Founders should avoid spending too much time on strategy and instead focus on execution by talking to customers and pursuing the path where early, easy sales are available.
Andy advises that founders spend too much time on strategy at the expense of execution, urging them to talk to customers and follow the path of least resistance for early sales. ✦ AI generated
Andy · a16z Podcast · 2026-08-13 · original ↗
starts at this moment · 37:52
“Why would a founder sort of mis- misjudge what game they're playing? Or how how have you seen founders kind of misjudge whether they're doing lighthouse or land grab?”
I think I think the biggest mistake that I see founders make in an early stage, honestly, is just spending too much time trying to figure it out, right? It's like too much time on the strategy. And strategy's important, but you should spend like 1% of your time on the strategy. Pick it and then spend 99% of your time trying to execute. So, you know, rather than sit back and say, 'Well, you know, should we do lighthouse or should we do land grab?' Get out, talk to your customers. Figure out which ones, you know, are are willing to, you know, buy your product... and then chase that path, right?
verbatim transcript · starts at 37:52
37:39misjudge whether they're doing lighthouse or land grab? >> I mean, it sounds way more sexy to sell to JP Morgan Chase than to, you know, Schmitty Schmitty Mormon. >> [laughter] >> I think I think the biggest mistake that I see founders make in an early stage, honestly, is just spending too much time trying to figure it out, right? It's like too much time on the strategy. And
38:00strategy's important, but you should spend like 1% of your time on the strategy. Pick it and then spend 99% of your time trying to execute. So, you know, rather than sit back and say, "Well, you know, should we do lighthouse or should we do land grab?" Get out, talk to your customers. Figure out which ones, you know, are are willing to, you know, buy your product, the features and
38:18the services that it delivers today, and then chase that path, right? There's no bonus points for hard-earned revenue. You know, you don't get extra, you know, multipliers on your revenue if you get the big logo or something. Like go after the customers you can, you know, and then, you know, constantly be improving your product and then, you know, you can always reassess your strategy. You You after the first year, if you get all
38:38your your revenue milestones, you can look at it and say, "Well, could we be more effective doing this?" Maybe. But just don't spend too much time in analysis paralysis mode. >> Yeah, totally agree with that. I totally agree with that. >> Joe, Joe, you had some you had some fun questions for Andy. I It was a lightning round question. >> Yeah, lightning round, okay. >> Lightning round. I'll see what other
38:56ones I can come up off the top of my head, but the first one is maybe like your favorite place you ever weirdest place you ever closed a deal. >> Yeah, I mean, we've had some customers that, you know, have have taken taken us to some some funny places, right? I mean, I've closed deals on fishing trips. I've closed deals, you know, out at shooting ranges. I've closed deals at
- ·Founders spend too much time figuring out strategy
- ·Strategy deserves ~1% of time
- ·Execution deserves ~99% of time
- ·Pick a path, then commit fully
- ·Talk to customers directly
- ·Find who's willing to buy now
- ·Chase the path of least resistance
- ·Follow the early, easy sales
- ·Don't debate lighthouse vs land grab endlessly
- ·Overthinking delays real progress
- ·Action beats analysis at early stage
- ·Let customers guide your direction