Someday, you need to build a business that's difficult to replicate. This is an important part of a good idea.

A third advantage of mission oriented companies, is that people outside the company are more willing to help you.

If it works out, you're going to be working on this for 10 years.

... We probably funded a rate of something like one out of ten solo teams.

You also want to fire people who a) create office politics, and b) who are persistently negative.

You need this sort of a tailwind to make a startup successful.

Really dig into projects people have worked on and call references; that is another thing that first time founders like to skip.