Founder Mode - 24 September 2025

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Hi there,

Welcome back to Founder Mode, every week I’ll keep you updated on the top finds and opportunities for startups, so that you save time and stay in the know.

This week a huge $100k levy for H-1B visas led to chaos. Might be an opportunity for other startup hubs in closing the gap to SF.

Let’s go 🚀

🔥 Top Finds

No Pain, No Gain
Shielding people from painful work experiences undermines learning. Pain builds conviction, raises standards, and makes people take accountability seriously. When you have to do the hard stuff yourself, like firing fairly, owning mistakes, and dealing with the fallout of tough decisions - you internalize what it means to lead well and do better the next time. Lean into the discomfort, and your team will be stronger and more resilient as a result.

How Not To Use AI at Work
Most people are treating AI tools like peers. Instead, they need to step up as the “manager” of the work. It’s critical to review, guide, and own the final responsibility for your outputs, whether you do or don’t use AI to help you create them. Make sure you’re applying good taste to everything you create and using AI as a tool you manage rather than a peer doing your job for you.

Why Our Website Looks Like an Operating System
Led directly by their CEO, the PostHog team redesigned their website to behave more like an OS than a typical landing page. It has multiple windows, keyboard shortcuts, snapping panels, and even a “file explorer” for their merch store. It’s a bold move that redefines what a website can feel like though it might not convert as well? Time will tell.

AI Will Not Make You Rich
A sharp reminder that AI isn’t a surefire wealth engine. The real differentiator will be how you use it to solve real problems, not just chase hype.

🎯 Startup Opportunities

🛠 Tool of the Week

Comet by Perplexity
Comet is Perplexity’s new AI-powered browser that blends search, answers, and navigation into one seamless experience. I’ve got a few early invites if you’d like to test it.

This week’s newsletter is supported by Synthflow:

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💬 Founder Mode Quotes

🙂 Fun Mode

👋  Want to share something or partner?

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