@michaeldonohue.bsky.social
I hosted a CMU founders + investors happy hour, and it ended up being one of the most energizing nights I’ve had in a while.
Huge thanks to Chenxi Wang for partnering with me on this one. She jumped in to co-host and split the food bill, which made the whole thing possible.
Huge thanks to Chenxi Wang for partnering with me on this one. She jumped in to co-host and split the food bill, which made the whole thing possible.
December 9, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I hosted a CMU founders + investors happy hour, and it ended up being one of the most energizing nights I’ve had in a while.
Huge thanks to Chenxi Wang for partnering with me on this one. She jumped in to co-host and split the food bill, which made the whole thing possible.
Huge thanks to Chenxi Wang for partnering with me on this one. She jumped in to co-host and split the food bill, which made the whole thing possible.
Most founders promise monthly investor updates. Almost none keep that pace.
That’s fine.
The goal was never to impress with frequency. Just communicate consistently.
For most situations, quarterly is plenty. Early-stage progress takes time. Shifts don't happen every 30 days.
That’s fine.
The goal was never to impress with frequency. Just communicate consistently.
For most situations, quarterly is plenty. Early-stage progress takes time. Shifts don't happen every 30 days.
November 25, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Most founders promise monthly investor updates. Almost none keep that pace.
That’s fine.
The goal was never to impress with frequency. Just communicate consistently.
For most situations, quarterly is plenty. Early-stage progress takes time. Shifts don't happen every 30 days.
That’s fine.
The goal was never to impress with frequency. Just communicate consistently.
For most situations, quarterly is plenty. Early-stage progress takes time. Shifts don't happen every 30 days.
Some of the best outcomes I’ve seen came from teams that didn’t get it right the first time.
A few years ago, I backed a team that couldn’t seem to find its footing. In their first six months, they changed their product, their customer, and even their pricing model three times.
A few years ago, I backed a team that couldn’t seem to find its footing. In their first six months, they changed their product, their customer, and even their pricing model three times.
November 13, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Some of the best outcomes I’ve seen came from teams that didn’t get it right the first time.
A few years ago, I backed a team that couldn’t seem to find its footing. In their first six months, they changed their product, their customer, and even their pricing model three times.
A few years ago, I backed a team that couldn’t seem to find its footing. In their first six months, they changed their product, their customer, and even their pricing model three times.
Startup Week at @cmu.edu was a blast. Old friends, new founders, and good conversations.
We ended up at the Mexican restaurant Duolingo’s CEO insisted on putting in because Pittsburgh “didn’t have a good one.” That’s how problems get solved... and startups get built.
We ended up at the Mexican restaurant Duolingo’s CEO insisted on putting in because Pittsburgh “didn’t have a good one.” That’s how problems get solved... and startups get built.
October 7, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Startup Week at @cmu.edu was a blast. Old friends, new founders, and good conversations.
We ended up at the Mexican restaurant Duolingo’s CEO insisted on putting in because Pittsburgh “didn’t have a good one.” That’s how problems get solved... and startups get built.
We ended up at the Mexican restaurant Duolingo’s CEO insisted on putting in because Pittsburgh “didn’t have a good one.” That’s how problems get solved... and startups get built.
Everyone can sell the vision. Fewer bring the numbers to back it up.
Even early revenue, even if small, tells a story about who’s willing to pay, why the problem matters, and how the model might scale.
Sharing those figures shows discipline and judgment. That’s how founders earn trust.
Even early revenue, even if small, tells a story about who’s willing to pay, why the problem matters, and how the model might scale.
Sharing those figures shows discipline and judgment. That’s how founders earn trust.
September 25, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Everyone can sell the vision. Fewer bring the numbers to back it up.
Even early revenue, even if small, tells a story about who’s willing to pay, why the problem matters, and how the model might scale.
Sharing those figures shows discipline and judgment. That’s how founders earn trust.
Even early revenue, even if small, tells a story about who’s willing to pay, why the problem matters, and how the model might scale.
Sharing those figures shows discipline and judgment. That’s how founders earn trust.
Friends + family are great for support, but not for feedback.
If they’re your first “customers,” you’re not testing. You’re getting affirmation.
Real insight starts when someone can say no. #startups #earlystage #feedbackloop
If they’re your first “customers,” you’re not testing. You’re getting affirmation.
Real insight starts when someone can say no. #startups #earlystage #feedbackloop
August 11, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Friends + family are great for support, but not for feedback.
If they’re your first “customers,” you’re not testing. You’re getting affirmation.
Real insight starts when someone can say no. #startups #earlystage #feedbackloop
If they’re your first “customers,” you’re not testing. You’re getting affirmation.
Real insight starts when someone can say no. #startups #earlystage #feedbackloop
If the person who can say yes isn’t in the room, don’t have the meeting.
You’re wasting the #pitch or handing off your story for someone else to retell.
It sounds obvious, but the urge to #demo is strong.
Wait for the right moment, with the right person in the room.
You’re wasting the #pitch or handing off your story for someone else to retell.
It sounds obvious, but the urge to #demo is strong.
Wait for the right moment, with the right person in the room.
June 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
If the person who can say yes isn’t in the room, don’t have the meeting.
You’re wasting the #pitch or handing off your story for someone else to retell.
It sounds obvious, but the urge to #demo is strong.
Wait for the right moment, with the right person in the room.
You’re wasting the #pitch or handing off your story for someone else to retell.
It sounds obvious, but the urge to #demo is strong.
Wait for the right moment, with the right person in the room.
A strong #VC portfolio isn’t built on every company 10x-ing. In reality, 2-3% might hit 50x, while most go to zero. Yet, few investors talk about their failures. Many brag about 20+ unicorns—but rarely mention the total bets. VC is all about portfolio strategy.
March 13, 2025 at 5:05 PM
A strong #VC portfolio isn’t built on every company 10x-ing. In reality, 2-3% might hit 50x, while most go to zero. Yet, few investors talk about their failures. Many brag about 20+ unicorns—but rarely mention the total bets. VC is all about portfolio strategy.
Early-stage investing is tough: most bets go to zero. In #EarlyStageInvesting, you must #BudgetSmart and #Diversify—often needing 10–20 deals to hit a winner. Even if a bet fails, always #RespectFounders.
March 6, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Early-stage investing is tough: most bets go to zero. In #EarlyStageInvesting, you must #BudgetSmart and #Diversify—often needing 10–20 deals to hit a winner. Even if a bet fails, always #RespectFounders.
If you’ve convinced someone to pay for your #Startup, you’ve moved beyond theory into execution. You can adapt, iterate, and build something people truly need.
That first dollar is worth more than the first million in #Funding because it proves real demand.
That first dollar is worth more than the first million in #Funding because it proves real demand.
March 4, 2025 at 7:07 PM
If you’ve convinced someone to pay for your #Startup, you’ve moved beyond theory into execution. You can adapt, iterate, and build something people truly need.
That first dollar is worth more than the first million in #Funding because it proves real demand.
That first dollar is worth more than the first million in #Funding because it proves real demand.
Early #Startup validation isn’t about ideas—it’s about traction. Revenue, growth, and cost of sale tell the real story. If a founder can get paying customers, that’s #VentureCapital’s strongest signal. A polished deck is nice, but cash in the door matters more.
February 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Early #Startup validation isn’t about ideas—it’s about traction. Revenue, growth, and cost of sale tell the real story. If a founder can get paying customers, that’s #VentureCapital’s strongest signal. A polished deck is nice, but cash in the door matters more.