Dave Saunders
@nemock.bsky.social
Human girls and Samoyed Dad. Autodidactic. Nerd. Surgical robotics, MedTech, AI, greentech. Love to tell stories.
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I Wrote a Book Because I Was Tired of Watching Smart People Fail
Two years ago, I was sitting in my home office at 2 AM, staring at my laptop.
substack.com
I was there for the dot-com crash. Mahogany desks, catered lunches, magazine cover dreams. Most people lost everything.
Twenty-five years later, I keep seeing the same patterns.
So I wrote a book about what actually works. This is the story of why.
substack.com/@nemock/p-18...
#startups
Twenty-five years later, I keep seeing the same patterns.
So I wrote a book about what actually works. This is the story of why.
substack.com/@nemock/p-18...
#startups
One-on-ones aren't status updates. They're for removing obstacles and building trust. Use them right. #entrepreneurship
February 8, 2026 at 11:37 AM
One-on-ones aren't status updates. They're for removing obstacles and building trust. Use them right. #entrepreneurship
The best feedback I ever got was the hardest to hear. Create a culture where people tell you the truth: davesaunders.net
February 8, 2026 at 10:02 AM
The best feedback I ever got was the hardest to hear. Create a culture where people tell you the truth: davesaunders.net
Success to me means ___________.
February 8, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Success to me means ___________.
Content marketing takes longer than you want and works better than you expect.
February 8, 2026 at 6:53 AM
Content marketing takes longer than you want and works better than you expect.
Async communication or real-time meetings?
February 8, 2026 at 5:18 AM
Async communication or real-time meetings?
What's the difference between micromanaging and staying informed?
More on this in my book: https://www.davesaunders.net
More on this in my book: https://www.davesaunders.net
February 8, 2026 at 3:43 AM
What's the difference between micromanaging and staying informed?
More on this in my book: https://www.davesaunders.net
More on this in my book: https://www.davesaunders.net
February 8, 2026 at 2:09 AM
People buy from people they trust. Be trustworthy.
February 8, 2026 at 12:34 AM
People buy from people they trust. Be trustworthy.
Fast growth hides problems. Slow growth reveals them. Sometimes the slower path is the faster one: davesaunders.net
February 7, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Fast growth hides problems. Slow growth reveals them. Sometimes the slower path is the faster one: davesaunders.net
Revenue is the only pitch deck that never gets old. Build that first. More on this approach: davesaunders.net
February 7, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Revenue is the only pitch deck that never gets old. Build that first. More on this approach: davesaunders.net
If you could add one clause to every term sheet, what would it be?
From my book: https://www.davesaunders.net
From my book: https://www.davesaunders.net
February 7, 2026 at 7:50 PM
If you could add one clause to every term sheet, what would it be?
From my book: https://www.davesaunders.net
From my book: https://www.davesaunders.net
The best marketing feels like a favor, not a pitch.
February 7, 2026 at 6:15 PM
The best marketing feels like a favor, not a pitch.
Three decades of building companies. Every lesson that mattered. One book. Founders Who Finish: davesaunders.net
February 7, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Three decades of building companies. Every lesson that mattered. One book. Founders Who Finish: davesaunders.net
If it takes three paragraphs to describe your revenue model, you don't have one. Customers pay you for X. That's it. Get clear or stay broke.
February 7, 2026 at 4:29 PM
If it takes three paragraphs to describe your revenue model, you don't have one. Customers pay you for X. That's it. Get clear or stay broke.
The customer success team knows what marketing should say. Ask them: davesaunders.net
February 7, 2026 at 3:06 PM
The customer success team knows what marketing should say. Ask them: davesaunders.net
Build in public works until it doesn't. Know when transparency becomes liability: davesaunders.net
February 7, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Build in public works until it doesn't. Know when transparency becomes liability: davesaunders.net
Recognition costs nothing. Withholding it costs everything.
February 7, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Recognition costs nothing. Withholding it costs everything.
When did you stop being a player-coach and become just a coach?
February 7, 2026 at 10:22 AM
When did you stop being a player-coach and become just a coach?
A small win today beats a perfect plan tomorrow.
February 7, 2026 at 8:47 AM
A small win today beats a perfect plan tomorrow.
Paid ads don't create demand. They capture existing demand. If nobody's searching, ads won't save you: davesaunders.net
February 7, 2026 at 7:13 AM
Paid ads don't create demand. They capture existing demand. If nobody's searching, ads won't save you: davesaunders.net
What's something your competitors do that you refuse to copy?
February 7, 2026 at 5:38 AM
What's something your competitors do that you refuse to copy?
February 7, 2026 at 4:03 AM
The board seat question is the control question. Understand what you're giving up: davesaunders.net
February 7, 2026 at 2:28 AM
The board seat question is the control question. Understand what you're giving up: davesaunders.net
Raised too early once. Spent 18 months serving investor priorities instead of customer needs. Never again. Learn from my mistakes: davesaunders.net
February 7, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Raised too early once. Spent 18 months serving investor priorities instead of customer needs. Never again. Learn from my mistakes: davesaunders.net
Patient capital or aggressive growth capital?
February 6, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Patient capital or aggressive growth capital?