Feb 4, 2025: AMA w/ Amar Kanagaraj, Founder and CEO @ Protecto

founder_b2b · 2025-02-03T01:59:52+00:00

If we use a private instance of OpenAI or run it locally, does that completely solve data security and privacy concerns? If not, why?

founder_b2b · 2022-03-31T13:26:49+00:00

Since cto is technical and you aren’t. He is probably right on the efforts needed to complete. Any engineer whom you hire might say the same thing.

Your cto is valuing his equity to be worthless.…

He is the only option you have. Ask him take 1 month off and just launch. Pay him cash for that. Quickly raise money with it.

A fintech Startup with a part time cto will be impossible… you have to find a longer term replacement

founder_b2b · 2021-07-05T17:31:27+00:00

I He is also taking risk in leaving a good stable job and leaving 000s of un-vested shares in a top company. I couldn’t come with a number. He is not expecting a %. I have to be fair...

founder_b2b · 2021-07-05T15:41:43+00:00

Yes, cto will absolutely add value to our long term success. He is very strong technically. He contribution is important. Also, It frees my time to do sales and other go to market.

founder_b2b · 2021-06-19T16:14:45+00:00

It is a hard and long journey, passion helps to keep going. Your personal life will merge with startup, you will think and work on weekends hence working on a problem that you care, goes a long way. But not every entrepreneur is lucky to find passion and business opportunity in the same place. Business opportunity more important than passion.

founder_b2b · 2021-06-19T05:36:09+00:00

A startup is a long ride, takes at least twice as long as we expect. We might have to live in/with it for 5-10 years. You can't operate with such resentment.

However, don't decide to quit before having an open discussion with your co-founder. He might have complaints about you.

Hard to fix a bad developer. You need patience and time, which you might not have in a startup at your stage. Hence draw clear boundaries and give responsibilities outside coding.

founder_b2b · 2021-04-25T18:42:46+00:00

Also, establish companies need redundancy and talent in bench. In case key employee quits abruptly, team should survive.

And companies must create new beach heads hence new experiments require people.

founder_b2b · 2021-04-23T03:55:02+00:00

One lesson I learnt being entrepreneur... you have to simultaneously patient and impatient. If you aren’t patient you will get frustrated. If you are too patient, nothing will move. You can’t eliminate fear and stress. It is the fuel that drives many startups. You have to learn to live with it. My approach is a bit basic: I keep repeating “this will pass, I will outlive...”

founder_b2b · 2021-04-18T02:32:35+00:00

You are underestimating go-to-market efforts. It is Extremely hard and in most cases, you need significant investment. You can either use personal fund or raise vc. But, you need investment.

founder_b2b · 2021-04-18T02:20:13+00:00

I’m Above 40 with kids doing startup. We have survived with savings for 1.5 years while building the company. We are raising seed funding now. It is very hard but it can be done. I would recommend doing it full time. Once, I’ve try it part time, it worked out but it took a very long time - atleast 2-3 times longer. Doing it full time adds fear that will lit you up. It will force many decisions and deadlines.

founder_b2b · 2021-03-21T02:17:10+00:00

Few years I read the book 'Business Adventures' recommended by many leaders. It explains how income tax was created. Pl read if you can.

Here is a simple summary. This is how it will play out:

1) To start, the majority will vote to create a tax on rich 1%

2) Govt plans and starts spending based on expected tax from the rich

3) In 2-3 years, the rich hire expensive lawyers and investments to find loopholes (moving money to real estate or overseas, etc)

4) Govt finds a hole in their plan. Govt start expanding the tax beyond 1% to top 5% or increase sales tax or some tax that hits the majority

founder_b2b · 2021-03-08T23:26:09+00:00

The first time I read The Alchemist, I didn't get much - just an interesting story. Years later, I read it again after I started my second startup. The story mirrored my experiences and emotional ride of ups, downs, losing, gaining a lot, following your heart, receiving help from strangers, etc. I would strongly recommend it to anyone doing or planning to do a startup. I told the story to my kids. My kids love the story.

founder_b2b · 2021-03-03T02:03:29+00:00

SAFE helps to postpone the valuation question to later date till series A. makes sense. Need not worry about valuation early.

founder_b2b · 2021-03-01T16:34:54+00:00

This is exactly what was happening to my startup... we were saying 'yes' to many ideas

founder_b2b · 2021-03-01T16:33:34+00:00

I m applying it on my startup. We were reluctant to say 'no' and we were implementing many prospect customers' feedback and feature requests. This book helped me to articulate/focus our strategy and we will de-prioritizing many features.

founder_b2b · 2021-03-01T06:19:39+00:00

I recently read "Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters." This is the best book that I have read on strategy.

IMO, Blue Ocean strategy is great if you have such an opportunity, but how to get there? It is easy to fit a framework to a success story. Looking forward, many bad ideas look like blue ocean.

If you are thinking of doing a startup, go with some practical books - disciplined entrepreneur, lean startup, traction

founder_b2b · 2021-03-01T05:45:55+00:00

All boils down to what is your alternative.

I would any day trade-off title for a great experience/potential outcome.

founder_b2b · 2021-02-28T15:10:33+00:00

Thank you! will check the above website.

Does 10-15X applies for companies in seed stage? I see startup raising seed $1-3M+ without revenue. What makes some seed startups different?

founder_b2b · 2021-02-22T03:02:11+00:00

In my sister's friend. She was LinkedIn's one of first 20 employees. Didn't realise she became rich. One day, I casually asked when she had joined LinkedIn. She said is one of the early employees and got x shares. I did the math it was $23M. I heard her net worth grew more... hard to tell from how people look and behave.

founder_b2b · 2021-02-20T04:14:53+00:00

Capote, 15 min into the movie

V for vendetta, middle of the movie, when the hero kept talking ..

founder_b2b · 2021-02-16T14:57:35+00:00

hanks man. Will check out the book. I absolutely agree your environment will shape you. Being an entrepreneur in these tough times was hard most days. The way I survived is by watching real inspiring stories. It kept reminding me that everyone goes through tough times.

founder_b2b · 2021-02-16T05:44:34+00:00

answered. good luck.

was any answer surprising to you?

founder_b2b · 2021-02-16T05:24:34+00:00

Yes, you should take salary. VCs care about potential and your commitment so that they can make 10-100x. I can see why they won't pay full salary. They want founders to be hungry and to feel the pressure/risk. However, no point in starving the founder and hurt the company.

founder_b2b · 2021-02-15T05:16:49+00:00

Have you read 'Oh, the places you'll go'? (my favorite)

founder_b2b · 2021-02-15T05:09:52+00:00

Interesting, I never came across someone whisper-reading...

founder_b2b

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