Founder Weekly (Issue 652 September 4 2024)

Founder Weekly - Issue 652

September 04, 2024

Founder Weekly

Welcome to issue 652 of Founder Weekly. Let's get straight to the links this week.

General

Paul Graham discusses the concept of "founder mode" in running companies, contrasting it with traditional "manager mode" taught in business schools. He argues that founders often achieve better results by staying deeply involved in their companies and breaking conventional management wisdom, suggesting that understanding and developing "founder mode" could lead to more successful scaling of startups.

The article discusses the changing landscape of startups and venture capital, arguing that the era of easily building successful internet-based companies is ending due to increased competition and market saturation. It suggests that future successful startups will likely focus on AI infrastructure or full-stack AI products, as these areas still offer potential for outsized returns and market disruption.

Number of employees at companies launched since the pandemic is sharply lower, reflecting broader trends in the way people work.

The article explores the growing role of autonomous agents in various industries, highlighting their capabilities in self-governance, adaptation, and decision-making without direct human oversight. It discusses their applications in sectors like healthcare, finance, and sales, while also addressing challenges such as reliability and scalability, and emphasizes their potential to drive innovation and efficiency as technology matures.

Marketing, Sales and PR

At YC our motto is make something people want. But how do you actually know if you’ve accomplished that in the early days? One of the best ways to measure successful growth is a concept called cohort retention, which tracks the fraction of new users that come back time and time again to use your product. In this episode of Startup School, YC Group Partner David Lieb explains how to define cohorts, track active users and determine the appropriate time frame for measuring successful retention rates.

Krithika Muthukumar was the very first marketer at OpenAI and Stripe. Here, she unpacks what it takes to found and scale a marketing operation to build an enduring brand.

A framework for growing consumer subscription businesses.

Money and Finance

The article discusses the importance of reserves, recycling, and returns in venture capital, emphasizing how managing these elements effectively can optimize fund performance and investor returns. It highlights that careful recycling of capital and strategic reserves can significantly impact the success of a VC fund.

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