49 essays for founders
Notes written over years of building, investing and advising — on finding product-market fit, sizing a market investors believe, pricing, growth and raising capital. Originally published on LinkedIn, collected here in full.
As a budding venture capitalist, you hold the key to unlocking the untapped potential of startups, propelling them to great heights and transforming industries. But in this dynamic landscape of…
5 July 2024 · 10 min read
“Telling founders simply to "build something people want" is at best unhelpful... and at worst condescending. Founders are trying. Hard. Of course, they WANT to build great products. Let's stop…
24 October 2022 · 7 min read
Some time ago; Boris Wertz wrote a great blog post about "the only 2 ways to build a $100 million business". I'd like to expand on the topic and suggest that there are five ways to build a $100…
17 October 2022 · 5 min read
These heuristics are just a starting point to identify interesting, unsolved problems in the world that may turn in to great startups. Entrepreneurs must still go deep on understanding their…
10 October 2022 · 4 min read
When doing their market analysis; start-ups often refer to TAM, SAM, and SOM but what do these acronyms mean and why are they useful to investors when assessing an investment opportunity? TAM SAM SOM…
4 October 2022 · 5 min read
There are tons of really smart people dedicating themselves to creating products and brands that people love. However, time and time again, these people and startups fail. Some of the world’s most…
27 September 2022 · 8 min read
You should start with an idea, not a company. When it’s just an idea or project, the stakes are lower and you’re more willing to entertain outlandish-sounding but potentially huge ideas. The best way…
20 September 2022 · 4 min read
If you are an entrepreneur, you are probably familiar with the 10-14 slides that comprise a typical investor pitch deck. But do you even know why you need a pitch deck in the first place? Or what you…
13 September 2022 · 19 min read
Prioritization is a perennial challenge when building a product roadmap. How do you decide what to work on first? If you’ve put the effort into brainstorming new ideas, finding opportunities for…
21 August 2022 · 6 min read
Even though it's trendy in startups to say that ideas mean nothing and execution means everything, the reality is much less binary and much more nuanced. For example, even the world’s best…
10 August 2022 · 7 min read
With product design, researching an audience and ultimately understanding them is immensely important. In this post, we’ll look at the first step of turning that data into an actual product. Let’s…
18 July 2022 · 11 min read
Marc Andreessen initially introduced the concept of product/market fit in this post published in 2007 . It was an incredibly helpful notion to explain why startup products were failing left & right…
4 July 2022 · 5 min read
As your product evolves and changes over time, you’ll invest money and time in new features, big product launches and expensive release cycles. Despite this, the vast majority of new features flop –…
26 June 2022 · 6 min read
Many people begin to experiment and fail to see the desired results. They’re often missing on the key ingredient: The Growth Mindset. They want to grow and they have a vague idea of how to get there.…
20 June 2022 · 5 min read
How do you get good ideas for startups? That's probably the number one question people ask. I'd like to reply with another question: why do people think it's hard to come up with ideas for startups?…
12 June 2022 · 16 min read
Scrappily start your sales process by identifying, approaching, and converting prospects into customers one at a time (for a start). If you build it, they will do absolutely nothing. Entrepreneurs…
7 June 2022 · 16 min read
All growth is not equal. Before we dive into the specifics of how to build a growth machine, let’s get clear on the type of growth we’re pursuing. Authentic Growth Authentic growth is three things:…
30 May 2022 · 4 min read
The beauty of SaaS is that it scales. When you have thousands of customers, you have hundreds of thousands of data points that you can use to test, measure, and optimize your marketing strategy. You…
27 March 2022 · 8 min read
Over the second half of the 1990s, Porsche hatched plans for a new car. Annual sales were a third of what they’d been the decade prior, so the company badly needed a turnaround. The car hit the…
13 March 2022 · 19 min read
Surprisingly, Slack hasn’t run any big integrated marketing campaigns — they didn’t have an elaborate email strategy or bought million-dollar billboards. (In fact, they hit amazing user numbers…
27 February 2022 · 16 min read
First-principles thinking is one of the best ways to reverse-engineer complicated problems and unleash creative possibility. Sometimes called “reasoning from first principles,” the idea is to break…
14 February 2022 · 20 min read
This article should be required reading for anyone creating a startup with an online service component. The AARRR model is an elegant way to model any service-oriented business: Acquisition…
7 February 2022 · 5 min read
Here's a common question I get from startups, especially in the early stages: when should we launch? My answer is almost always the same: Don't. First off, what does it mean to launch? Generally, we…
30 January 2022 · 7 min read
You know that a new idea has gained dominance when it becomes practically a cliché. That is what I’ve seen happen with the “Lean Startup” philosophy of viewing your startup as a scientific experiment…
23 January 2022 · 3 min read
