As a venture-backed founder, I frequently get asked what I actually do on a day-to-day basis.
In case you were wondering, here's a day in the life of a startup founder in Silicon Valley.
A thread 👇
In case you were wondering, here's a day in the life of a startup founder in Silicon Valley.
A thread 👇
1.
Our beta for @ZetteMedia is launching soon, and engineering needs final approval from product.
I pore over the Figma mocks, greenlighting the ones I want to use for our upcoming beta launch.
Wow, our designer is so talented. I like the subtle use of newsprint gray.
Our beta for @ZetteMedia is launching soon, and engineering needs final approval from product.
I pore over the Figma mocks, greenlighting the ones I want to use for our upcoming beta launch.
Wow, our designer is so talented. I like the subtle use of newsprint gray.
2.
I get an email that our Zette water bottles are ready for pickup. We've been ordering a lot of swag lately for conferences.
Unfortunately, they're nowhere to be found. Maybe the package room needs a day to process the shipment?
I decide this is the most logical conclusion.
I get an email that our Zette water bottles are ready for pickup. We've been ordering a lot of swag lately for conferences.
Unfortunately, they're nowhere to be found. Maybe the package room needs a day to process the shipment?
I decide this is the most logical conclusion.
3.
I go to pick up my new business cards instead. They are slightly ruined by the printers, and our brand color is an off-green instead of highlighter yellow.
Ugh, okay. Not ideal. I ping my Chief of Staff about getting a refund. He’ll have to sort this out later.
I go to pick up my new business cards instead. They are slightly ruined by the printers, and our brand color is an off-green instead of highlighter yellow.
Ugh, okay. Not ideal. I ping my Chief of Staff about getting a refund. He’ll have to sort this out later.
4.
Marketing asks when I have time to go over our Tik Tok strategy. I Slack them some times.
I've never posted on Tik Tok, but I’m committed to becoming an #influencer for Zette.
I only have 2 followers right now, but hey, everyone starts somewhere.
tiktok.com/@yehong.zhu
Marketing asks when I have time to go over our Tik Tok strategy. I Slack them some times.
I've never posted on Tik Tok, but I’m committed to becoming an #influencer for Zette.
I only have 2 followers right now, but hey, everyone starts somewhere.
tiktok.com/@yehong.zhu
5.
My director of ops has a draft of conference materials to review.
She cleverly created fliers that looked like newspapers. Very on brand!
After a few rounds of edits, it is beginning to look more and more like the front page of a newspaper. I promise her final edits by EOD.
My director of ops has a draft of conference materials to review.
She cleverly created fliers that looked like newspapers. Very on brand!
After a few rounds of edits, it is beginning to look more and more like the front page of a newspaper. I promise her final edits by EOD.
6.
Next up, building relationships with journalists.
I send a couple of emails about our upcoming launch at TechCrunch Disrupt. I start to miss my own days in the newsroom.
A TechCrunch journalist is asking questions about our product. Wait—I can totally send our media kit...
Next up, building relationships with journalists.
I send a couple of emails about our upcoming launch at TechCrunch Disrupt. I start to miss my own days in the newsroom.
A TechCrunch journalist is asking questions about our product. Wait—I can totally send our media kit...
7.
I update our media kit in @DocSend with our recent press hits, and read it again before sending: zette.docsend.com/view/7xc9x2bg4…
Wow! We’ve come a long way since 2020. Feels good.
Also, we've gotten a ton of press. Shoutout to @joshuaqyang & @arielkk3 for being media savants 🙏
I update our media kit in @DocSend with our recent press hits, and read it again before sending: zette.docsend.com/view/7xc9x2bg4…
Wow! We’ve come a long way since 2020. Feels good.
Also, we've gotten a ton of press. Shoutout to @joshuaqyang & @arielkk3 for being media savants 🙏
8.
I open my inbox, and a bunch of investors have emailed me again asking about our round.
Yikes. The deck's not ready. How do I defer without being rude?
I snooze all their emails. I make a mental note to respond next week. Yes, we'll open our raise. Right after Disrupt...
I open my inbox, and a bunch of investors have emailed me again asking about our round.
Yikes. The deck's not ready. How do I defer without being rude?
I snooze all their emails. I make a mental note to respond next week. Yes, we'll open our raise. Right after Disrupt...
9.
I open up Figma again and finally face my demons.
3 separate versions of investor decks. All completely different.
How am I supposed to reconcile so many pitch decks!
How do I overcome my pitch deck paralysis?!
I stare in agony at the slides. Agony...
I open up Figma again and finally face my demons.
3 separate versions of investor decks. All completely different.
How am I supposed to reconcile so many pitch decks!
How do I overcome my pitch deck paralysis?!
I stare in agony at the slides. Agony...
10.
For mental relief, I check my schedule for tomorrow. @mercury's inviting me to a private fundraising event.
The itinerary looks packed. And there's a tea bar! Just what I needed.
I introduce myself to the other founders on Slack. A few of them sign up for Zette's waitlist.
For mental relief, I check my schedule for tomorrow. @mercury's inviting me to a private fundraising event.
The itinerary looks packed. And there's a tea bar! Just what I needed.
I introduce myself to the other founders on Slack. A few of them sign up for Zette's waitlist.
11.
My mother pings me on WeChat.
'You said you were top 5 in something? Can you send the article to me?'
Yes, mom, I’m one of the top 5 startups to watch by @BuiltInLA: builtinla.com/2022/09/28/los…
I’m so proud of you, she says. I tear up a little bit.
My mother pings me on WeChat.
'You said you were top 5 in something? Can you send the article to me?'
Yes, mom, I’m one of the top 5 startups to watch by @BuiltInLA: builtinla.com/2022/09/28/los…
I’m so proud of you, she says. I tear up a little bit.
12.
I open up @Twitter to procrastinate on my deck.
I wonder if other people would be interested in my life?
What does a founder do, anyway?
Does my team know? Does anybody know?
It suddenly feels really important to tweet this. I open a new Google doc and start to type.
I open up @Twitter to procrastinate on my deck.
I wonder if other people would be interested in my life?
What does a founder do, anyway?
Does my team know? Does anybody know?
It suddenly feels really important to tweet this. I open a new Google doc and start to type.
13.
I look up in shock that the sun is setting.
Jesus, how is it already 6:37 PM? I feel like I haven't even started the work I needed to do today!
I open up BeReal to post the pretty sunset.
Wow, their product is so good. I am envious that they have 53M installs.
I look up in shock that the sun is setting.
Jesus, how is it already 6:37 PM? I feel like I haven't even started the work I needed to do today!
I open up BeReal to post the pretty sunset.
Wow, their product is so good. I am envious that they have 53M installs.
14.
One day Zette will get there, too.
But only if I get back to work.
*Tweet all.*
/end
One day Zette will get there, too.
But only if I get back to work.
*Tweet all.*
/end
If you liked this thread, follow me for more early-stage startup content!
I can't wait to Tweet (and Tik Tok) my way into your heart 🫶
If you're interested in our product—which lets you unlock articles behind paywalls—sign up for our waitlist at ✨ zette.com ✨
I can't wait to Tweet (and Tik Tok) my way into your heart 🫶
If you're interested in our product—which lets you unlock articles behind paywalls—sign up for our waitlist at ✨ zette.com ✨
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