Every week I see the same illusion — startups chasing validation, not traction. They confuse noise with progress.

Fake traction looks like this: Awards that mean nothing. Press that converts no one. Accelerator badges from two years ago. Partner logos with no contracts. Free users who’ll never pay.

Real traction looks boring: Daily users, paying customers, repeat revenue, organic growth.

If you have to explain why your traction is impressive, it’s not traction.

Stop counting likes and logos. Count invoices paid, users retained, churn reduced.

Your startup isn’t a résumé; it’s a machine. If it stops working when attention fades, you never had traction — only theater.

Drop the vanity metrics. Get back to the numbers that matter.

GET MY FREE GUIDE NOW Most founders chase fake traction — vanity metrics that look good but mean nothing. Learn what real traction looks like, how investors spot the difference, and how to prove what actually matters. DOWNLOAD GUIDE

🔒 Join the Circle

I don’t run an open investor list.
Every month, I share a private update — portfolio progress, new deals, and early founder access — only with a small circle of investors who think long-term and move fast.

If you want to co-invest, collaborate, or simply see what I’m building behind the scenes, this is where it starts.

Just signal — the kind that founders and funds pay attention to.

👉 Apply to Join the Monthly Investor Briefing​
​(I review every application personally.)

From Startup Grind to Bevy:... Jun 11 · Brainwaves 40:36   ​

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