14/10/2026
6 things I refuse to let first-time founders spend money on after 10 years of helping people build startups.
1. A fully developed product
You don’t need to build the entire vision to find out whether people want it.
Start by understanding the problem, the customer and the smallest useful version of the solution.
2. Implementing every feature in your Notes app
More features mean more time, higher development costs and more assumptions that haven’t been tested.
Your first product needs to solve one important problem well.
3. Working with a developer before defining the product
A developer can build what you ask for.
If the customer, product scope and priorities aren’t clear, you could pay them to build the wrong thing perfectly.
(That's why our first priority is defining the product.)
4. Paid advertising before understanding the customer
Advertising cannot fix unclear positioning or a product people don’t want.
Know who you’re speaking to, what problem matters to them and why they should care first.
5. A complete brand before defining the business
Your logo, name and visual identity should reflect a clear product, customer and position in the market.
Otherwise, you may pay to redo everything once the idea evolves.
6. Investor materials before establishing the commercial opportunity
A polished pitch deck cannot replace a clear business model, credible market opportunity and evidence that the problem is worth solving.
Build the foundations first. Then make them look investable.
None of these things are a waste of money at the right stage.
The expensive mistake is paying for them before you know what your startup actually needs.
Save this before spending money on your business idea.
