Noam Wasserman

The Founder's Dilemmas

1. IDEA 1

   Founders face predictable choices

   Wasserman, drawing on data from thousands of startups, argues that founders face a series of common decisions. Choices about partners, hiring and funding often matter more than founders realise at the start.

2. IDEA 2

   Choose between wealth and control

   Wasserman's central idea is the Rich versus King trade-off. Founders who raise more money and hire strong executives often build more valuable companies, but they usually give up control to do so.

3. IDEA 3

   Going solo has costs

   Wasserman discusses whether to start alone or with co-founders. A team brings skills and support, but also brings risks of conflict, so the choice should be made carefully. Many teams split up early.

All 8 ideas from The Founder's Dilemmas →