Navigating the Startup Journey: Expert Advice for Aspiring Tech Leaders
What’s the one piece of advice that can make all the difference for an aspiring tech startup leader?
What crucial insight, gained from years of experience, can help navigate the challenges and maximize the chances of success?
In this post, we seek answers to these vital questions, drawing on the wisdom of seasoned tech leaders.
We asked these leaders from the Techronicler community to distill their experiences into a single, powerful piece of advice for those embarking on the startup journey.
Their responses offer a practical guide to navigating the complexities of building a tech company, providing actionable insights that can help aspiring founders avoid common pitfalls and achieve their ambitious goals.
Whether you’re a startup leader or not, these insights are sure to help!
Read on!
Focus on Solving Real Problems
Stay relentlessly focused on solving real problems for your customers.
It’s easy to get caught up in flashy features or chasing trends but the startups that thrive are the ones that deeply understand their users’ pain points and build solutions that truly make a difference.
At Carepatron, our success has come from listening to healthcare professionals, identifying the admin burdens they face daily, and creating tools that free up their time for actual patient care.
That clarity of purpose has guided every decision we’ve made and kept us grounded even when navigating challenges or rapid growth.
Also, don’t try to go it alone. Surround yourself with people who bring diverse skills and perspectives to the table.
Be open to feedback, stay adaptable, and always keep learning.
Jamie Frew
CEO, Carepatron
Adapt to AI Disruption
As a technology company leader running a business for more than 17 years now, I believe this year, AI is disrupting startups at an unprecedented pace, and this transformation will bring many new opportunities as well as break existing businesses.
We are witnessing AI automating complex business decisions, even replacing entire business models that were innovative a few years ago. Startups that fail to understand this change will risk becoming obsolete as competitors leverage AI-powered automation and scale faster.
This shift is not just about adopting AI or integrating a chatbot into your system, it is about rethinking your business model to the core.
Founders must go back to the drawing board and see what part of their business AI can automate, enhance, or reinvent.
Barkan Saeed
CEO, AIFORMVP
Solve Real Customer Problems
The most valuable piece of advice I can offer an aspiring tech startup leader is to focus relentlessly on solving a real problem that customers are willing to pay for.
Too many tech startups get caught up in developing a product they think is groundbreaking, but if there is no demand or clear value proposition, it will not survive.
One of the biggest lessons I learned from my own telecommunications company was that innovation alone is not enough. Execution and adaptability are just as critical.
When I started my business, I saw a gap in the market where customers needed reliable, efficient telecommunications solutions but were frustrated with the slow and impersonal service from larger providers.
By focusing on speed, exceptional customer service, and a tailored approach, I was able to secure contracts with major corporations and grow the company to 30 employees, generating millions in revenue.
This success was not just luck. It was the result of identifying a clear market need, executing with precision, and continuously improving based on customer feedback.
My years of experience in business coaching have reinforced that principle time and again.
I once worked with a tech startup struggling with stagnant growth despite having an innovative product. After a deep dive into their operations, I discovered their real issue was not the technology. It was their lack of customer engagement and market fit.
We refined their messaging, improved their sales process, and implemented a structured feedback loop with clients. Within six months, they saw an increase in customer acquisition and secured new investor interest.
My MBA specializing in finance also played a key role in helping them optimize their pricing strategy, ensuring profitability while remaining competitive.
Whether launching or scaling, the foundation of any successful tech startup is a deep understanding of its customers, a willingness to pivot when necessary, and a commitment to execution.
Find the Right Collaborators
The biggest challenge for an aspiring tech startup leader?
Realizing that no one will move as fast as you do.
As a founder, you’re always thinking ahead, every decision feels urgent, every second counts. But your employees, partners, and even clients don’t always share that same relentless urgency.
The key is finding the right collaborators whether it’s clients, agencies, or your internal team. Don’t just chase big names or impressive resumes. Instead, look for character.
- Take the time to understand people’s motivations and work ethic
- Seek out those who have something to prove-they often go the extra mile
- Small startups, overlooked talent, and ambitious underdogs can be game-changers
- Align with those who truly believe in your vision, not just those looking for a paycheck
Things will feel slow at times, but don’t lose hope. The right people do exist – the ones who understand your urgency, share your passion, and are ready to build something great with you.
Mukul Juneja
Director & CTO, Muoro
Prioritize Distribution Over Product
One thing I’ve learned? Distribution > Product.
You can have the best AI tool, but if you don’t know how to sell it, market it, and position it, you’re dead in the water.
I’ve seen so many startups focus entirely on product, only to launch and realize no one cares.
Start building an audience before you even launch.
Engage in industry discussions, write about your niche, and build authority.
By the time your product is ready, you’ll have people waiting to buy instead of scrambling for attention.
Abhishek Shah
Founder, Testlify
Obsess Over Your Customers
The best advice I can give to an aspiring tech startup leader? Obsess over your customers, not just your product.
