Howdy Founders 🤠,

First things first: No, you're not reading the wrong newsletter, and no, John hasn't been kidnapped (though I can't confirm he didn't run off to start a llama farm in Peru).

I'm Ron, and John has graciously handed me the keys to the FoundersOnly kingdom. Why? Great question. Maybe he finally got that call from NASA to be the first SaaS founder in space, or perhaps he's just tired of my relentless text messages begging for this gig.

Either way he’s moving on to greener pastures, and here we are.

Let's talk about:

- The Elephant in the Room 🐘

- Why Change is (Mostly) Good ✨

- Business Idea of the Week 💡

- The Usual Sarcasm and Wit 🤷‍♂️

The Elephant in the Room 🐘

So, John's stepping back, and you're stuck with me now. Before you hit that unsubscribe button faster than a venture capitalist runs from a pre-revenue startup, hear me out.

I promise to keep the same level of questionable advice, sarcastic humor, and unsolicited opinions you've grown to tolerate—and maybe even enjoy.

A Little About Me 🧐

So, who am I, and why should you keep reading instead of diving into your overflowing inbox? Excellent questions.

• Startup Rollercoaster Survivor: I've been dabbling (read: flailing) in all ranges of startups for over 4 years—from VC-(almost)funded adventures to bootstrapped micro-SaaS projects that only my mom uses (thanks, Mom).

• Code Whisperer: I'm a technical founder who loves web development and can really center a mean <div />.

• John's Partner in Crime: For the past year and a half, John and I have been concocting all sorts of wild ideas—from scraping flight data (because who doesn't love tracking overpriced tickets?) to analyzing video content with AI (spoiler: the robots still don't appreciate our humor).

• Professional YC Reject: I'm a 3-time Y Combinator reject and yet I still eagerly listen to all the latest episodes of "The Social Radars." Some call it perseverance; I call it a masterclass in handling rejection.

Now that you know more about me than you probably wanted to, let's move on.

Why Change is (Mostly) Good ✨

I get it—change can be as unsettling as a last-minute meeting invite on a Friday evening. But think of this as a new chapter in the same book you love.

John built an amazing community here, and I'm not here to reinvent the wheel. My goal is to continue bringing you the unfiltered, unpolished, and unapologetic insights into the startup world.

Business Idea of the Week 💡

But enough about me. Let's dive into something you can actually use to distract yourself from that looming product launch.

Founder-to-Founder Mentorship Platform

Imagine a platform that connects experienced startup founders with newcomers looking for guidance. Think of it as the Airbnb of mentorship—matching those who have "been there, done that" with those who are "there right now, figuring it out."

How It Works:

• Create a Profile: Founders sign up and specify whether they're looking to mentor or be mentored, along with their industry and areas of expertise.

• Smart Matching: An algorithm pairs mentors and mentees based on industry, experience level, and specific challenges.

• Flexible Engagements: Choose between one-time consultations, ongoing mentorships, or group workshops.

Why It's a Good Idea:

• Accelerate Growth: New founders get to avoid common pitfalls by learning from others' experiences.

• Give Back: Experienced founders can share their knowledge and maybe even spot the next big thing.

• Community Building: Foster a supportive startup ecosystem where knowledge flows freely.

If anyone's interested in making this happen, let's connect. After all, collaboration is the new competition.

The Usual Sarcasm and Wit 🤷‍♂️

Don't worry; despite the changing of the guard, the cold email crusades, unsolicited business ideas, and deep dives into whether you should finally shut down that startup you've been nursing like a two-day-old coffee will continue.

In fact, if you can’t get enough of my sarcasm I’ve also been building up another newsletter. Think of it as The Onion but if they solely wrote about startups. It’s called Minimum Viable Mess

I know transitions can be awkward—like trying to pivot your startup after realizing nobody wants your product. But stick around; we might just learn something together, or at least share a few laughs along the way.

Feel free to hit reply, send me your thoughts, or just vent about your latest fundraising woes. I'm all ears—and sarcasm.

Love you (are we moving too fast?) 🙂,

Ronald Barnhart

P.S. If anyone knows how to reach John on his llama farm, tell him he forgot his charger.