Shopify Ventures’ Post

If you are a founder/operator in the consumer tech space, then join us next Monday (8th July) as we host three stellar founders who will be discussing their journey of starting and scaling their ventures. Link in the comments below.

No one can hear your ideas if you don’t speak up. One great example of this is from an early season of Silicon Valley. Remember the demo where they were compressing large files into smaller ones at a big tech convention? They had no idea if it would work, but they went up there and tried it anyway. It wasn’t perfect, but being in the arena made all the difference. It reminds me of when Jordon and I went to an investor meet-up early on. For the first time, we vocalized that we had an idea and wanted to be founders. Up until then, it had always just been us brainstorming quietly. When you start talking to people and sharing your vision, you have to learn, iterate, and figure out better ways to communicate your ideas. The more you talk, the better you get at articulating what you want to do and solving the problems you want to solve. That's how better ideas emerge! Once you do that, people can help. Oh - and just eight weeks after that event, we closed our first round of funding thanks to someone we met there.

Remember when corporate leaders thought copying Silicon Valley ways of working was a good idea? Most of that has joined all those innovation theatres and venture studios in the 'failure' pile. But there's one big thing still worth copying: ⛔ If you're doing something new, don't touch the code. Do it manually first. Kind of ironic, considering this is the tech sector we're talking about. But all sorts of 'AI' and 'automated' solutions are actually humans behind the curtain hustling harder than Oz's favourite Wizard. (Does anyone really believe Boardy is the only one behind his LI posts and strategy?) Changing the software is expensive. And slow. Throwing people at it is, relatively, cheap and fast. And more in your control than the CTO's priority stack. We all already know this. And yet, I've already had two conversations this week where we needed to remind ourselves that trying to get IT involved would all but ensure the plan was a non-starter for FY25. Don't be tempted! Prove the concept quick and dirty. Then you'll have the time and buy in you need to touch the code.

In the startup world, the "co-founder" title carries significant weight. It signals our commitment and credibility to investors and customers, which is crucial for our success. However, within our team, I've often felt that the title can overshadow the contributions of other key members who are just as, if not more, important to our success. Maybe it's just me. But there are definite rockstars who are critical for our business, and at times more critical than us co-founders. Kamryadi Arifin, Mita Ariani, Muhammad Yusuf Maulana, Bonita S., Fajar Andi Patappari, Dwikky Maradhiza Yudakusuma come to mind, but we are lucky in that we have many in our team (some that I might have missed to mention). Of course, we need to do our best to compensate them fairly (not just as team members, but also as co-owners of the business), but here's the thing: - Equity isn't just shares; it's about recognition. - Contributions > Titles. Hoping we can get Fr8labs to the next stage when hopefully the co-founder title is less required, and we can remove it. OR maybe we should experiment with flexible titles for everyone else? Closing Thought: Titles are just labels. True success is a team effort where everyone is a co-founder of our dreams. 🌟 Week 20 of 26 Weekly Posts Challenge (https://lnkd.in/gXTFNTHT).

📣 Early stage tech founders – just a couple weeks left to get your applications in for your chance to receive a $1M INVESTMENT from AlleyCorp! Learn more and Apply at peerlesspitch.com. Why it's so valuable to have AlleyCorp on your cap table? Founded by long-time New York internet entrepreneur Kevin Ryan, AlleyCorp founds and invests in transformative companies in New York and across the world. Responsible for building and investing in some of the earliest and most iconic tech companies in New York, including MongoDB (NASDAQ: MDB), Business Insider, Gilt Groupe, and Zola, we are proud to sit at the center of a robust and growing tech ecosystem. #Investmentopportunity #techfounders #pitchcompetition

Just when you thought the secret recipe for success was hidden in a vault somewhere, here comes a blog post that spills it all. Spoiler alert: it's not about inventing the next big thing or hoarding top-secret tech. Apparently, companies like Google and Airbnb just take a fantastic business idea and slap on some existing technology. What a revelation! So if you’ve ever considered starting a venture, maybe it’s time to put down the dream journal and pick up some available tech instead. Who knew success could be this simple? Dive into the brilliance behind their strategy here: https://ift.tt/yc94I7q

A Brunch to Remember: Founders Uniting with Stringly Yesterday, Stringly joined an Founder’s Brunch, bringing together some of the brightest minds in tech, Web3, and beyond. It was more than just great time—it was a melting pot of ideas, collaborations, and visionaries redefining the future of connections. 💬 Highlights from the Brunch: • Inspiring conversations on building in Web3 and creating user-first platforms. • Sneak peeks into Stringly’s vision and how it’s shaping the future of dating and networking. • Networking that sparked innovative ideas and potential collaborations. At Stringly, we believe in the power of authentic connections—not just on our platform but in real life too. Yesterday proved once again that the best ideas are born when great minds meet. Stay tuned as we continue to revolutionize how people connect.

Today's Techford Tale: "Decoding Silicon Valley: A Startup Founder's Guide to Survival" ☑️ Master the art of the pivot (bonus points if you can do it mid-pitch) ☑️ Perfect your "I'm totally not panicking" face for investor meetings ☑️ Learn to subsist entirely on free startup event appetizers ☑️ Develop superhuman caffeine tolerance ☑️ Become fluent in buzzword bingo How many of these essential skills have you mastered? Share your Silicon Valley survival tips in the comments! Remember, whether you're navigating the complexities of US expansion or just trying to figure out why everyone's so obsessed with standing desks, you're not alone. The Techfords (and our team of experts) are right there with you! https://hubs.li/Q02WhGXQ0

In Austin's thriving tech scene, Sunday isn't just another day of the week—it's become a cultural phenomenon that powers our innovation ecosystem. Here's why: ☕️ Sunday Co-Working Culture: From Cosmic Coffee to Mozart's, our coffee shops transform into bustling hubs where developers, founders, and creatives collide. These organic meetups have sparked countless collaborations and startups. 🌳 The Domain & South Congress Effect: These areas come alive with tech professionals enjoying long brunches and informal networking. It's where the next big ideas are born over migas, tacos, and cold brew. 🎸 Tech x Culture Fusion: Only in Austin will you find engineers discussing architecture patterns at ACL or SXSW weekend events. Our Sunday blend of tech and culture creates an environment where innovation feels natural, not forced. 💡 Sunday Hackathons: Local tech companies have embraced Sunday's relaxed vibe by hosting casual hackathons and code-alongs, making space for creativity without the weekday pressure. The magic of Austin tech isn't just in our offices—it's in our Sundays. It's where work-life integration happens organically, and our next unicorn might be sketched out on a coffee shop napkin. #AustinTech #StartupLife #TechCulture #ATX #Innovation #WorkLifeBalance Thoughts? What's your favorite Sunday spot in Austin's tech scene? 👇

A few weeks ago, I was at Techstars Los Angeles Accelerator Meeting with a dozen different companies. - I love getting to help people bring their vision to the life. - Seeing their products start as seeds and then become reality. - Building the future in emerging tech or any industry. It always reminds me of the reason I founded First Principles. ↳ To improve the human condition, one product at a time. There can be tough days in the journey for founding teams: - Losing deals you spend hours, weeks, or even months developing. - Investing time testing great ideas only to discover no one cares. - Creating good content no one reads or bad content everyone loves 🙂. - Sacrificing time and focus when with family and friends. But being in a room full of motivated people at the earliest phases of the journey always re-energizes my personal mission. Because nothing feels better than helping others to have an impact on a seemingly intractable problem.