Startup founders shouldn't try to be the smartest person in the room. Instead, build a team of experts deeper in their domains, ask questions, listen to customers and investors, and value feedback over credentials.
Never be the smartest person in the room. The strongest startup founders I've worked with are the ones that ask the most questions and happily seek out people who know way more in their specific areas. And this is really counterintuitive, actually, especially for new minted PhDs, researchers, engineers, and clinicians who have spent years being trained to be the expert, the person with the answers, and the one person people defer to in the room. And then suddenly, when you're in the founder seat, that mindset can work against you because now it's your job to not be the smartest person in the room. It is to build the room. You have to talk to customers, listen to investors, lean on legal experts, and take feedback from people who don't care how impressive your CV or resume is.
Applying for NIH SBIR in Jan 5, 2027? You Should Be Starting NOW. Here's why...
How to Get Invited to Apply for $305K in NSF SBIR Funding || Step-by-Step Guide
