CEO OS
People ·April 12, 2026 ·person

Paul Graham

#yc#startups#essays#founder-mode

info

Co-founder of Y Combinator and author of influential essays on startups, programming, and wealth creation. Coined the term "Founder Mode" after Brian Chesky's 2024 YC talk. Known for principles like "do things that don't scale" and "make something people want."

Core Ideas

  • Do things that don't scale — early-stage startups should do unscalable, hands-on work to learn
  • Make something people want — the single most important thing for a startup
  • Founder Mode — founders should stay deeply involved rather than transitioning to professional management

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