10 Lessons I Wish I Knew as a First-Time Founder 💡 • Failing early is okay. • Investors care more about your mission than your product. • Perfection is the enemy of progress. • Build your MVP first—don’t wait for perfect. • Validate, don’t guess. • A strong vision attracts money. • Don’t burn cash on ideas that don’t work. • Lean on community support. • Iterate fast. • Your journey is about learning, not perfection. Which lesson do you wish you knew sooner? Let’s talk! 💬 Master these lessons in 4 weeks. Ready to learn the strategies that actually work? #StartupLessons #FirstTimeFounder #ZeroToMillions #LearnFast

In the beginning, validate two essential things: 1. Do you have the necessary skills? 2. Is the problem truly worth solving? If you can answer "yes" to both, it’s time to dive into building! With a product or MVP in hand, it’s time to test it with real customers. Ask yourself: Can I grow without heavy spending? Is the market moving quickly? Is my product well-positioned for success? The market is showing interest—now it’s time to scale up. Concentrate on refining sales and operations, and put systems in place to handle fast growth. The goal: maintain momentum while scaling smartly. You have a clear customer base that’s actively buying. Now, it’s time to expand by considering: 1. New markets 2. New regions 3. Alternative distribution channels Pursue high-impact opportunities that align with your growth goals. At this point, focus on solidifying your growth. Remember, "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." Shift your focus to creating an environment that attracts and keeps top talent. Where are you in your journey, and what’s the biggest hurdle you’re facing right now?

Toronto is known for its vibrant tech scene and innovative startups. But even in such a thriving environment, not every venture succeeds. Here’s a look at one Toronto startup that didn’t make it and the lessons it left behind. #1: Verelo What was Verelo? Founded in Toronto, Verelo offered website monitoring services to help businesses identify downtime, malware, and database issues. Unlike many competitors, Verelo’s notifications were part of its core offering, providing users with real-time alerts via SMS, email, or phone. Why did Verelo fail? Verelo’s journey was cut short primarily due to funding and user retention challenges. Without adequate financial backing, it couldn’t scale effectively. Verelo also struggled against stiff competition, finding it difficult to persuade customers of its value in a crowded market of monitoring tools. User engagement was another hurdle, as many customers signed up once but rarely returned, reducing the platform’s growth potential. What could have been done? To increase its chances of success, Verelo could have focused more on customer education to showcase the unique value of its services and demonstrate the importance of continuous monitoring. Partnering with complementary tech companies or offering flexible pricing options may have also attracted a broader user base. Additionally, securing strategic investors early on might have provided the financial resources needed to iterate on the product and increase traction. Verelo’s story is a reminder of the importance of differentiation, funding, and strong customer engagement to thrive in a competitive startup landscape. What do you think is the biggest factor that makes or breaks a startup in a competitive market like Toronto’s?

As founders, we know the pressure to constantly move, adapt, and grow. In the world of SaaS, the landscape changes daily—new tools, new competitors, new challenges. It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind. But here’s the thing: keeping up doesn’t mean doing it all at once. It’s about staying focused on your vision and your path while learning and iterating along the way. If you’re in the idea stage or deep into execution, it can feel overwhelming trying to keep pace with everyone else. But you don’t have to do it alone. Our Zero to Millions Club is all about helping founders like you keep up, without burning out. Where are you struggling to keep up? Drop a comment and let’s talk. Join our community to stay on track and turn your idea into a thriving reality. #KeepUp #FounderLife #ZeroToMillions

Fifteen years ago today, Disney took a leap of faith by agreeing to acquire Marvel Studios for around $4 billion. At that time, Marvel was far from the powerhouse it is now—only "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk" had been released. But Disney saw something more, something others might have missed: the untapped potential of iconic characters like Captain America, Thor, and the Avengers. For Marvel, the deal was a perfect fit. Their CEO put it best: "Disney is the perfect home for Marvel's fantastic library of characters, given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses." And he was spot on. Since then, Marvel has become a cultural phenomenon, with its films generating over $30 billion at the global box office. One film alone, "Avengers: Endgame", brought in nearly $3 billion. The partnership transformed Marvel from a promising franchise into a world-dominating brand, showing what’s possible when creative vision meets corporate support. For founders and entrepreneurs out there: Sometimes, partnering with a larger company can be the best move for your business. Marvel may have kept its independence, but teaming up with Disney took them to heights they likely couldn’t have reached on their own. Would you take the leap and sell your company to scale its potential, or would you go it alone? 🤔