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- Founder Mode - 16 July 2025
Founder Mode - 16 July 2025
We look for opportunities so that you don't have to.
StartupX Admin
July 16, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
Hi there,
Welcome to Founder Mode, the newsletter that keeps you updated on the top finds and opportunities, so that to save time and stay in the know.
Let’s go 🚀
🔥 Top Finds
Did AI Kill the Lean Startup?
If you’ve been wondering whether the Lean Startup approach still makes sense in the AI era, this piece is worth a look. It’s a great time to think about how we adapt our playbooks when tech changes the game.
Why Senior Leaders Should Stop Having So Many One-on-Ones
Nvidia CEO famously said he does not do 1:1s and was a surprise to many leaders. This HBR article makes a sharp case that endless one-on-ones might be hurting teams more than helping. Are 1:1 chats are really adding value or clogging the calendar?
Windsurf’s CEO Heads to Google, OpenAI Deal Collapses
Bit of startup drama here: Windsurf’s CEO just left for Google, blowing up their planned acquisition by OpenAI. TechCrunch has the details on how the deal fell apart
🎯 Startup Opportunities
NTT Startup Challenge 2025 NTT open innovation contest for startups solving real-world business and societal problems.
| Net Zero Challenge
| Retail Maverick Challenge This challenge offers Singapore retail brands a unique opportunity to foster innovative retail concepts.
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🛠 Tool of the Week
Granola
The AI notepad built for people in back‑to‑back meetings. Granola captures your computer’s audio (no pesky bots), transcribes your discussion in real time, and turns rough notes into sharable, AI‑enhanced summaries with key takeaways, action items, and follow‑up drafts. It even lets you chat with past meeting transcripts like a “second brain” for more insight across conversations. Free plan offers up to 25 meetings per month so pretty happy with that.
💬 Founder Mode Quotes
“Don't be intimidated by what you don't know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else." — Sara Blakely
🙂 Fun Mode
have no idea if these AI-first browers will take share from Chrome but do know this is still the most accurate browser-related meme ever
— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan)
12:52 PM • Jul 10, 2025
Got a tip, cool tool, or collab idea? Hit reply and drop it in my inbox. Your note can be as quick as a meme or as deep as a pitch deck. Either way, I read every email.
If this newsletter sparked an “aha,” pass it along to another builder who should be in Founder Mode. Sharing is free and motivates me to help bring you the best finds every week.
- Ray
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