POV
The Buy Window
More software will be built than ever before. Less of it will be bought.
The Hidden Cost of Kingmaking
The strategy that kills more companies than it crowns.
Not Every Company Is Built for the Big Leagues
Run the math before you buy the myth.
I Want to Fund Nepo Babies
I’m not talking about lazy heirs waiting to inherit the corner office.
When You Pitch Revenue, the Number Matters Less Than the Shape
Predictable is more powerful than ‘promised in the future’.
A Vibes-Based Founder’s Guide to Choosing a VC
I suggest evaluating investors across five dimensions: valuation, impact, brand, energy, and speed.
Less Theater, More Building
In the current crop of first-time founders, I’ve noticed pockets that have less patience for the performative side of startups.
Don’t Outsource Your Conviction
Rather than asking subject matter experts whether they’d invest, ask them what questions they’d ask the founders and why.
Founders Are Raising the Bar for PM Hires. Vibe Coding Is Why.
The cost of weak prioritization and vague direction has skyrocketed, and UX/differentiation matters more than ever. You feel it immediately once you’re the one managing the agents.
Talent Density Creates Gravity
Great people attract other great people, raise standards, accelerate the business, solve harder problems, and attract better customers, investors, and future teammates.
Reading the Wind
Token spend is a new line item every company has, and no one can tell you what it’s buying.
You Don’t Need a Bigger Budget to Look Like a Bigger Company
You just need to spend where your budget reads as authority.
Book Recs from Boston’s Best Builders: The 2026 Collective Future Library
A curated reading list from the most interesting founders, operators, execs, and investors in Boston and beyond.
Not Every Opportunity Is Yours to Pick Up
Talented founders spot currency others walk past. The rarer skill is knowing which bills are worth the trouble.
Depth Over Breadth
An n of 2 experiment on the founder journey, 2016–2026.
“Is AI a Bubble or Not?” Is the Wrong Question
The real money from the dot-com era wasn’t made at the peak. It was made by companies disciplined enough to still be alive in 2002-2004, when capital had fled and everyone was traumatized.
It’s a Strange Feeling When a Small Check Beats the Company You Built
After we sold Brontes, and before Founder Collective existed, my partners and friends pulled me into a couple of small checks, including Opower and Olo. Both went public.
The Reverse Effort Paradox
The work matters, I believe that. Some days it just feels like the returns run in the opposite direction.
Eric Paley to Serve as Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
We’re proud to share that Eric Paley, our long-time partner and dear friend, has been appointed Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by Governor Maura Healy.
From Startups to Stewardship: Eric Paley Brings Founder-First Values to Public Service
Eric has chosen to step away from Founder Collective to assume the role of Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Anyone who has ever met Eric will instantly know why he is an inspired choice and a perfect fit.
Search
Book Recs from Boston’s Best Builders: The 2026 Collective Future Library
A curated reading list from the most interesting founders, operators, execs, and investors in Boston and beyond.
“Is AI a Bubble or Not?” Is the Wrong Question
The real money from the dot-com era wasn’t made at the peak. It was made by companies disciplined enough to still be alive in 2002-2004, when capital had fled and everyone was traumatized.
It’s a Strange Feeling When a Small Check Beats the Company You Built
After we sold Brontes, and before Founder Collective existed, my partners and friends pulled me into a couple of small checks, including Opower and Olo. Both went public.
The Buy Window
More software will be built than ever before. Less of it will be bought.
The Hidden Cost of Kingmaking
The strategy that kills more companies than it crowns.
Not Every Company Is Built for the Big Leagues
Run the math before you buy the myth.
I Want to Fund Nepo Babies
I’m not talking about lazy heirs waiting to inherit the corner office.
When You Pitch Revenue, the Number Matters Less Than the Shape
Predictable is more powerful than ‘promised in the future’.
A Vibes-Based Founder’s Guide to Choosing a VC
I suggest evaluating investors across five dimensions: valuation, impact, brand, energy, and speed.
Less Theater, More Building
In the current crop of first-time founders, I’ve noticed pockets that have less patience for the performative side of startups.
Don’t Outsource Your Conviction
Rather than asking subject matter experts whether they’d invest, ask them what questions they’d ask the founders and why.
Founders Are Raising the Bar for PM Hires. Vibe Coding Is Why.
The cost of weak prioritization and vague direction has skyrocketed, and UX/differentiation matters more than ever. You feel it immediately once you’re the one managing the agents.
Talent Density Creates Gravity
Great people attract other great people, raise standards, accelerate the business, solve harder problems, and attract better customers, investors, and future teammates.
Reading the Wind
Token spend is a new line item every company has, and no one can tell you what it’s buying.
You Don’t Need a Bigger Budget to Look Like a Bigger Company
You just need to spend where your budget reads as authority.
Book Recs from Boston’s Best Builders: The 2026 Collective Future Library
A curated reading list from the most interesting founders, operators, execs, and investors in Boston and beyond.
Not Every Opportunity Is Yours to Pick Up
Talented founders spot currency others walk past. The rarer skill is knowing which bills are worth the trouble.
Depth Over Breadth
An n of 2 experiment on the founder journey, 2016–2026.
“Is AI a Bubble or Not?” Is the Wrong Question
The real money from the dot-com era wasn’t made at the peak. It was made by companies disciplined enough to still be alive in 2002-2004, when capital had fled and everyone was traumatized.
It’s a Strange Feeling When a Small Check Beats the Company You Built
After we sold Brontes, and before Founder Collective existed, my partners and friends pulled me into a couple of small checks, including Opower and Olo. Both went public.
The Reverse Effort Paradox
The work matters, I believe that. Some days it just feels like the returns run in the opposite direction.
Eric Paley to Serve as Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
We’re proud to share that Eric Paley, our long-time partner and dear friend, has been appointed Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by Governor Maura Healy.
From Startups to Stewardship: Eric Paley Brings Founder-First Values to Public Service
Eric has chosen to step away from Founder Collective to assume the role of Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Anyone who has ever met Eric will instantly know why he is an inspired choice and a perfect fit.