Jessica Livingston's Advice For Founders

TL;DR

The speaker gives general founder advice: determination, empathy, making something people want a lot, living cheaply, and focus. She then offers specific advice for women: starting a startup before having children is easier, though it's possible with kids if you outsource non-child tasks.

Key insights

• Determination is the most important quality; smart founders fail because they cannot persist through tough times and rejection.
• Empathy for users is critical; being a target user yourself makes understanding their needs almost automatic.
• "Make something people want a lot" — mild interest is insufficient; users must want it enough to sign up, return, and tell friends even when the startup is rough.