First Time Founder Flex

There is a really interesting story about observations that Devon and I recount in our history with first time founders. He conveniently refers to the air of arrogance and lack of coach-ability in early founders as FTFF’s aka “First Time Founder Flex.” When we began working with entrepreneurs within a program structure we entered this place with learnings brought forth by some previous ad-hoc engagements with EIRs. There is a fence line between Founders with Ideas and active entrepreneurship. Our programs have grown increasingly focused on capacity and drive over skills through our observations within the primary Devland Entrepreneur program.

Here are the Top 3 things that Founding Entrepreneurs get wrong in the idea stage.

My Idea will look just like I imagined.

Ideas are just a signal, a starting place, they don’t typically resolve as your final solution.

I’m building an app. You can’t tell me anything different.

Most ventures start as a service leveraging some existing habit or behavior. With technology that behavior is now made more tangible with increased value or ease.

I don’t have traction with my idea so something must be wrong with the customer or user.

Businesses are an apparatus to serve people and other companies. If you don’t have anyone to serve most likely you are building in the wrong direction.

Why Studio’s matter…

Studios are here to provide a space for growth of ventures but especially the entrepreneurial leaders behind them. The success of a venture is heavily tied to the entrepreneur, the network they forge and their ability to resource pivotal outcomes. While we appreciate a certain level of zeal and confidence, we are most excited about daily motivated entrepreneurs willing to navigate through to the solution that has stickiness with the primary market audience target. Failure is key as well, an individual’s refusal to fail is best employed as fuel to remain in continuous pursuit of outcomes in and out of failure points that occur on the way to success.