Are you looking to expand into new markets?

TRMNL4 together with Snap Inc. is launching Traction Builder - a program for founders & CMOs of Seed - Series A consumer tech startups!

🎯 Leverage marketing opportunities on Snapchat and get business guidance for your startup.

✅ Launch a new traffic source in 4 weeks.

✅ Save up to $30k of your marketing budget.

✅ Grow with a personalized action plan and mentor support from Snap & TRMNL4.

✅ Get 15 hours of to-do workshops with industry leaders & team of Snap.

✅ Show traction in 4 weeks & pitch on Slush side-event.

✅ Connect with 40+ VC and angels from TRMNL4 network.

☑️ The program is global and free. Learn more on the website here.

If interested, reply to this email and we’ll reach out to you to fast-track you to the final step of the application process!

LEVEL UP ⬆️

Activate your ‘Founder Mode’

There’s a lot of chatter in the startup world about a fresh concept called ‘Founder Mode,’ and it’s catching the eye of some major players and serial entrepreneurs.

So, where did this all begin?

The term ‘Founder Mode’ comes from Paul Graham, co-founder of Y Combinator, who was inspired by a recent talk at YC from Brian Chesky, Airbnb’s founder. This new idea challenges traditional wisdom on running a company.

Graham notes that while classic advice like ‘hire talented people and give them space’ is widely accepted, it doesn’t always yield the best results. Chesky’s own experience with this advice didn’t meet expectations.

We often look to Steve Jobs for inspiration when things go awry, but it’s clear you can’t just replicate his methods. Understanding what actually works is a good starting point.

Graham distinguishes between ‘Founder Mode’ and ‘Manager Mode,’ explaining that certain tasks are best handled by founders while others are suited for managers. He argues that these roles are fundamentally different and that starting as a founder and then transitioning to a managerial role isn’t always straightforward.

For instance, Jobs used to host annual retreats for key individuals who weren’t always at the top of the hierarchy—something more akin to a managerial approach.

Graham believes that with time, ‘Founder Mode’ will become as well-understood as ‘Manager Mode.’

The key takeaway? While following conventional advice is helpful, it’s equally important to forge your own path and embrace your unique approach to success.

So, as you navigate your entrepreneurial journey, remember: breaking the mold might just be what sets your ‘Founder Mode’ apart.

Read the full essay by Paul Graham here.

STARTUP NEWS RADAR 📡

_{What’s happening these days?}

• OpenAI is reportedly in talks to raise funding at a valuation exceeding $100 billion from multiple investors, including Thrive Capital, Microsoft, Apple, and Nvidia. [source]

• OpenAI-backed robotics startup 1X reveals the beta version of Neo, a humanoid robot for the home. [source]

• Five interesting startup deals that happened in August, including one from the 'dirty business' industry. [source]

• Bluesky, the social networking startup, benefits from X’s shutdown in Brazil, adding over two million users in the last couple of days. [source]

• The Google Developers Groups from Skopje and Tetovo are organizing an opening session on September 10 at Netaville on the topic ‘The Role of Tech Communities in North Macedonia.’ [source]

• Startup Club Skopje is now accepting applications for #ИмамИдеја, a 3-month incubation program for startups. The deadline is October 31. Apply here! 🚀

THE STARTUP VAULT 🗃️

_{Founders take note:}

• Explore AI Tutorials for your favorite tools.

• Write a business plan in minutes with BizPlanner.

• Kane is your AI-powered software-testing companion.

• Watch now to reveal what top VCs actually want to see in your pitch deck.

• The latest YouTube marketing report 2024 is out now—if you're into video marketing, give it a read.

• Listen to the latest Startup Garage podcast by HalkBank, featuring Ivan Ivanovski.

*Working on something that fits this category? Reply to this email to be featured.

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I want to create an agenda for a meeting about<Meeting info> with my team. Can you give me some examples of what should be included?

Term of the week 🕵

Disruptive Technology is an innovation that significantly alters the way businesses operate and compete.

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