My favorite Twitter threads about startups

The Pyramid of Co-Founder Success

There is no lack of advice out there about how to find a co-founder, but few people talk about how to manage those co-founder relationships over time. NFX General Partner Pete Flint has advised and invested in hundreds of founders and created a three-part pyramid for successful co-founder relationships. It covers values, operating principles, and failure modes. If you have a co-founder or think you might have one in the future, this is a must-read. 

Creating the Future of Work

Many companies are thinking about post-pandemic work through the lens of how quickly we can return to "normal." But maybe the way things were isn't the best way things can be moving forward. In the past 18 months, technology has moved from a supporting role to a central role in many people's work lives. I thought this was a fascinating read about how that technological shift will change work and corporations long-term. 

The Types of Product Leaders To Hire

One of the most challenging tasks for any startup leader is figuring out how to scale a product and business as an organization grows larger and more complex. This thread breaks down the three types of product leaders (The Operator, The Craftsperson, The Visionary) and how they should think about hiring to complement their core competencies. There is a lot of wisdom in here that will keep you from making costly hiring mistakes. 

The Power of Product Thinking

Julie Zhuo shares that in many design, product management, and engineering interviews, candidates are assessed on a dimension called "product thinking," which is also referred to as "product sense." It's a bit of an amorphous concept, so her explanation of what product thinking is (and isn't) and how you can cultivate it is quite helpful. Read Julie's full thoughts here. 

The Dangerous Animals of Product Management

This video series from the Productboard team about the bad actors you'll typically find in product management roles is hilarious, but also sobering. I've come across all five of them in my career and my least favorites are Zebras and Seagulls. Which ones have you come across? 

How To Choose, Test, and Scale Acquisition Channels

Whenever a new, fast-growing marketing channel emerges, the question ultimately arises: Should we invest our time and resources into it? I sometimes struggle to answer that question myself, and I found this thorough guide to be helpful. If nothing else, it'll put you at ease when you decide not to spin your wheels growing an emerging channel simply because it's trendy at the moment. 

The Two-Pronged Content Strategy To Help You Convert

Content marketing is a proven way to drive product awareness and demand, but you've got to be thoughtful about how you create and amplify. One of the most important things to remember is that content extends far beyond blog posts. Once you choose the kinds of content you want to create, make sure you know how you're going to measure success and what scaling your efforts looks like in the future. 

The Product-Led Growth Playbook for B2B Startups

SaaS businesses are dominating the tech IPO market lately, and Harvard Business School professor Mark Roberge says product-led businesses are up next. This is an insightful list of best practices that emerged after hosting growth leaders from companies like Lyft, Shopify, Adidas, Disney+, Pinterest, and the NBA. Here's an interesting one: Establish a cross-functional team that reports into product, not marketing.