Business Building

Not every startup lends itself to such an intense customer focus: some new ventures are supply-led, not demand-inspired. Consumers could have never asked for an iPod until they actually saw one first.

“No matter how good or successful you are or how clever or crafty, your business and its future are in the hands of the people you hire. ”

― Akio Morita (founder of Sony), Made in Japan

As technology expands the array of entertainment and consumption options, the value of familiar and trusted brands increases dramatically

“At both Viaweb and YC, every minute I spent thinking about competitors was, in retrospect, a minute wasted... It's exceptionally rare for startups to be killed by competitors — so rare that you can almost discount the possibility... Inexperienced founders usually give competitors more credit than they deserve. Whether you succeed depends far more