Lessons from a 2-time unicorn builder, 50-time startup advisor and 20-time board member | Uri Levine
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- Uri Levine is the co-founder of Waze, the world’s largest community-based traffic and navigation app, acquired by Google for over $1 billion. He’s also founded nine other companies, been on the board of 20 companies, and advised more than 50 companies. He’s most recently the author of Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution: A Handbook for Entrepreneurs, hailed by Steve Wozniak as the “Bible for entrepreneurs.” Uri is dedicated to creating impactful startups that solve real-world problems and has seen everything from failure to moderate success to big success. In our conversation, we dig into:
• Why falling in love with the problem is key to startup success
• The phases of the startup journey and how to navigate them
• Why firing is more important than hiring
• How Waze iterated to achieve product-market fit
• Tactics for telling a compelling story when fundraising
• Much more
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Find the transcript at: www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/le...
Where to find Uri Levine:
• X: / urilevine1
• LinkedIn: / uri-levine
• Website: urilevine.com/
Where to find Lenny:
• Newsletter: www.lennysnewsletter.com
• X: / lennysan
• LinkedIn: / lennyrachitsky
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Uri’s background
(02:50) Falling in love with the problem
(09:01) Signs this is a big enough problem
(10:52) The importance of passion
(12:04) A pivot example
(13:59) Where to find startup ideas
(21:55) Finding product-market fit at Waze
(29:43) The different phases of a startup journey
(36:45) What investors don’t want to hear
(39:51) Fundraising tips
(48:00) How to make your presentations stronger
(50:30) A wild fundraising story
(53:44) Firing and hiring
(59:48) The 30-day test
(01:04:10) Understanding users
(01:12:08) Talking to the right users
(01:15:34) Lightning round
Referenced:
• Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution: A Handbook for Entrepreneurs: www.amazon.com/Fall-Love-Prob...
• Waze: www.waze.com/
• Ben Horowitz on LinkedIn: / behorowitz
• Ben Horowitz quote: quotefancy.com/quote/1635284/...
• Michael Jordan quote: www.forbes.com/quotes/11194/#....
• Steph Curry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen...
• How Airbnb Used Word of Mouth to Change the Travel Industry Forever: truested.com/story/airbnb
• Space Mountain: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_M...)
• How Netflix builds a culture of excellence | Elizabeth Stone (CTO): www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/ho...
• Steve Wozniak on LinkedIn: / wozniaksteve
• Uri’s post about the conference in Guatemala with Steve Wozniak: / uri-levine_jewishnewye...
• Leonardo da Vinci quote: / simplicity-is-the-ulti...
• Geoffrey Moore on finding your beachhead, crossing the chasm, and dominating a market: www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/ge...
• Nana Korobi Ya Oki: ikigaitribe.com/vlog/nana-kor...
• That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea: www.amazon.com/That-Will-Neve...
• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones: www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-...
• 8 Great Chess Apps for Beginners and Grand Masters: www.wired.com/story/best-ches...
• Pontera: pontera.com/
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Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed.
His book was awesome. Every founder should read it to get a realistic view of the journey.
I think this must be be favorite episode so far, so actionable
ONE OF THE GREATEST INTERVIEWS AMONG HUNDREDS I LISTEN TO!!! SIMPLE, CLEAR, VISIONARY! ABSOLUTE HITTTT!!! THANK YOU!!!
This is the most insightful and thoughtful advice on building startups. No fluff, focus on first principles. Very inspiring. Thank you Uri for sharing your knowledge.
Every Lenny's Podcast I watch quickly turns into my new favorite. Uri was so likable and succinct, and I found myself smiling through it. Some of his advice will stick with me for a long time.
One of the best interviews , so simple and so relatable ... Thank you Uri for sharing your experience
„fall in love the problem“ is a much needed statement in a time where everyone founds AI companies for the sake of founding an AI company - and adding „AI“ to every product feature and company name. everyone loves the solution nowadays.
for these who is cheap bastard like me a free epub is 1 clcik away in google
What a great interview, Lenny. Thanks so much
Such an amazing video - Lenny your newsletters are the first email I click on when they get to my inbox!!🙌🏽
Ive created a first slide with intention for the beginning of meetings that just sits up on the screen while people are getting ready… and showing up… it’s such an overlooked opportunity and I love that he brings this up. It’s so easy to do and so worth it.
This is absolutely true ! And way to about things, solutions often change and might not be of the same domain!
This has to be my best episode of this podcast. So insightful!
One of the very best episodes ever. Uri is wise, direct, concise, proven. The book is a must read / multiple times. So much value in this. Already shared to many
You sure create value for your viewers Lenny. I'll be looking forward to more of your podcasts. Thank you for Waze, Uri.
Uri mentioned that the iphone didn't solve any problem - but isn't the problem Steve Jobs tried to solve just a bigger human problem? Isn't that the universality of the iphone? It solved a problem everyone had? To me the iphone solved the problem of connectivity - we want to be more connected with all our senses? We have an innate, subconscious drive to engage our senses to communicate and connect. I firmly believe that Steve Jobs just tried to optimize to this, in everything he did. This was his north star. This was the problem he was in love with.
I think the iphone solved many UI problems that made it super compelling. Ditching the keyboard and almost all buttons was a ballsy move back then
Found this episode and guest most authentic, inspiring and useful ❤
The most important part of the book is its title.
Possibly the best interview
"Do I still want this kid 30 days with knowing what I know now?" - Lenny
Classic
I don't really understand this 'fall in love' aspect. I understand the utility as a driver but not the mechanism itself.
скорей бы уже продолжение было))) мы ждем)
Airbnb is low frequency model but user growth driven by word of mouth. BUT in general, I really liked the video
oh damn, Lenny just mentioned this... :( this is the downside of commenting in the middle of the video
he reminds me of obi wan
Hardcore - PMF has one metrics: Retention
Hi Lenny, it's Kristina God. Live it with the deck and the most important slides
I'm also thinking about adding a pod to my Substack. I'm building qlso a YT channel and would try to combine both.
I record via Zoom but the video quality isn't good.
Do you use StreamYard or another provider?
Would live to learn more about your tech stack.
Mayn thanks 🙏 Kristina
C00L
iPhone solve the problem of having to own like 10 different gadgets