Hey — It’s Charlie.

Welcome to the latest edition of Great Startups! Here’s what’s in store:

• Design Isn't Just a Detail: Discover why design is a game-changer for startups, with lessons from Stripe, Lyft, and Airbnb.

• When “Unhinged” Marketing Backfires: Find out why not every startup can thrive on outrageous marketing tactics.

• Lights, Camera, Launch! Unveil the tactics that turn a product launch video into an unforgettable experience.

• Investment Dilemma: Learn how to evaluate whether an investment truly deserves your time and money.

• Mastering Founder Mode: Dive into why embracing your founder instincts can drive incredible results for your startup.

Get ready to dive into these power-packed insights for founders and growth enthusiasts!

Resources

• Lessons from Stripe, Lyft, and Airbnb on why design matters. (LINK)

• Why not all startups benefit from “unhinged” marketing tactics. (LINK)

• Tactics to make an amazing product launch video. (LINK)

• Deciding whether an investment is worthwhile. (LINK)

• More thoughts on why founder mode is so effective. (LINK)

ICYMI

• Stripe acquires stablecoin crypto startup Bridge for $1.1 billion. (LINK)

• Keith Rabois shares key insights on hiring the right talent. (LINK)

• Personal anecdotes from Marc Andreessen on why Elon is so effective. (LINK)

• This investor seeks to place $150K in 1-2 startups by year-end. (LINK)

• Exploring “AI wedges” as startups' advantages over incumbents. (LINK)

Quick Links

• Explore the dark forces and secrets behind Stripe’s $1.1B acquisition of Bridge!

• Curious how entrepreneurs hit $1M in a year with zero investors?

• See how one entrepreneur skyrocketed their $700K business to $2M.

• What's holding back your business? Learn the biggest risks and how to beat them!

• Discover how Dylan Jacob grew BrüMate into a $20M brand—and learn how you can too.

Build a Sustainable Dropshipping Empire with DropCommerce

Building your startup's eCommerce arm? DropCommerce makes it easy with 0% transaction fees, 400+ reliable suppliers, and 300K+ products. Streamline sourcing, fulfillment, and invoicing with seamless integration for platforms like Shopify. Scale fast, keep more profits!

Think You Know What They Want? Think Again.

In startups, there’s a popular mantra: “Make something people want.” But that can feel vague when you’re on the ground, trying to pinpoint what customers actually want. Traditional wisdom says to map out customer needs like an explorer looking for hidden treasures. But the real magic comes from thinking less like a scientist and more like a storyteller. It’s about engaging with people, finding out what makes their day-to-day tick, and even bringing in a bit of your own perspective to spark genuine responses. Instead of just asking “What do you want?” you present an idea, a context, and let them react naturally.

Getting people to want something is more than offering solutions—it’s about creating moments that resonate. Needs often arise when prompted in the right way, not because they existed clearly all along. Think of it like sparking excitement about a new restaurant you stumbled upon, or the thrill of seeing a fresh design concept take shape. Building what people want is less about a perfect formula and more like learning to walk: you experiment, fall, learn, and repeat until it clicks. It’s an ongoing process of testing ideas, refining insights, and becoming the person who can make that spark happen. (LINK)

Ok that’s it for this week, We keep refining our newsletter content, just hit reply to let us know what you think about this issue.