We had retention that was 3-4 times better than other meal delivery services. We had low awareness, lots of room for product innovation, and a seemingly clear path to an IPO. Then the war broke out in Ukraine, and capital markets started to get spooked. All of the sudden, fast-growing, unprofitable consumer businesses were out of vogue. We managed to raise $32mm, not a small sum, but it felt like a failure.
What happens when your first 10 hires aren't people at all? At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, happening October 27-29 at San Francisco's Moscone West, we're digging into the new wave of startups replacing or augmenting early employees with AI agents. Think outbound sales, billing, and customer support - automated from day one. This panel, hosted on the Builders Stage, features a mix of technical founders and seasoned operators who are actually doing it,
Every startup founder dreams of control. Building a sleek payment system in-house feels bold, innovative and even empowering. After all, Stripe began as a small project - why not follow the same path? The idea of owning every detail of the payment experience can be intoxicating. But behind that dream lies a reality few anticipate: endless complexity, hidden expenses and a dangerous distraction from the core product.