Startup Advice

Bill Gates on Microsoft's "hard-core detractors" December 4, 1993

We’re driven by an insatiable desire to bring our ideas to life, to make a difference in the world, and to make our own paths to success. As creators, as founders — that’s who we are.

We pour our hearts, souls, and resources into our ideas, fuelled by a shaking, frequently fucking terrified but always determined belief in our abilities and the... See more

We are in an age of noise.

The frameworks that got us here, of jobs-to-be-done or product-market fit, will be insufficient going forward. For founders to have extraordinary outcomes, they will have to find alpha in markets that aren’t easily understood.

Which is to say, technology alone won’t be enough. The other essential ingredient will be taste.... See more

Maintain a sense of urgency to drive compound growth

One of the core things we’ve learned is that a sense of urgency leads to compounding growth .

To get the best long-term gains, you should always have a sense of urgency. The quicker you launch winning experiments, the quicker those changes impact your growth. Not only that, but these improvements... See more

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the companies that have a reputation for building the best products of this generation—Slack, Figma, Superhuman, Notion, and Linear—are basically new versions of successful predecessors. These companies didn’t distract themselves with four-step strategic maneuvers or clever wedges into a new category that they... See more