#0001
17 hard-earned startup rules before your first real shot
50radar
Brutal operator advice: validate first, sell before building, and avoid distractions that drain years. Uneven takes aside, the distribution/growth notes are reusable and worth applying early.
- Idea validation came first for a reason: 5 years were wasted building things nobody needed, so demand checks beat code velocity.
- Feature sales happened before implementation through 10-20 user DMs a day; that keeps roadmap decisions tied to real pull.
- SEO was called the biggest regret after 14 years of delay. Distribution debt compounds long before product polish matters.
- Global-first and B2B-first were framed as better upside bets, while consumer apps were treated like a monetization lottery.
- Cut weak projects within 1 year, ignore hype cycles like
crypto, and avoid corporate partnerships that burn focus without shipping outcomes.
Source: news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38755180Read original →