Essays

• Why Every Founder Needs an Operator in Their Corner

  The missing skill in most early-stage companies isn't product vision — it's operational discipline.

  May 15, 2026

• What I Learned Selling My Company for $48MM

  Five years of building Closure Software, and what the acquisition process actually felt like from the inside.

  April 2, 2026

• Can You Actually Teach Entrepreneurship?

  A lecture-hall skeptic turned entrepreneurship professor reflects on what the classroom can and can't do.

  February 18, 2026

• The Duke Advantage: What Top University Ecosystems Actually Offer Founders

  Resources, networks, and credibility — what founders inside a university system should be taking advantage of, and almost never do.

  January 10, 2026

• Hiring Your First Ten: The Decisions That Define Your Culture

  The first ten people you hire aren't just employees — they're the DNA of your company. Here's how to think about each one.

  November 20, 2025