Sue Xu

Your stress often can't be solved by the wisdom already in your noggin. Sometimes, the best learning comes from a bit of mindfulness and a good night's sleep. Resilience is fueled by the good mood that follows a restful night. Remember, every day is a new day!

Successful startups often face tough times—losing customers, battling ruthless competition, and feeling like nobody believes in them. We've seen founders who refuse to give up, working even harder and sometimes taking big risks, like refinancing their own homes to save their companies. Is that blind belief? Not at all. Being on the front lines and serving their users, they know exactly what went wrong and how to fix it. It's an educated bet, and they've managed to deliver significant returns for themselves and their investors. Big respect.

Long-term business relationships thrive on compatible skill sets. Don’t be misled by titles like “cofounder.” If someone brings in most of the investors, loves talking to customers, and defines the product, it's tough not to give them the lion’s share of the cap table without risking their departure. Often, the CEO needs to embrace these “miscellaneous” tasks and take good care of the rest of the cofounders by giving them enough incentives, sometimes even sacrificing their own short-term interests. This is where true leadership shines, and I’d call these CEOs my heroes.

Ideas are great, but execution is the secret sauce for successful startups. I've often heard top talent say they joined a promising startup only to feel ten times busier. That’s because in a startup, the person who comes up with wild ideas is only appreciated if they act on them immediately and deliver results at lightning speed. In startups, problem solvers thrive and are rewarded with growth, growth, and more growth.

Successful startups often face tough times—losing customers, battling ruthless competition, and feeling like nobody believes in them. We've seen founders who refuse to give up, working even harder and sometimes taking big risks, like refinancing their own homes to save their companies. Is that blind belief? Not at all. Being on the front lines and serving their users, they know exactly what went wrong and how to fix it. It's an educated bet, and they've managed to deliver significant returns for themselves and their investors. Big respect.

Nearly all our successful companies have boldly embraced next-generation technology, targeting underserved user groups. They did a phenomenal job, so when market conditions shifted, and this problem became widespread, our companies were ready and perfectly positioned to be adored. Consequently, they enjoyed exponential growth and achieved unicorn status.