Managing Startups: Best Blog Posts

Chapter 67. Advice I Wish I Could Have Given Myself Five Years Ago

Vinicius Vacanti

Since going down the startup path, I’ve made so many mistakes, struggled so many times, failed in almost every way you can.

But, we turned the corner after a few years of hard work. We’re now 25 people (we’re hiring!), have raised $7.3 million, and just had our best month ever.

I often fantasize about going back in time and giving myself advice based on what I’ve learned over the last five years.

I probably wouldn’t have listened, but here’s what I would have told myself:

• Teach yourself to code. After a disastrous experience outsourcing, you’ll eventually make this decision. I just want you to make that decision today. Of all the things that will happen, this is the single biggest step-function change you’ll experience. Also, I know your outsourcers used Perl, but please do not teach yourself Perl. Teach yourself Python/Django or Ruby on Rails.

• Stop holing yourself up in your apartment. You think that an hour spent working is more productive than grabbing coffee with another founder. The problem is that you don’t yet know what to do in that hour. Talking to other founders, you’ll get some valuable advice that will help you save weeks of time. Plus, those founders will eventually introduce you to new hires and investors.

• Don’t be afraid to talk to potential investors. You keep avoiding it because you know you’re not yet ready to raise funding. While you’re right, you should still ...