⭐ Highlights from Clara Hong’s AMA (edited for clarity)

What key lessons from your previous startups influenced your approach to building Smore?

From my past ventures, I learned the importance of a strong founding team and direct customer engagement. Building a solid team and being open to feedback helped us quickly monetize Smore. Aligning values within the team and not avoiding customer criticism were key to our approach.

What's your strategy to build a strong founding team?

To build a strong founding team, prioritize values first, aptitude second, and skills last. Ensure values align and timelines match, as startups take time and may face challenges. Look for potential and growth willingness, and finally, specific skills for your tech product. This approach has worked well for us.

How do you keep yourself and your team motivated?

To keep motivated, a founder must genuinely believe in their vision. The team's morale often mirrors the founder’s outlook, so maintaining confidence and a solid stance amid uncertainty is crucial. If the founder is passionate and optimistic, it naturally boosts the team's energy and motivation.

How did you go about defining your target customer?

Defining our target customer involved finding the largest, most passionate segment that could scale. Pre-launch, it was about evaluating if the product fit the market. Post-launch, we refined our target by identifying who responded with strong enthusiasm. It’s a messy process, but crucial for aligning with customer needs.

How should you think about investor-founder fit?

Choosing the right investor is crucial, as they influence your company's future. Ensure they align with your vision and values, and share your timeline and expectations. It’s not just about securing funding but partnering with those who will support you through pivots and growth, which is essential for early-stage success.

For the full AMA, click here.

📅 Upcoming AMAs

• Aug 6 at 12pm PST: Mark Linao, Investor and General Partner at Progression Fund

  • Progression is a venture capital fund specializing in consumer startups, with investments in notable companies such as Dapper Labs, Luma, and OK Play.

📺 Past AMAs

Missed any of our previous AMAs? No worries! You can catch up on all the guests here.

• Will Drewery, Founder and CEO at Diagon (AI-powered procurement platform)

• Gaurav Seth, Founder and CEO at PierSight Space (maritime surveillance using satellites)

• Tejes Srivalsan, Founder and CEO at Poppin (event-based social media)

• Christie Marchese, Founder and CEO at Kinema (film distribution platform)

• Michael Kapps, Founder and CEO at Sanii (longevity and lifestyle for the elderly)

• Ahmed Mirza, Investor at Techstars Los Angeles (leading startup accelerator)

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