Sam Altman
President of Y Combinator from 2014 to 2019, now CEO of OpenAI.
Sam Altman's writing for founders is short and practical. His list of fundraising mistakes is one of the most useful checklists before a raise, and his Startup Playbook covers the basics of building a company.
Read Sam Altman directlyIdeas
- The single miracle: why your startup should need exactly one
Elad Gil's rule that a startup should need one miracle, not zero and not several, and Sam Altman's version. How to name your miracle in your deck.
- What investors look for in founders
Sam Altman's list of what makes a great founder, from unstoppability and determination to speed and communication, and how to show it on your team slide.
Guides built on their advice
- Fundraising mistakes founders make (and how to avoid them)
Sam Altman's list of the fundraising mistakes founders make most, from over-optimizing terms to not hearing no and not knowing your numbers.
Best resources
- Fundraising mistakes founders make · Sam Altman
Ten mistakes to avoid before and during a raise.
- Startup Playbook · Sam Altman
Short notes on product, growth and fundraising.
Get your deck reviewed the same way.
Comments on every slide, the words to change highlighted, and the 3 fixes that matter.