Founders overestimate the value of experience — investors don’t. Here’s how early-stage valuation actually works, and why adaptability beats pedigree every time.
I’m coming from the legal world, where I agree educational pedigree is overvalued, but experience? With all the talk about how our brains are pattern-matching and prediction-making machines? Someone who’s encountered more patterns and evaluated more predictions isn’t more valuable? Y’all are wild in the tech world!
Founders often overweight experience over market validation and traction - I hear this a lot. It’s far easier to talk about yourself than do 200 validation calls. Or even 20.
Often - founder market misfit is a strategic advantage
The ability of a founder to take feedback and learn from it is key for them to execute. I look for founders who are humble and check their ego at the door as those who do not will not take the input to grow and learn.
So true. It's central to their super power. I refer to to the Ronaldo or Serena gene - that obsession with self development and leaning into the challenges. Thanks for sharing
This felt like one of those short pauses that changes the direction of a whole day. Not loud, not complicated, just enough to make you notice what really matters again.
Through the 5 Voices lens, moments like this land differently for each person: Nurturers feel the emotional truth. Guardians notice the steadiness it brings. Creatives sense new questions forming. Connectors feel a quiet pull toward meaning. Pioneers feel a gentle nudge to move. When a note can speak to all five, it tends to stay with people longer than they expect.
Thanks, Chris. This is really helpful advice. Even for a non-founder, there's lots in my CV that I'm going to go and change as a direct result of this, especially grounding my current experience in my current role. I also think there's a little bit more room for humility as well. 😉
I’m coming from the legal world, where I agree educational pedigree is overvalued, but experience? With all the talk about how our brains are pattern-matching and prediction-making machines? Someone who’s encountered more patterns and evaluated more predictions isn’t more valuable? Y’all are wild in the tech world!
I bet you legal types go wild too ... 🤓
Founders often overweight experience over market validation and traction - I hear this a lot. It’s far easier to talk about yourself than do 200 validation calls. Or even 20.
Often - founder market misfit is a strategic advantage
Founder market fit is always a big debate for us investors before committing. So you've nailed it
The ability of a founder to take feedback and learn from it is key for them to execute. I look for founders who are humble and check their ego at the door as those who do not will not take the input to grow and learn.
So true. It's central to their super power. I refer to to the Ronaldo or Serena gene - that obsession with self development and leaning into the challenges. Thanks for sharing
I've definitely caught myself leaning on past wins when I should've been testing assumptions faster.
None of us a even close to perfect. It's what makes us special. We find our own way so keep leaning into the challenges ✨
This felt like arriving at a calm moment in the middle of a busy day.
Not dramatic, just enough to make you notice what’s been underneath the noise.
Through the 5 Voices lens, moments like this connect with people in different ways:
Nurturers feel the emotional truth.
Guardians sense the steadiness it brings.
Creatives notice the space it opens for new questions.
Connectors feel the pull toward shared meaning.
Pioneers feel a quiet nudge to act when the time is right.
When a note speaks to all five, it tends to stay with people longer than they expect.
interesting research and numbers, CV important but it’s just paper
Having an edge that comes across as compelling stands you out.
Great share! I will definitely keep this in mind for clients raising rounds. I like anchoring around your current milestones.
That's a good one ✨
This felt like one of those short pauses that changes the direction of a whole day. Not loud, not complicated, just enough to make you notice what really matters again.
Through the 5 Voices lens, moments like this land differently for each person: Nurturers feel the emotional truth. Guardians notice the steadiness it brings. Creatives sense new questions forming. Connectors feel a quiet pull toward meaning. Pioneers feel a gentle nudge to move. When a note can speak to all five, it tends to stay with people longer than they expect.
Thanks James. I appreciate your wisdom
Thanks Chris 😊
From ops, pedigree rarely predicts day‑to‑day resilience, the real edge is a founder’s ability to iterate fast and course - correct under pressure!!!
"course correct under pressure" - I really like that. Brilliant wisdom, simply put. ✨
Thanks, Chris. This is really helpful advice. Even for a non-founder, there's lots in my CV that I'm going to go and change as a direct result of this, especially grounding my current experience in my current role. I also think there's a little bit more room for humility as well. 😉
Glad you liked it Sam. I'll try and dial the punchiness down a little 😬