Winamp

Michael Seibel and Dalton Caldwell advise high school students interested in startups to build skills before rushing to found a company. They recommend learning to code and design, releasing low stakes projects, practicing social skills and empathy, and understanding how credentials and fads work. They also urge students to stay optimistic about technology, be honest with themselves and others, and commit to long term ambitions. The startup game will still be there when they are ready.

Dalton Caldwell argues that people and startups create luck by moving quickly, trying many ideas, and showing their work to other people. Brex changed direction from a VR headset to a startup credit card after rapidly testing alternatives; Retool and Magic also found better ideas through fast experimentation. Before starting a company, people can increase their chances by meeting others, sharing ideas, and building things instead of waiting to be noticed. Caldwell says founders should balance their skills with the demands of an idea, and that later-stage companies can build a culture of luck by hiring people who experiment quickly.