8 reasons not to do a startup according to Marc Andreessen

March 19, 2024

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Welcome to Startup Strategist. It's Tuesday, and today we have two news stories, one article, and 2 resources for you.

Estimated read time: 3 minutes

  • News: (1) “As European dynamism gathers momentum, Elaia and partners double down with new deep tech fund” (TechCrunch), (2) “The Week’s 10 Biggest Funding Rounds” (Crunchbase)

  • Startup info: 8 reasons not to do a startup according to Marc Andreessen

  • Resource: Why not to do a startup. The goal framework to make $30M in 2024.

  • StratupAI Idea: Solar-Powered Irrigation System for Agriculture

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News

“As European dynamism gathers momentum, Elaia and partners double down with new deep tech fund”(TechCrunch)

According to TechCrunch, “Deep tech is on the rise in Europe, fueled in part by the match between AI and a local flavor of math excellence. But it’s also benefiting from a growing community, public support and increasing amounts of funding.”

“This weeks 10 biggest funding rounds” (Crunchbase)

Among them are Applied Intuition for autonomous vehicles, Luminary Cloud for software, and Zephyr AI for biotech.

8 reasons why one shouldn't start a startup

Marc Andreessen has a series of relatively old essays available online. The first one raises the point that from the outside, a startup can be pretty appealing; the culture, increased freedom, high upside potential, etc. On the other hand, there are some downsides he presents.

Let's start with the upsides.

1) “The opportunity to be in control of your own destiny.”

2) “The opportunity to create something new.”

3) “The opportunity to have an impact on the world.”

4) “The ability to create your ideal culture and work with a dream team of people you get to assemble yourself.”

5) “Money”

Now for the downsides.

1) “An emotional roller coaster.”

2) “Absolutely nothing happens unless you make it happen.”

3) “You get told no—a lot.”

4) “Hiring is a pain.”

5) “At some point you’re going to have to hire executives.”

6) “The hours.”

7) “It’s really easy for the culture of a startup to go sideways.”

8) “There are lots of X factors that can come along and whup you right upside the head, and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about them.”

2 Resources

StratupAI Idea: Solar-Powered Irrigation System for Agriculture

“A promising startup idea that merges Agtech and Energy is the development of a solar-powered irrigation system for agricultural purposes. Farmers often face challenges with access to reliable and affordable water sources for irrigation, which is critical for crop growth and yield. By integrating solar panels to power an irrigation system, this startup can provide farmers with a sustainable and cost-effective solution. The solar-powered irrigation system would utilize renewable energy to pump water from local sources, such as wells or reservoirs, to irrigate fields efficiently. This innovation not only reduces farmers' dependence on fossil fuels and grid electricity but also enables them to harness the power of the sun for essential agricultural activities.”

Disclaimer: The startup ideas shared in this forum are offered for general consideration and discussion. Individuals utilizing these concepts are encouraged to exercise independent judgment and undertake due diligence per legal and regulatory requirements.

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That’s all for today, thanks for reading. See you on Friday.

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The startup ideas, strategies, and suggestions shared are provided for general discussion and informational purposes only. Any individual or entity considering implementing these concepts should exercise independent judgment and conduct thorough due diligence in accordance with legal, regulatory, and industry-specific requirements. Startup Strategist does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information shared. It is recommended to consult with legal, financial, and other relevant professionals before proceeding with any business ventures or decisions.