Culture isn’t a perk, it’s your operating system. In the early stages of a startup, it’s easy to focus on building the product, raising capital, or finding early customers. Culture feels like something you can figure out later, maybe once you’ve hired a Head of People or closed your Series A. But here’s the truth: […]

Execution doesn’t start with code. It starts with conversations. Take Leila, an Iranian UX designer living in Orange County. She had an idea for an app to help immigrant families find doctors who spoke their language. Instead of hiring a developer or writing a business plan, she interviewed 30 families across three cities. What she […]

Your business is bleeding money, and you might not even know it. That “healthy” bank balance? It’s an illusion. Those signed contracts? They won’t pay rent next week. Your “profitable” month? Meaningless until you understand where every dollar is actually going. Most founders fail because they’re solving the wrong problem. Passion doesn’t pay bills. Vision […]

Setbacks are Signals. Not Stop Signs. Instead of glossing over failures, do this every time something doesn’t go as planned: Step 1: Immediate Debrief After any major setback (missed target, investor rejection, feature flop), gather your core team and answer: Step 2: Assumption Mapping Write out 3–5 assumptions that drove the failed effort. Which one […]

Intro: Office Hours, Not Just for Professors In the startup ecosystem, “office hours” are often thought of as something only VCs, professors, or accelerators offer. But the truth is, any founder, especially those at the earliest stages, can use office hours as a powerful, low-cost tool to build community, credibility, and even traction. This blog […]

The startup world is full of myths. One of the most dangerous? That joining any incubator or accelerator is a step forward. The truth: Picking the wrong program can derail your startup. Some founders waste years in the wrong environment, while others miss their moment by hesitating. This isn’t just another explainer. By the end, […]

Many entrepreneurs assume that if they build a great product, customers will come. But in a new country, you don’t just lack customers, you lack context. Real Example: Aisha’s Tech Startup in Toronto Aisha, a software engineer from Pakistan, moved to Canada with an AI-powered education platform. Her product was strong, but she struggled to gain […]