The quicker you can get feedback on what you’re thinking the better your idea will be. Usage is oxygen for ideas. The above drawing is adapted from a Peter Merholz presentation, and shows two ways to…
16 January 2022 · 2 min read
As product managers and entrepreneurs, we know the importance of validating an idea before committing to getting it built. However, validation is easier said than done. In fact, it’s possibly one of…
9 January 2022 · 9 min read
I’m sure you’ve run into Simon Sinek’s TED talk on the Golden Circle where he made the case for how great leaders communicate differently — leading first with their why (or purpose), then describing…
2 January 2022 · 6 min read
The hero is faced with a huge—potentially overwhelming—challenge. A random event or object sparks their creativity, and suddenly they devise a brilliant solution to save the day. As romantic as this…
27 December 2021 · 9 min read
Startups Are About Growth Paul Graham’s essay in 2012 called “Startup = Growth” makes a big point in the first paragraph: A startup is a company designed to grow fast. Being newly founded does not in…
19 December 2021 · 3 min read
So, let’s get straight into this week’s topic: Step 0: Pre-product Initially, the product development process should likely be focused on big-picture qualitative information, like whether or not your…
12 December 2021 · 6 min read
TTPMF Startups need to get to “Product/Market Fit” or die trying. Most die trying. Steve Blank talks about the idea that tech companies die because of lack of customers, not inability to build…
5 December 2021 · 6 min read
So, you have an itching side-project idea but struggling to justify if you should work on it. Here is a comprehensive guide that should help decide if you should green-light that idea or not. 1. How…
28 November 2021 · 2 min read
When you are an early stage startup it is frustratingly normal that the vast proportion of people that visit your website or download your app will not engage with your product or become a customer.…
21 November 2021 · 8 min read
When building out the product for your startup it can really help to think about your customers not just interacting with your product in a single moment. In fact, your product offers a set of…
17 June 2021 · 6 min read
One of the common mistakes I see entrepreneurs make is that they move to the business model before locking down strategy. The way I like to think about this is get the product right first, then lock…
31 May 2021 · 2 min read
I’m often approached by entrepreneurs who want advice on what to do when a potential acquirer first brings up the idea of buying their company. Often, the company being targeted for acquisition is…
23 May 2021 · 7 min read
Back when iPad was first introduced, everyone was tired of hearing about it, because of how the negative responses were so perfectly misguided. That’s why it would be wrong not to talk about it..…
9 May 2021 · 3 min read
Shortly and bluntly: no! Customers don’t make decisions reasonably. They buy emotionally then think about their purchase. That’s why, too many smart people are trying to sell products that people…
27 April 2021 · 5 min read
Building a new growth team is hard. You have to figure out the macro organizational issues – how it fits in with marketing, product, and other functions – as well as the micro ones, like how to…
19 April 2021 · 12 min read
Theoretically, any startup team will range from exceptionally flawed to outstanding. The product they make will range from hardly functional to a masterpiece, and the market will range from senseless…
11 April 2021 · 4 min read
Why do you think products fail? One of the most obvious reasons behind product failure is that they don’t meet customer needs as much as other alternative products do. The Pyramid The ideal way to…
5 April 2021 · 2 min read
Good ideas bring change- which is scary! That’s why some people are afraid of good ideas that might make a difference somehow or contribute in some way or another. On the other hand, many people are…
28 March 2021 · 2 min read
If you go up to people and ask them what they think of your idea, they’ll simply tell you that it was a good one, assuming that you’re waiting to hear something positive from them. the reason they do…
21 March 2021 · 5 min read
One of the fascinating things about the internet is how different the list of top internet properties today looks from the list 10 years back. It wasn’t as if those former top companies were…
14 March 2021 · 2 min read
Surprisingly, the way to get startup ideas is not to try to think of startup ideas. However, it's to look for problems, preferably problems you have yourself. The very best startup ideas tend to have…
9 March 2021 · 16 min read
Steering through the world of start-ups can be terrifying if the entrepreneurs don’t have the right financial aids. Even though most of the entrepreneurs arrange financials on their own in the early…
13 August 2020 · 5 min read
Today, the demand for the right freelancer is increasing. The studies show that most of the skilled persons like to be their boss. They choose to freelance for their professional career. That's why…
1 April 2020 · 3 min read
When you’re on the hunt for funding, it’s natural that you want to get things moving as quickly as possible. However, identifying and approaching the right investor should be a measured process.…
23 February 2020 · 10 min read
We are pleased to announce that Academi, have acquired The Start-up Gate for SAR3,500,000 on the 1st of November, 2019. This was announced within the Badir Program for Technology Incubators, a Saudi…
2 January 2020 · 2 min read
Shorter notes and moments from building, investing and advising — shared on LinkedIn.
