Four levels of founder sophistication

Attitudes of successful (and not so successful) product leaders

Starting a company is not like other projects. Starting a technology company is not like starting other companies. And starting a product-focused tech company is another thing altogether.

Founders of consumer-quality technology companies need a high level of sophistication to be successful–not just as technologists, designers, and business people, but as leaders of an organization.

Freshman level: Fear, uncertainty, and doubt

You probably are: watching tech start ups from the outside looking in, now dipping your toes.

What you believe:

  • Technology is magic that other people know how to use
  • Engineers are super nerds who grew up trying to hack into the White House
  • Designers are people who make things look pretty

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Starting a company is not like other projects. Starting a technology company is not like starting other companies. And starting a product-focused tech company is another thing altogether.

Founders of consumer-quality technology companies need a high level of sophistication to be successful–not just as technologists, designers, and business people, but as leaders of an organization.

Freshman level: Fear, uncertainty, and doubt

You probably are: watching tech start ups from the outside looking in, now dipping your toes.

What you believe:

  • Technology is magic that other people know how to use
  • Engineers are super nerds who grew up trying to hack into the White House
  • Designers are people who make things look pretty

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