If you could change one thing about the current startup ecosystem, what would it be?
Vlad Zivkovic
65 replies
Hey Product Hunters, happy Monday! Share what would you change about the current startup ecosystem?
Replies
Stefan Pettersson@stpe
Hue Log
How VCs talk about ”the team” but typicallt spends less time with the founder group than a normal interview process. Also - given how common founder conflicts are - there is very little done to help founders deal with that.
(i.e. If I would be investing I would have group coach/therapy as a requirement for founder teams - would definitely increase probability of ROI)
Share
Their pathetic lust for becoming a unicorn asap and losing focus from their products/services.
Great question! For VCs and incubators to stop turning startups into product factories to be sold to Tech Giants. This stifles innovation and results in what could be great products just become add-on features for tech giants.
I would recommend we all celebrate the smallest wins, and also celebrate indiehackers and bootstrapers more
By the way, if you're interested in a hiring tech talent in Africa or want to make sense of the landscape, here's a LinkedIn newsletter to start: https://www.linkedin.com/build-r...
More publications from the boostrapping startups about their journey versus VC-backed ones. Startup isn’t always all fairytales
Insight7
@adeola_williams hi Deola, we just launched Insight7 and would appreciate your support here (https://www.producthunt.com/post...)
Thanks
@adeola_williams Yes, yes, yes!
Booomerang
Easier understanding of government funds and grants for early-stage startups.
CloudFunnels AI
Better communications and cooperation between producers. When you help someone, 2 people get ahead. Them and you
CloudFunnels AI
@gloria_ayanbimpe Already gave you my support
Insight7
@cyriljeet Hi Cyril, we just launched Insight7 and would really appreciate your support here (https://www.producthunt.com/post...)
RedwoodJS
@cyriljeet acquainted with the RedwoodJS community? You'd appreciate their take on shared success.
Insight7
@cyriljeet thanks a lot!
RedwoodJS
I'd appreciate a digital culture more oriented towards the dream of technology, setting what we mostly have today behind. Who ever dreamt of doom-scrolling, trolls & online anti-social behaviour?
The bias of investors towards serial entrepreneurs, alma mater, and networks.
@senthil99nathan They do have more experience than the first time founders. Even if you failed before they still know you already been there, so they will trust you more.
Insumo AI
As an entrepreneur that used to work in a Venture Capital; value team effort over market speculation. 💪 Passionate entrepreneurs can drive innovation! 🚀
Insight7
@ozgumusbusra Hi Busra, we just launched Insight7 and would appreciate your support (https://www.producthunt.com/post...)
Thanks
Jupitrr
To let every founder know from Day 1 that raising money from VCs isn't something straight up more glamorous than bootstrapping. I heard about it earlier but only deeply understand it after 5 years of being a founder.
Sure, VC money can possibly bring success faster, but if you don't have the experience to pick an investor wisely and got a toxic one in your company, if not your board member, it can be the reason leading to failure for your company.
Investor-founder matching is like a marriage (I mean, literally), having a toxic partner can screw you in many big ways - especially product flexibility. They can also drain your mental health. Think twice before getting into the route of being venture-backed.
@vladimir_zivkovic what's yours!
@harrischh VC money is good, nobody can deny that, it's the media that push us to chase money instead of the building something profitable.
For me is pretty much the same, I've raised money from VCs before, but my startup failed, so I would shine more light on indie hackers and bootstrapped startups.
Jupitrr
@vladimir_zivkovic I've done both too and the experience is quite different. I'm glad that my investors gave me much more freedom.
I have got a founder friend whose product idea got stuck for PMF, while their investor is not keen on allowing them to pivot and put so much pressure on them to follow the money instead of their passion. Despite me being seemingly negative about VC money, my personal preference would be
👉🏻 Good VC > Bootstrap > Bad VC - I just find myself intrigued with the excitement of the VC-backed route.
I'd love to hear more of your stories from your past experience. Please make a post about it next time!🫡
I've shared mine here if anyone's interested - https://medium.com/jupitrr/bruta...
@harrischh Good VC will take you to the moon and back in a year, that's definitely better option than struggling with bootstrapping for 10 years or even worse having a bad VC. The problem with VCs is not them it's us, we are the one thirsty for some kind of glory and quadrillion dollar valuations instigated by startups media, that will never change. We don't want to pay attention to failures even if the VCs say they are only right 20% of the time when investing money. I am staying for now on the bootstrapping side and let's see what the future brings :)
I would like to see less investment received by strange people with inflated egos and idiotic ideas. If you have a profitable startup with high growth rates but the most common, but for such a startup, it is much more difficult to raise funding than a startup on steroids with a crazy team that does not even understand how to make money.
@nickanisimov It's always been like that, I don't think it will change.
To make it easier to attract investors at an early stage, rather than when the company is already profitable.
@alexey_anshakov That one will never happen.
Serand
Just sign-up and I'm already loving the user experience.
Mentor.AI
Great question! In the current startup ecosystem, one thing I would love to see is more accessible and effective learning opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. Knowledge is the key to success, and having a platform that empowers individuals to learn and develop their skills can make a significant impact on their startup journey.
Speaking of learning, have you checked out ProApp? It's an edtech application that focuses on helping people learn design and other essential skills to thrive in the startup world. It's designed to provide an interactive and engaging learning experience, which we believe is crucial for anyone looking to make their mark in the startup ecosystem.
You can learn more about ProApp and our mission to enhance startup education on our Product Hunt launch page: (https://www.producthunt.com/prod...)
Let me know if you have any more questions or if there's anything else I can help you with! 😊
Less bloated startup rounds and evaluations. It doesn't benefit others.
@dmitriy_pegov They will never change that.
Incentivize startups to consider ethics. Startups are often laser-focused on growth. I'd like to see more incentives or regulations that encourage startups to think deeply about the ethical implications of their technologies early on.
BuzzBonus
More programs in high school to get students to consider the entrepreneurship pathway
@pothamram Like an elective that's along the line of Economics
grow it slower
I completely agree with the comment about mental health written by someone. Often, those who enter a startup early are the ones who suffer the most because they have to do more since there is no existing foundation yet. This leaves room for newcomers who join later, feeling more refreshed and with a (20%) base already prepared for a viable product. Therefore, I would change the evaluation and distribution of the workload, as it remains the same even though the early employees are the ones who suffer the most.
I would also change the way we communicate, accepting complaints and suggestions regarding workflow changes that could ease and streamline stress.