During the MovieLaLa days, we learned something about my safe agreements playbook that raised millions that I still apply to every investment I make.
I used to think SAFE agreements was about luck. Then I discovered this counterintuitive approach that changed everything.
The Reality Nobody Talks About
Most people approach my safe agreements playbook that raised millions with assumptions that made sense five years ago. The world has moved on. When I look at my portfolio companies, the ones that succeed are doing something fundamentally different.
The first thing to understand is that customer feedback is the only metric that matters. I've seen this play out across dozens of companies. The pattern is unmistakable.
At RemoteTeam, we learned this the hard way. We spent months going down the wrong path before realizing that the best solutions are often the simplest ones. Once we made the switch, everything changed.
The Counterintuitive Truth
Here's what surprised me most about my safe agreements playbook that raised millions: the best practitioners do less, not more.
When I was building MovieLaLa, we tried to do everything at once. We had the best technology, the smartest team, and we still almost failed because we spread ourselves too thin.
The lesson I took from that experience, and from watching hundreds of other companies, is that you need to move fast and break things. It sounds simple. It's incredibly hard to execute.
Why Most Approaches Fail
Let me be direct: about 70% of the approaches I see to my safe agreements playbook that raised millions are fundamentally flawed. Not slightly off. Fundamentally flawed.
The root cause is usually one of three things:
- Copying what big companies do without understanding why they do it. What works for Google doesn't work for a 10-person startup.
- Over-engineering the solution when a simple approach would work better. I've seen teams spend six months building something that could have been done in two weeks.
- Ignoring the human element. Technology is the easy part. Getting people to actually use it is where the real challenge lives.
Real Talk: What Actually Matters
I'm going to cut through the noise and tell you what actually matters when it comes to my safe agreements playbook that raised millions.
First, execution speed beats perfection. Every time. I've never seen a company fail because they moved too fast on my safe agreements playbook that raised millions. I've seen plenty fail because they moved too slow.
Second, measure everything. If you can't measure it, you can't improve it. Set up tracking from day one, even if it's basic.
Third, talk to your users. This sounds obvious but you'd be amazed how many founders build their my safe agreements playbook that raised millions strategy in a vacuum. Get out of the building. Talk to real people.
This connects to broader themes around convertible notes, revenue-based financing, Series A, fundraising timeline that I've been thinking about a lot lately.
The Bottom Line
Look, my safe agreements playbook that raised millions isn't rocket science. But it does require intentionality, consistency, and a willingness to learn from mistakes.
If you take one thing from this article, let it be this: start now, start small, and iterate. The founders who win at my safe agreements playbook that raised millions aren't the ones with the best strategy on paper. They're the ones who execute, learn, and adapt faster than everyone else.
I've been doing this for over a decade. The patterns are clear. The companies that take my safe agreements playbook that raised millions seriously outperform the ones that don't. Every single time.
If you're working on something interesting in this space, I'd love to hear about it. Drop me a line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this guide based on real experience?
Every recommendation in this guide comes from direct experience, either from building and selling my own companies, or from patterns I've observed across 200+ angel investments. I don't write about things I haven't personally tested.
Who is this guide designed for?
This guide is written for founders and operators who want practical, actionable advice rather than theoretical frameworks. Whether you're just starting out or scaling an existing business, the principles here apply across stages.
What if I disagree with some of the advice?
Good. That means you're thinking critically, which is exactly what a good founder should do. Take what resonates, test it, and discard what doesn't work for your specific situation. No advice is universal.
How often is this guide updated?
I revisit and update my guides regularly as I learn new things and as the market evolves. The core principles tend to stay stable, but specific tactics and tools get refreshed based on what's working right now.