Gabriel P.

35 Days into YC: 3 Real Startup Lessons We Didn't Expect 🪄 #1 Master the Art of the Impromptu Pitch - Keep it magical: Your demo should always tell a story — keep the focal point your users, and make sure they experience the “WOW” moment of your trick. 🎯 #2 Activation Trumps Acquisition: The Real Metric That Matters - At Spur (YC S24) we measure activation by measuring the frequency with our users are creating and running tests on the platform. - Signing up for a demo, a pilot, or even onboarding does *not* signal activation The question that really matters: are your users actually using your product and finding value from it? ✨#3 Make things ridiculously easy for your customers - Set up easy channels of communication with your customers, and be proactive about using them. - Handoff doesn't cut it, your customers should hit the ground running when you onboard them — even if it means you are doing the work to set them up P.S. 👀 Keep an eye out! Exciting things to come from us early next week #ycombinator #AI #Testing

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Founders, especially non-technical founders, let me save you some time. This is a Requirements Matrix. If you're an application founder, let me re-introduce you. This is a Requirements Matrix. It's your best friend. When utilized fully, a Requirements Matrix can: ☑ Clarify your app uses ☑ Invite collaboration in requirements brainstorming sessions ☑ Align developers to the overall vision ☑ Identify key resources that will be needed to support the overall app (architecturally and talent-wise) ☑ Be the basis for the product roadmap ☑ Build requirements that ultimately go into your requirements management tool like Jira ☑ Identify scope creep ☑ Manage stakeholder expectations If you haven't heard of one or you would like to try it out, you can save a copy from the link in the comments. Follow for more tips or if you're curious on the adventures of a #founder in Cleveland! #techfounder #femalesintech #founderlife #productmanagement

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Vertical AI agents >>> SaaS ? SaaS has revolutionized how businesses operate, evolving into a $300B industry with over a few hundred unicorns. And, Vertical AI Agents, offer an opportunity that could eclipse SaaS by 10x. Here’s what makes Vertical AI Agents game-changing: 1️⃣ Deep Domain Expertise: Unlike general AI tools, Vertical AI Agents are purpose-built for specific industries. Their hyper-specialization ensures they tackle nuanced challenges with precision. 2️⃣ Workflow Automation: They don't just assist teams—they can replace entire functions. From QA testing to recruitment, these agents are streamlining operations in ways SaaS never could. 3️⃣ Massive Efficiency Gains: While SaaS improved productivity, Vertical AI Agents aim to redefine it. By reducing dependency on large teams, vertical AI agents allow companies to scale with smaller headcounts, reshaping cost structures and productivity models The Opportunity? Despite their promise, most sectors have less than 1% penetration of Vertical AI Agents, signaling massive growth opportunities. Hyper-verticalization will likely dominate, with AI companies focusing on specific industries or niche use cases. As these agents mature, they’ll reshape not only software but the fundamental way businesses operate, enabling smaller teams to achieve more. As Y Combinator puts it, Vertical AI Agents might be a 10x bigger opportunity than SaaS, with each SaaS success story having a Vertical AI counterpart.  That’s a bold statement, but if history is any indicator, this could be the start of something revolutionary. The question isn’t if Vertical AI Agents will rise but how fast they’ll scale. Which industries are most ready for this disruption? Let’s discuss. #AI #innovation #startups #tech

