An investor explains why saying no quickly is the best advice for founders. If a startup isn't a fit, reject it after the first meeting and be clear about why. Time is the most valuable resource, so wasting it with false hope hurts both sides.
What does that look like, your process? Well, I mean, one of our first principles is pass as quickly as you possibly can. Mm-hmm. You know, I, I pass in the room most of the time. Mm-hmm. During first meeting. And that may be a first meeting where multiple people have already met with them. Yeah. And, but I don't want, time is the most valuable thing we have and it's the most valuable thing founders have. And getting, you know, we all want the hope, we all want the dream, we all want to think we have some sort of a pipeline or we have a lead on the line or whatever it is. But the reality is the best thing that we can do for ourselves and our own process and for founders is to very quickly let them know that it's not going to be a fit. And when we do, do so really clearly and transparently and try to add value in that response.
Paige of Behind Genius driving an AI electric train in St. Louis (Intramotev Visit)
