All of our First-time founders articles

A Founder's Guide to Writing Well

A Founder's Guide to Writing Well

There's a long list of most frequently-cited skills for becoming a successful entrepreneur. One that rarely makes the list is effective writing. Upstart CEO Dave Girouard pens this thoughtful case for the importance of strong writing in the startup world — and his tips for leveling up.
The Founder's Field Guide for Navigating a Crisis — Advice from Recession-Era Leaders, Investors and CEOs Currently at the Helm

The Founder's Field Guide for Navigating a Crisis — Advice from Recession-Era Leaders, Investors and CEOs Currently at the Helm

We've tapped First Round partners, recession-era founders and our community of CEOs to put together the most comprehensive guide available about what it takes to lead a startup during this economic crisis. From extending your runway and reducing burn to supporting your team, this guide tackles the t
This Founder Built Startups in 2008, 2016 and 2018. Here’s What He’s Learned About Resiliency

This Founder Built Startups in 2008, 2016 and 2018. Here’s What He’s Learned About Resiliency

Bob Moore's first brush with life as a founder started in 2008—three days before Lehman Brothers collapsed. Since he cut his teeth as a first-time founder in turbulent times, he's gone on to build two other companies. Here, Moore shares the lessons he's learned along the way.
How to Craft Your Product Team at Every Stage, From Pre-Product-Market Fit to Hypergrowth

How to Craft Your Product Team at Every Stage, From Pre-Product-Market Fit to Hypergrowth

Former Credit Karma CPO Nikhyl Singhal shares the phases a product org goes through as a startup matures — and his tips for transitioning between them gracefully.
The Founder Dating Playbook – Here’s the Process I Used to Find My Co-Founder

The Founder Dating Playbook – Here’s the Process I Used to Find My Co-Founder

Gloria Lin opens up about her pre-founder journey, from how to find a co-founder and early conversations, to the set of 50 questions she prototyped to team up on a startup idea.
NerdWallet’s CEO on Navigating the Shift from First-Time Founder to Seasoned Exec

NerdWallet’s CEO on Navigating the Shift from First-Time Founder to Seasoned Exec

NerdWallet co-founder and CEO Tim Chen reflects on the arc of his journey as founder after more than a decade of company building. He shares the six mindset shifts he needed to make to transition from entrepreneur to executive as his startup scaled, weaving together a collection of lessons that will
From Zero to IPO: How Growth Needs to Evolve at Every Startup Stage

From Zero to IPO: How Growth Needs to Evolve at Every Startup Stage

There's no one-size-fits-all growth advice. Brian Rothenberg, former VP of Growth at Eventbrite, breaks down the three broad phases of the startup lifecycle. For each phase, he identifies key targets that startups should aim for to kick their growth strategy to the next level.
I Asked 100 Founders, CEOs and VCs About Career Transitions — Here’s What I Learned

I Asked 100 Founders, CEOs and VCs About Career Transitions — Here’s What I Learned

After founding and scaling LendUp for seven years, Sasha Orloff decided to step down as CEO. He shares his journey and his illuminating takeaways about career transitions, structuring time off and founder life after the startup.
The Inside Story of How This Startup Turned a 216-Word Pitch Email into a $2.6 Billion Acquisition

The Inside Story of How This Startup Turned a 216-Word Pitch Email into a $2.6 Billion Acquisition

Looker went from a single customer to more than 1700, from a small, scrappy team in Santa Cruz to a 700-person company spanning eight offices around the globe. Now on the heels of its acquisition by Google, co-founders Lloyd Tabb and Ben Porterfield, CEO Frank Bien, and first investor Bill Trenchard