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𝗔𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 Dear Startup Leader,   𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸. Your team is scaling fast, and so are the challenges.   As your #startup grows, you’re no longer just dealing with product-market fit or investor relations. You’re managing people – real, ambitious, driven people who are looking to you for guidance.   𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵: leadership isn’t an instinct, it’s a skill that needs to be honed.   Yet, in the mad rush to scale, many startups skip this critical step, hoping their managers and leaders will "figure it out." 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀. We understand the pressure. You’re busy raising funds, perfecting your product, and fighting fires. Building an in-house #training program might feel like a luxury.   That’s exactly why we created ManagementX By Inc42 – because leadership training isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity! #ManagementX isn’t just a program – it’s a movement designed to empower India’s next wave of digital leaders.    𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁-𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀, ManagementX equips your team with the modern business, leadership, and digital skills they need to step up, lead, and scale.   This isn’t theoretical learning – this is about mastering the art of scaling start-ups from 0 to 100 and beyond.   Here’s a glimpse of 9 critical sessions that could transform your team:   1. Building The Manager’s Operating System 2. The Lost Art Of Managing Up 3. Leading At Scale – Systems Thinking & Operational Excellence 4. How To Build & Expand Your Circle of Influence 5. How To Run A Business Like A Public Listed Company 6. Product-Led Growth 7. Building Your Executive Presence 8. Compensation Structuring to Retain Talent 9. Life Design, Thinking Long Term & Developing A Career Plan   Your team’s leadership will define the future of your company. 𝗦𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 – can you really afford to leave #leadership to chance?   If you’re serious about scaling your startup and staying ahead of the competition, this is the investment your team deserves – https://4-2.co/3NeqfRi Check our website or reach out to me if you want to know how ManagementX can help your team step up and lead so your startup can scale smarter, faster, and stronger. Vaibhav Vardhan Pooja Sareen Utkarsh Agarwal Shantanu Kwatra Sahil Goel

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From engineering to fractional CMO/mentor for startups, Thibaut has spent years mastering the art of marketing B2B SaaS solutions. And now, he is co-founding Glorious to digitizing elder care operations. I sat down with Thibaut to dive into his journey and uncover his secrets to success, including: 🔷 Challenges of breaking into a traditional, slow-moving industry and how he overcame them 🔷 Crafting effective messaging strategies that resonate with non-tech-savvy audiences 🔷 Most common mistakes founders make when starting their startups 🔷 Practical advice for early-stage founders on navigating product-market fit 🔷 Thibaut’s journey in building Glorious, a B2B SaaS platform for elder care Curious about Thibaut's strategies for success? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g-rP2gFN 💡 We hope Thibaut’s insights provide valuable takeaways to enhance your own approach to messaging and market entry! For more exclusive content from industry leaders, subscribe to Maven Club: https://lnkd.in/g_SzSSAD

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Scaling your startup is more than just expanding, it's about growing strategically and sustainably. This article explores the right time to scale, the operational challenges you may face, and how technology can fuel sustainable growth. Key takeaways include: Recognizing when to scale based on revenue, demand, and efficiency. Strategic planning, including financial readiness, market reach, and team building. Overcoming operational challenges like increased complexity, quality control, and resource allocation. Leveraging cloud computing, automation, data analytics, and cybersecurity for smooth scaling. At WezSol, we specialize in custom website and mobile app development services and help you navigate the complexities of scaling your operations. From optimizing your technology infrastructure to automating key processes, our expert team supports your growth with tailored solutions, ensuring your business scales efficiently and sustainably. Let WezSol be your partner in scaling smarter, not just bigger! #wezsol #scalingoperations #startupgrowth #businessscaling #eechforgrowth #customsoftware #mobileappdevelopment #sustainablegrowth #scalingstrategy

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Venture Studios: The Future of Startup Creation 🚀 Have you ever heard of venture studios? 🤔 During a late-night coffee break at a hackathon, I discovered the power of venture studios—a new model that combines incubation, investment, and deep operational support to create startups from the ground up. Unlike traditional incubators or accelerators, venture studios don’t just offer resources—they build startups in-house, from ideation to market launch. The more I learned, the more I realized that venture studios are redefining what’s possible for startups. They’re quick, collaborative, and deeply invested in the growth and success of each venture they create. Want to know more about startups and VCs insights, my newsletter : https://lnkd.in/eRpmanPE Checkout also the amazing of Max Pog about this subject: https://lnkd.in/eyyVVrMT

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✨ Breaking: Interlagos Announces New Fund.- Interlagos Founded by former SpaceX leaders, this new fund aims to raise $550 million for deep tech investments, particularly in the space and defense sectors. interlagos.com Please share to let other #Founders know For the ❤️ of Startups #Fusion42 #Startups#Venturecapital