Early on, I fell into the trap of chasing perfection—pouring endless hours into building what I thought was the ultimate solution, assuming customers would flock to it.
They didn’t.
Why? Because I wasn’t solving their most pressing problem.
Everything changed when I started listening more than I built—talking to users, asking the right questions, and iterating based on real feedback.
One hard lesson stands out.
We once spent months developing a feature we thought was groundbreaking. When we finally launched it, adoption was dismal. A few customer interviews later, we realized users needed something far simpler. That pivot led to a streamlined feature that became a core revenue driver.
Your product will evolve. Your business model may shift. But if you build around your customers’ needs, you’ll always have a foundation for growth.
Listen relentlessly. Iterate quickly. Solve real problems. That’s how you win.
Nikita Sherbina
Co-Founder & CEO, AIScreen
Balance Perfection and Progress
Balance Perfection and Progress
Our startup, Tied Sunwear, came from understanding that perfection can be your biggest obstacle to progress.
I spent months obsessing over every detail of our UPF protective fabric selection, trying to achieve the perfect balance of sun protection and style before launching our first collection. While attention to detail matters, especially when dealing with protective clothing, I realized we were missing valuable customer feedback that could have shaped our designs more effectively.
We finally had our breakthrough moment when we launched a small collection of basic UPF 50+ swimwear pieces, even though they weren’t as fashion-forward as I’d initially envisioned.
The direct customer feedback we received was invaluable, revealing preferences we hadn’t considered – like the need for adjustable coverage options that could adapt to different outdoor activities. This real-world input proved far more valuable than any amount of theoretical perfectionism.
Our development process transformed when we started treating each product launch as a learning opportunity rather than a quest for perfection.
For instance, our most popular design – a convertible beach cover-up with UPF protection – emerged directly from customer suggestions about wanting more versatile sun protection options. We would have never discovered this if we’d waited to launch until everything felt perfect.
The key insight I’ve gained is that your vision of perfection might actually be holding you back from creating something your customers truly need.
While maintaining high standards is crucial, especially in protective wear, success comes from finding the balance between quality and the willingness to learn and adapt based on real market feedback.
Innovation isn’t about getting everything right the first time – it’s about being responsive to your customers’ needs and continuously improving based on their experiences.
Laura Kosmorsky
Co-Founder, Tied Sunwear
Appearance Matters!
Appearance matters—both digital and personal!
After securing my first few customers, I realized that my website and personal branding needed beautiful design work—especially if I wanted to attract investors and larger clients. Having a strong digital presence builds credibility – gotta spend that money on beautiful websites!
Also, to be a thought leader, think beyond your niche.
Early on, I focused purely on automation and my craft. But real thought leaders don’t just talk about their expertise.
I needed to connect my craft to bigger-picture trends. I started discussing the future of AI with others, automation’s impact on jobs, and business transformation, which helped position WunderWaffen as more than just a service provider—we became a trusted voice in AI automation.
Berns Lim
Chief Automation Officer, WunderWaffen
Spend Time Learning and Preparing Under the Radar
Don’t be shy about taking your time and keeping a low profile until you have a product ready for market.
If you’ve embarked on solving a problem that no one else is, you’re already ahead.
Launching a product as just an idea and building from there is more traditional thinking; it is not how I personally came to develop my product. More often than not, a product doesn’t actually function for the end user and as a result, they end up working for your platform instead of your platform working for them.
You should be spending the first few years under the radar, working with early partners to problem-solve, learn, iterate, improve, and refine the platform into something that the industry actually needs.
Lastly, if you have the luxury of doing so – you should work for a company within the industry you’re solving the problem for.
For instance, if you’re building a product for a restaurant, go become a server, a barista, a manager and make friends in that industry so you have people you can rely on when you need an expert brain to pick (plus this is just good for your sales strategy).
Britney Ziegler
Founder, CEO – Panso
Build Your People First
After years of business ownership and coaching young entrepreneurs, I have found that a people-first focus changes everything.
Often, entrepreneurs want to get into “building the product” and forget that building your people first is the foundation on which everything else is built.
You can’t afford to miss this – the cost is too high and will create more issues.
It’s hard building something from the ground up, and that’s why choosing the people you work with is the most important decision you can make!
Additionally, we are constantly looking for ways to help our team members identify which areas of their roles and responsibilities are most fulfilling, and which areas leave them feeling depleted.
It’s an honor to be able to walk alongside our team as they uncover their inner “geniuses,” and see them take our organization to new heights. When our people shine, everything they touch is illuminated.
Geneva Schlabach
Co-Founder and CEO, Vispa
On behalf of the Techronicler community of readers, we thank these leaders and experts for taking the time to share valuable insights that stem from years of experience and in-depth expertise in their respective niches.
If you wish to showcase your experience and expertise, participate in industry-leading discussions, and add visibility and impact to your personal brand and business, get in touch with the Techronicler team to feature in our fast-growing publication.
