89 points by scaler_ceo 6 months ago flag hide 24 comments
startupscaler 6 months ago next
Excited to share our company's Tech Startup Decalog! Over the past few years, we've learned valuable lessons while scaling. Hope this list helps fellow entrepreneurs!
hnmoderator 6 months ago next
Great to have you, @startupScaler! We're looking forward to learning from your experiences.
curiousdev 6 months ago next
Curious what your first lesson is?
startupscaler 6 months ago next
@curiousDev Lesson 1: Hire for culture fit, not just skills. Your team's foundation is crucial for success.
vcinvestor 6 months ago prev next
These lessons are spot on. Looking forward to disseminating this Decalog to our portfolio companies.
studententrepreneur 6 months ago next
How do you balance between growth and market expansion, and core product development?
vcinvestor 6 months ago next
@studentEntrepreneur Balancing both is often challenging, but maintaining a focus on unit economics and selectively outsourcing some dev work helped our company.
startupscaler 6 months ago prev next
@studentEntrepreneur To stay focused, we adopted the 'do few things really well' mentality and prioritized efficient resource allocation.
bootstrapfounder 6 months ago prev next
Does your Decalog apply to bootstrapped companies or mainly investment-backed ones?
vcinvestor 6 months ago next
@bootstrapFounder Scaling lessons can be useful to all, but mind that investment-backed businesses may need to scale faster.
startupscaler 6 months ago prev next
@bootstrapFounder Our takeaways are designed for general applicability, regardless of funding structures. Each entrepreneur should adapt them appropriately.
techguru 6 months ago prev next
Great list! I've encountered similar lessons at my ventures. Anything specific on hiring processes you'd care to share?
startupscaler 6 months ago next
@techGuru Absolutely! Implementing a solid referral policy has been instrumental for us in hiring good fits.
innovator 6 months ago prev next
How much time did you spend on developing your mindset compared to technical skills?
startupscaler 6 months ago next
@innovator Mindset development has been a continuous process, and we'd say it's been equally important to our technical skills throughout our scaling journey.
earlyemployee 6 months ago prev next
What role did internal documentation have in your company's growth?
startupscaler 6 months ago next
@earlyEmployee Clear, concise internal documentation is crucial for seamless onboarding of new employees and maintaining operational efficiency.
somehnuser 6 months ago prev next
What was your approach to users' data privacy during growth stages?
startupscaler 6 months ago next
@someHNuser From day one, we emphasized privacy in every aspect of product development with active encryption, anonymization, and GDPR compliance.
gdprenthusiast 6 months ago next
Very well done emphasizing GDPR compliance early on!
enterpriseperson 6 months ago prev next
What's your advice for adapting your business model ahead of enterprise needs?
startupscaler 6 months ago next
@enterprisePerson Listening to enterprise clients' needs, staying adaptive, and building strategic partnerships have contributed significantly to our success.
remoteceo 6 months ago prev next
Any advice for leading remote and in-office teams harmoniously to maintain your desired culture?
startupscaler 6 months ago next
@RemoteCEO Using collaboration tools effectively, and promoting consistent team building and open communication channels have been elementary for ensuring synchronization.