g’day
when it comes to finding companies to work at
(or to invest in)
being on the right bus is more important than having the perfect seat on the wrong one.
yes, most startups are bad.
choosing the top 20% of companies is something that 80% of people get wrong.
it’s why i prefer a targeted strike approach.
find 5 companies you love, that you want to make part of your life.
then go deep, and ruthlessly pass them through a series of filters.
> filter one. build your radar
start with a longlist.
make a spreadsheet of aussie startups you’ve heard of and rate.
use the portfolio pages on vc websites to surface new names.
scan media coverage and investment notes (like this one).
cull on instinct:
if the product’s mid, the site is boring, or the vibe’s off - cut it.
this should trim ~100 down to ~20.
> filter two. validate the business
now you’re looking for viability + tailwinds.
check overseas comps. look for 1–2 strong players in the US/UK.
if there are zero: too early.
if there are ten: bloodbath.
(when we launched pilot in aus, hims and roman were already on a tear. that’s how we knew the wave was real.)
then, use the product.
if you can’t, ask for a demo. look at customer logos, case studies. assess the quality of their customers.
look at funding. top-tier VC is a strong signal.
not because they’re always right, but because they filter well.
> filter three. meet the people:
talk to the team. then work your way to the founder.
your job is to figure out: would i follow this person into the fire?
is the rest of the team smart.
> what’s next?
don’t wait for a job ad.
send the cold DM with something interesting.
ship something valuable.
beat down the door. and jam your foot in it.
being early at the right company changes your whole life.
charlie
ps - new video this week is on the safety epidemic in australia and why doing basic stuff is now really hard and expensive.
