1. Focusing Only on Product, Neglecting Marketing

Build a go-to-market strategy. As NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang says, "Marketing and sales are as important as the product."

2. Hiring Too Fast

Scale spending with revenue growth. Plan for worst, middle, and best-case scenarios.

3. Team Focusing on the Wrong Things

Clearly prioritize as CEO and split the team for efficient parallel work.

4. Not Firing Problem People Soon Enough

Hiring mistakes are normal, but fixing them quickly is the CEO's responsibility.

5. First Big Customer Can Kill the Company

Carefully review contract terms. One big customer doesn't equal a scalable business model.

6. Believing Good Investors Solve Everything

Have a growth plan that works without investor help. Investors want to see you know your market.

7. Ignoring Founder Burnout

Learn when to push and when to brake. Your team needs rest too.

8. Chasing Too Many Opportunities

Focus on what works and scale it. Laser focus is the secret for early-stage startups.

9. Over-Engineering Before Market Launch

Build an MVP quickly and ship it. Even with flaws, make the product compelling enough that customers tolerate them.

10. Not Cutting What Doesn't Work

Cut failing markets/products fast and focus on winners. CEOs must decide without emotional attachment.

The Nearly Impossible Mistake: Bad Investors

Bad investors can destroy your company. Check their behavior before investing, ask other CEOs for references, and review terms carefully — especially watch out for tranche conditions.