19 August 2025
It was an honour to attend the Saudi x Syria dinner hosted by his highness eng. Khalid Alfalih . It was a privilege to represent Qewam & رقيم - Raqeem in such an important gathering, where we exchanged ideas on strengthening ties, fostering innovation, and creating opportunities that align with Vision 2030. Grateful…
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21 May 2025
اللهم ثبّتنا على ما تحب وترضى، وبارك لنا في أرزاقنا وأرزاق من حولنا يا رب العالمين. بكل فخر وامتنان، نعبّر عن تقديرنا العميق لكل من أسهم في إتاحة هذه الفرصة الثمينة لنا في قِوام Qewam, لنكون جزءًا، ولو يسيرًا، من مسيرة إعادة إعمار سوريا العزيزة، التي تبقى دائمًا في قلوبنا في المملكة العربية السعودية وسائر الوطن العرب…
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10 May 2025
كما أشار الصديق Badr Al Jahwari في منشوره، فإن قرار صندوق الاستثمارات العامة (PIF) بإيقاف منح PwC أي عقود استشارية حتى فبراير 2026 هو لحظة فاصلة لقطاع الاستشارات في #السعودية. هذه الخطوة تؤكد ثلاثة محاور رئيسية: 1. الحوكمة أولًا – لا مكان لتجاوز معايير الشفافية والامتثال بعد اليوم. 2. تحول في موازين السوق – الاعتماد…
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20 February 2025
A few nights ago, I had the privilege of attending an inspiring dinner at the residence of Ambassador Nuno Mathias, where we celebrated the launch of our partner, Unicorn Boutique lead by my great friend Luis Gonçalves لويس جونكلافيس. It was more than just a launch—it was a testament to the incredible potential for co…
Read on LinkedIn27 January 2025
I just had to share this! After hearing all the buzz about Operator from OpenAI, I finally gave it a go. In just 15 minutes, I went through 7k connections, categorized them, created an Excel sheet, wrote personalized messages to over 600 people, and replied to all my emails for the first time in forever. It’s ridiculou…
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17 October 2024
Who else is attending #FII8 to make a #ImpactOnHumanity? I’ll be in Riyadh from Oct 29-31, 2024 and looking forward to connect and explore insights from policymakers and global leaders in #finance, #innovation, and #sustainability under the theme “Infinite Horizons: Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow.” Discover the con…
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1 October 2024
A massive thank you to Wadi Makkah | وادي مكة للتقنية for hosting us at Qewam along with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. This visit was centered around exploring future collaboration opportunities to develop industry changing programs and services that empower manufacturing, foster innovation, and su…
Read on LinkedIn17 March 2024
Exciting news! Just recently obtained a new certification as a Master GPT Builder for AI Agents, ChatGPT, GPT Store, and CustomGPT from Udemy! This certification is an important step in my professional development. I am looking forward to applying my new skills and knowledge to further enhance my work in the field. #AI…
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4 January 2022
Congratulations to a truly talented team at Alod Company For Logistic Services and to the inspiring hardworking leader Jihad Daoud , MBA , CME1. For us at Qewam | قِوام we could not be more grateful to have been part of your entrepreneurial journey Jihad Daoud , MBA , CME1, Alod Company For Logistic Services and I pe…
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8 April 2021
Lately a few people asked me to help them do their due diligence folder so i thought of doing a video on our own due diligence folder, the one we used in raising our pre-seed investment round. "in Arabic" #monshaat #menastartups #investmentfonds #preseed #qewammena #funding #investment #startup #venturecapital #entrep…
Read on LinkedIn3 March 2021
I totally agree, I think there isn’t enough early stage startup mentors in MENA region to cover the high demand. I totally believe that there should be a whole learning path focused on certifying more and more STARTUP mentors, consultants and coaches to the market. #entrepreneurshipmindset #startupsupport #startup…
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21 January 2021
فخور جدًا بمشاركتكم خبر حصول قِوام على ترخيص منشآت للعمل كأول حاضنة رقمية في المملكة سنة من الجد والعمل الدؤوب حتى خلال الجائحة لنصل لهذه اللحظة، واجهنا خلال هذه الفترة العديد من التحديات وكثير من الغير مؤمنين بأهمية التحول الرقمي لقطاع ريادة الأعمال لكن كل يوم عملناه خلال ٢٠٢٠ أكد لنا العكس لكن الآن بعد حصولنا على…
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6 February 2020
Don't be a fool trying to reinvent the wheel! This playlist is all you need to create, run and scale any startup in the world. Please invest a little time to watching them they will ensure your venture's success. Over 100's of global startup unicorns have reached IPO in less then 5 years by just using this playlist and…
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31 January 2020
driven and innovative, hypomanics are at much higher risk for depression than the general population, notes Gartner. Failure can spark these depressive episodes, of course, but so can anything that slows a hypomanic's momentum. "They're like border collies--they have to run," says Gartner. "If you keep them inside, the…
Read on LinkedIn24 January 2020
As #biban event by MonshaatSA is coming up soon. Here is the perfect way to create your elevator pitch. Fill in the blank:- "Startup name" helps ______ (WHO) achieve _____ (WHAT) through _____ (SERVICE OR PRODUCT) so, they can _____ (RESULT).* *If you have traction, choose one impressive achievement and add it at…
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5 January 2020
The course tries to discover how special financial intermediaries (called private equity investors) finance through equity companies belonging to different stages of their life-cycle, starting from the very beginning (startup and early stage) to a more mature phase (i.e. expansion, mature age, etc.) or also staying int…
Read on LinkedIn20 June 2019
Every mission/dream/task in our lives is possible no matter how dangerous/scary/difficult it may seem to the people around us, if you are prepared to start and lead the journey other brave and unique individuals will naturally and willing demand to join you to achieve the mission/dream/task. This is a breathtaking b…
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