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💡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐈𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞! 🌍 Fundraising is hard, but finding the right investors doesn’t have to be. This guide is your shortcut to 5000+ VCs, angels, and family offices across:  • 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: US, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and MENA.  • 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: SaaS, Web3, ClimateTech, DeepTech, and more.  • 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: Pre-seed angels, fund-of-funds, and diversity-focused investors. What you’ll get:  • Verified global VC lists, tailored by stage and geography.  • Specialized directories like AI angels, accelerators, and niche family offices.  • Tools to focus your outreach and scale smarter. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/dtdyuUqP

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🚀 The recent Forbes article highlights the emergence of a new generation of young entrepreneurs, dubbed the "2025 Under 30" cohort, who are capitalizing on the AI boom. These founders, many of whom were born during the dot-com era, are raising billions to launch innovative companies focused on artificial intelligence and its transformative potential. This moment is significant for the Information Technology industry. As we witness this surge of activity, we are reminded of the dot-com boom's unpredictability and innovation. The rise of AI is not merely a trend; it represents a paradigm shift in how we think about technology and problem-solving. From my perspective, this influx of young talent could inject fresh ideas into the market, potentially addressing long-standing issues and improving efficiencies across various sectors. However, it also brings challenges. With significant investments pouring in, we have to be mindful of potential market saturation, overvaluation, and the ethical implications of AI development. As these entrepreneurs dive headfirst into this gold rush, the industry must also focus on sustainable growth and responsible innovation. The landscape will evolve, and established players need to adapt or risk being left behind. I'm eager to hear from my network: How do you view these changes? What strategies are you considering to stay ahead in this AI-driven market? Let's share insights and explore how we can shape the future together! 💡💬 https://buff.ly/4ggiiHV #AIRevolution #YoungEntrepreneurs #30Under30 #TechInnovators #FutureOfAI #StartupCulture #GenerationAI #DigitalGoldRush

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The first check is the hardest. Being selected for a great accelerator is not an easy task, but it is definitely a great achievement. Everyone knows about YC, but here are about 14 chances to get funding and incredible support for your startup. Y Combinator, 500 Global, Alchemist Accelerator, Techstars, FH0, Founders, Inc., Race Capital, Pear VC, AI2 Incubator, South Park Commons, NEO accelerator, Antler, LAUNCH and many others. This is raw content about each accelerator, including how much they invest, and how much equity they take. Increase your chances by applying to many and be aware of what to expect when you receive an offer. Like and share with someone who needs it. https://lnkd.in/gtUriFDU

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Fundraising the YCombinator Way: Key Lessons from a Successful Pre-Seed Round Navigating the fundraising landscape can be challenging, especially for early-stage startups. By applying the principles shared by YC alumni, you can increase your chances of success and build momentum for your venture. Key Takeaways: 1) Clarity and Conciseness: Keep your answers short, clear, and focused on the essentials. 2) Sell Your Team: Highlight your team's domain expertise and past accomplishments. 3) Persistence Pays Off: Every "no" gets you closer to that one "yes." PS. check out 🔔 for a winning pitch deck the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel https://lnkd.in/ejp-Bhnu

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🎲 Crafting a compelling 𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒌 is more than just a presentation—it's a roadmap to your startup's success. Tailoring it to resonate with the right investors can make all the difference in securing the support your venture needs to thrive. 🔑✨ I just found this document by AddedVal.io on How to create your newly refined Pitch Deck. Good luck! ⚠️ If you are interested in Startups, Business, Investing! Follow Mohamed Elfaleh for more, and click the (🔔) to get notified when I post! #StartupTips #PitchDeck #Investor #VC #Venture #VentureCapital #PitchDeckMastery #Founder #FounderJourney #StartupFounder

