential closed down immediately after raising a round of investment(and gave the money back to investors) because the founders couldn’t agree to work together.Read the post →
Here’s the real reason your startup isn’t taking offStop. Your product does NOT need another feature. Here’s the real reason your startup isn’t taking off… Since I began investing in startups in 2012, I’ve seen hundreds (thousands?) of founders with no traction. Often they would explain that nobody was using their product because it lacked a certain feature.Read the post →
The startup superpower: taking a breakI realise I’m opening myself up to ridicule with this picture, but there’s a reason I’m sharing it… and no, it’s not for feedback on my swing (although if you have tips, don’t hold back). I just got back from a holiday in Scotland. (That’s why I haven’t posted for a while. Thanks for noticing.Read the post →
Why, unfortunately, startup life is for the privileged fewAre startups a great leveller? Equal opportunity for all? Nope. Startup life is for the privileged. Here’s why I believe this… Who, other than someone with a safety net, can do the following? – Give up salary for 18 months – After that, earn below market rate for 3-5 years – Put their careerRead the post →
Welcoming Darius to DQ, and Unexpected Learnings from the Hiring ProcessYou know that interview you never got, or that job you were passed over for, despite being a great fit? … Here’s why you didn’t get it. 👇 The chap in the picture is Darius Safavi. He’s the guy we just hired as our latest team member at DQventures… out of an amazing 398 applicants.Read the post →
How to deal with anxiety when you start your own companyAlmost everyone in startups feels anxious. Including me now. No matter how on top of things people seem, something is keeping them awake at night. But I just heard something that might help. 👇 Do the following remind you of anyone?Read the post →
What are you supposed to do once you’ve got your first paying users?A founder I know managed to get his SaaS product into the hands of his first paying users. He’s wondering what to do next. Marketing? Fundraising? What would you do? Here’s his plan… 👇 This isn’t the founder’s first rodeo.Read the post →
Why “just go for it” is awful startup advice“I guarantee once you do it… You’ll never look back.” ☝️ some of the worst startup advice I’ve ever seen. I find it hard to comprehend how anyone with experience launching and running their own business would utter these words, let alone post them as advice on LinkedIn.Read the post →
How AI is transforming entrepreneurship: a real life exampleI’ve read many predictions of how AI will transform entrepreneurship, but this is the first time I’ve seen it first-hand… I met a chap before Christmas, who was introduced to me as “a gifted entrepreneur”. He’d recently left a startup he founded, despite it growing to >$20m ARR and running at a profit.Read the post →