Martin Warner Official @MartinWarner

Duolingo’s 27% stock drop made headlines for the wrong reason. The market sees weakness, where it should see focus. They’re choosing patience over panic, building for the long term instead of chasing a quick win.  In my new piece, I break down why that mindset matters for every founder. linkedin.com/pulse/speaking…

I’ve come to believe that nothing is more critical than your first ten hires. Spend more time on them than you do on your first fifty. Be ruthless about quality, alignment, and work ethic, because these individuals will form the very DNA of your company. 3/3

They set the standard for what 'good' looks like. They define your work ethic, your communication style, your response to failure, and your definition of success. If your first hires are cynical, the company will be cynical. If they are meticulous, the company will be meticulous. When you're in a rush to build, it's tempting to hire 'fast' or 'cheap.' This is the most expensive mistake you can possibly make. A bad hire in your first ten is a virus. It will infect everyone. A great hire, on the other hand, is a force multiplier. They don't just do great work; they attract other great people and elevate the performance of the entire team. 2/3

🧵 Founders often obsess over their product and their investors. They are metrics driven. But they frequently underestimate the most powerful metric of all: the quality of their first ten hires. I learned this building company after company: your first hires are not just employees. They are co authors of your company's culture. They set the unwritten rules for every single person who comes after them. 1/3

When you're hiring, ask yourself these questions: How many of those ten years were spent on autopilot versus actively solving difficult, relevant problems? Has this person demonstrated continuous learning, or are they relying on a skillset they mastered in 2015? Is their experience a foundation for the future, or an anchor to the past? Don't be impressed by a decade of experience. Be impressed by a track record of recent, relevant impact. 3/3

When I was building the team for Autonomous Flight, I found this was critical. An engineer with ten years of experience in traditional aerospace had a deep knowledge base. But often, a candidate with five years of intense, recent experience in eVTOL propulsion or autonomous navigation software was far more valuable. They were natives of the new paradigm we were building. Their five years were spent solving the exact problems we were facing, while the ten year veteran might have spent their last five years maintaining legacy systems. This is especially true in my fields, like AI and 3D printing. The technology five years ago is ancient history. 2/3

🧵I am often asked by founders how to weigh experience. What's better, a candidate with ten years in the field or one with five? My answer is almost always: it is the wrong question. The number of years is a vanity metric. What truly matters is the relevance and intensity of that experience. 1/3

Pizza Hut's failure wasn't just about the pizza. It was a brand failure. A company that once defined 90s advertising failed to find its voice online, falling silent while rivals launched viral campaigns. They lost their connection with the modern customer. My new article analyses how this marketing failure led to their decline and the lesson this holds for every business. linkedin.com/pulse/pizza-hu…

The most successful entrepreneurs all have one thing in common: They weren't afraid to share their "embarrassing" first product. Watch the full video on YouTube. Search for "The Real Reason 90% of Startups Fail in Year One" or click the link in my bio! If you find this content valuable, a like, share, or subscription would mean a lot. #Startup #Entrepreneur #MinimumViableProduct #businessgrowth #ProductLaunch

Check out how we look at AI 👀 Having worked with and developed AI in a number of my ventures, I’m excited that iamwarpSpeed.com puts us at the cutting edge of what is possible in AI.   Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, and its potential to transform our world is undeniable. This one-pager explores ten key areas within the AI hype-cycle, highlighting the exciting capabilities on the horizon and the challenges we need to address to bring them to fruition. From achieving human-level intelligence to ensuring ethical and sustainable development, these future frontiers present both opportunities and hurdles. Visit us at iamwarpspeed.com to find out more about our journey

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📣 Global Britain Trade Expo 2024 - Live Q&A I’m delighted to announce I will be answering questions and talking all things business at this year’s Global Britain Trade Expo. Now in its seventh year, GBTE continues to promote the UK as a global trade and business destination and welcomes delegates from 36 countries. The event is designed for those businesses looking grow internationally, be it setting up overseas, sourcing new suppliers or exporting to new markets. Over 800 business leaders, 75 exhibitors and 33 speakers are set to attend, coming together to do business and exchange best practise. If you’d like to attend, they’re offering 30% discounted tickets 🎟 Use Code: MW301 Booking link: globalbritaintradeexpo.com/delegate-pass Date: 9th May 2024 Location: QEII Centre, Broad Sanctuary, London, SW1P 3EE @GBTE24 Looking forward to seeing you there! 🤝 #GBTE24

I had a great time on @TalkTV with @Roolockwood on her PrimeTime show. We discussed my new book, #TheStartupStory, plus Autonomous Flight and the future of inner city travel, and the opportunities for entrepreneurs in British business. Check it out👇 youtu.be/3TtB6iOv34g

I recommend to anyone looking to start a business, or who have an established company, to ASK for guidance from a MENTOR who has travelled the journey from idea to exit. The rules have not changed in 2024. Get a mentor at EntrepreneurSeminar.com!

Urban air mobility is a huge and exciting opportunity this decade! This snippet is from an interesting interview with @MartinWarner on creativity, startup and innovation, including his work on EVTOL youtu.be/OQdvVgLZHd0?si…

Launch day! 📚 Feels surreal to see my book now available to purchase in the US. It’s been a long process but it’s going to be really rewarding seeing the response and hopefully an impact on those that read it

UK🇬🇧...Pre-order now on Waterstones waterstones.com/book/startup-s… 🙌 More to come soon! 4/4

...thrilling rollercoaster ride I had with building and selling botObjects, the way it influenced my life, and how others can learn from my experiences. My book will be in all major bookstores and online retailers in the USA🇺🇸 very soon! For those of you in the UK🇬🇧... 3/4

I'm very pleased to announce my new book: The Startup Story, An Entrepreneurs Journey from Idea to Exit.📖 Book Release Dates: USA - October 31st 2023 UK - January 4th 2024 Rest of the World - Date TBA Over the years people have always asked me to write a book about... 🧵 1/4