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Startup decks vs Business plans. It's accepted that a startup needs a deck. Dax Dasilva of Lightspeed Commerce made an important point on 20VC. Writing a business plan - including financial projections - is an important step. It requires discipline. It provides a rigorous framework for thinking deeply about the problem you're trying to solve. Harry Stebbings countered that he doesn't even want to see a deck since it's all dreams. We spent a lot of time and energy on our business plan with the expectation that we would show it to no one ever. The business plan was part of our roadmap for the company. We researched customers - including having 50+ conversations. We wanted to understand them: their background, their interests, their presence on social media. We also wanted to understand how they were evaluated by leadership and how integrated they were with the business of the company they were protecting. We researched pricing both with potential customers and other products in our industry to find out if OpEx or CapEx was a better fit. How did they buy today? How would they like to buy? We did market research to understand the verticals and map the right entry point - we were wrong but that doesn't reduce the value of the research. We looked at competitors in depth to understand what they were seeing that we weren't. Dax is right. This is an invaluable document that should be updated every year - the company is changing, the market is changing, there's more feedback about price and ICP. It's not for sharing with the outside world. It's a map for driving forward. Decks won't get you investment - VCs invest in people. We make decks but we know they don't tell our story. The deck is a calling card. Dax and Harry are both right. https://lnkd.in/e25M82xY

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I just posted a video with typical mistakes founders usually make when they start raising their first investment round. Check the link in the first comment and share your opinion in the comments. If you feel that you learned a lot from this episode, please share it with your friends and collegues 🙏🏽 Follow me on youtube❤️

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Entrepreneurship is a business of risk … If you dont like risks, dont take the route.

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Understanding the Evolution of Pre-Seed and Seed Rounds in the Startup Ecosystem As the startup landscape continues to evolve, it’s crucial for founders to stay informed about the trends and benchmarks shaping early-stage fundraising. Recent data from Carta highlights several key insights into how pre-seed and seed rounds are conducted today compared to just a few years ago. 🔶 SAFEs are Dominating Early-Stage Fundraising The use of SAFEs (Simple Agreements for Future Equity) has skyrocketed since 2021, especially for smaller rounds. In H1 2021, SAFEs comprised the majority of rounds up to $1M. Fast forward to H1 2024, and SAFEs are now the dominant structure for rounds up to $4M. This shift has streamlined fundraising, reducing legal costs and simplifying terms, but also introduced complexities around multiple SAFE rounds and potential dilution. 📊 Seed & Pre-Seed Venture Benchmarks Data from 1,019 rounds raised by US software companies on Carta in 2024 shows the median amounts raised, valuations, and dilution percentages for different stages. For instance, a priced seed round typically raises around $3.3M with a median valuation of $13.7M and 20.7% dilution, whereas a SAFE seed round might have a median valuation of $18M with slightly lighter dilution. 📉 Stuck in Seed Round Quicksand A concerning trend is the difficulty startups face in raising Series A rounds. Data shows that the percentage of startups moving from seed to Series A within two years has been steadily declining across all industries. In H1 2022, only 13% of startups managed to make this leap, down from 35% in 2020. 📈 Industry Valuations and Cash Raised Industry-specific data reveals significant disparities in pre-money valuations and cash raised at the seed stage. Healthtech has overtaken Fintech as a leading category, with SaaS continuing to dominate in deal volume. Seed-stage startups in sectors like DTC Retail and Food lag behind, potentially exploring alternative funding methods. 📝 Advisor Equity Grants by Stage For those considering bringing on advisors, benchmarks indicate typical equity grants across different stages. At the pre-seed stage, the median grant is around 0.23%, with only 1 in 10 advisors receiving more than 1% equity. 🔍 Key Takeaways for Founders 1. Leverage SAFEs for Efficiency: SAFEs can be highly beneficial for rounds under $2M, but be mindful of the potential downsides of multiple SAFE rounds. 2. Plan for Longer Fundraising Cycles: The median time between Series A and B is approaching 2.5 years, necessitating longer capital utilization planning. 3. Understand Industry Benchmarks: Knowing where your startup stands in terms of valuation and cash raised can help set realistic expectations and strategies. For more detailed insights, explore the full reports and data from Carta. #Startups #Fundraising #VC #SAFEs #SeedStage #PreSeed #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #StartupFunding #CartaData

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