Startups are not the best choice for work-life balance, and that's sort of just the sad reality.

The best source by far for hiring is people that you already know and people that other employees in the company already know.

The startups that do well are the ones that are working all the time.

Whatever the founder cares about, whatever the founders think are the key goals, that's going to be what the whole company focusses on.

Press releases are easier to write than code, and that is still easier than making a great product.

In general though, if you look at the track record of pivots, they don't become big companies.

A related advantage of mission oriented ideas, is that you yourself will be dedicated to them.