Quote

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

Sam Altman

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Sam Altman
Age: 39
Born: 1985
Born: April 22
Entrepreneur
Chicago
Illinois
Samuel H. Altman
Samuel Altman
Make
Sort
Successful
Need
Needs

More quotes by Sam Altman

Image
If you want something in a deal, just ask for it.
Sam Altman
Image
Because so few people make an actual long term commitment to what they're building, the ones that do have a huge advantage.
Sam Altman
Image
You also want to fire people who a) create office politics, and b) who are persistently negative.
Sam Altman
Image
We talk to a team they've gotten new things done, that's the best predictor we have that a company will be successful.
Sam Altman
Image
Every company has a rocky beginning.
Sam Altman
Image
If it takes more than a sentence to explain what you are doing, it's almost always a sign that what you are doing is too complicated.
Sam Altman
Image
Press releases are easier to write than code, and that is still easier than making a great product.
Sam Altman
Image
Remember that the idea will expand, and become more ambitious as you go.
Sam Altman
Image
Most investors are obsessed with the market size today and they don't think about how the market is going to evolve.
Sam Altman
Image
I really believe that the single hardest thing in business is building a company that does repeatable innovation... and just has this ongoing culture of excellence as it grows.
Sam Altman
Image
The second part of how to hire: try not to.
Sam Altman
Image
One thing that founders forget is that after they hire employees, they have to retain them.
Sam Altman
Image
Momentum and growth are the lifeblood of startups. This is probably in the top three secrets of executing well.
Sam Altman
Image
The thing that kills startups at some level, is the founders giving up.
Sam Altman
Image
AirBnB spent 5 months interviewing their first employee, before they hired someone and in their first year, they only hired 2 people.
Sam Altman
Image
Founders need to figure out what the message of the company is going to be.
Sam Altman
Image
1 of the hardest parts about being a founder, is that there are a 100 important things competing for your attention each day.
Sam Altman
Image
... but actually it sucks to have a lot of employees, and you should be proud of how few employees you have.
Sam Altman
Image
The track record for founders that don't already know each other is really bad.
Sam Altman
Image
The most common post YC failure case for the companies we fund, is they're incredibly focussed during YC on their company... and after they start doing a lot of other things. They advise companies, they go to conferences, whatever.
Sam Altman