Aidi — 4 Ways Startup Founders Can Upskill (Beyond Just Taking Courses and Joining Accelerators)

Do startup founders need to upskill? Of course, they do!

In fact, this should be a frequent thing for startup founders to do. Building a startup is a continuous journey, so knowledge and skill-sharpening should be a continuous activity for founders for personal growth. 

There are many ways founders can sharpen their skills and become more knowledgeable about what they’re building or their industry. Some of the most popular ways today are joining accel;erators or taking courses. While these are good and effective, let’s also examine other ways founders can upskill beyond accelerators and taking courses.

1. Read Like a Founder

Founders who read, lead. You don’t have to be a bookworm, but staying intellectually curious is key. Truly, not many founders may have the time to sit down with a book with lengthy pages, but you can also make time and set reading goals for the year. One or two books coupled with some very good essays or articles can help sharpen your skills and help you think differently. If you’re thinking of where to start, here are some recommendations: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, Zero to One by Peter Thiel, The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz, Essays by Paul Graham (co-founder of Y Combinator), and Founder’s Library on First Round Review.

2. Join Founder Communities

One of the best ways to learn is by surrounding yourself with others who are building too. Founder communities offer candid advice, lived experiences, and honest feedback, all for free! These are things you won’t find in a polished course. You can learn more from real conversations or stories about someone’s failed/successful product launch than a 2-hour webinar. There are some communities for founders on Slack groups like Indie Hackers, On Deck, or Launch House. You can also follow some active founders on X (Twitter) or Threads and engage in conversations too. Also, you can join Aidi Founders’ Community on WhatsApp– a community of over a hundred founders who give hot takes on trending topics and share real life experiences about their building journey. If you’re a startup founder and would like to be a part of this community, Reach out to us.

3. Get Mentors or Advisors

A 20-30 minute call with a seasoned founder can save you 6 months of confusion and trial & error. Don’t wait until you’re lost or things stop working before you speak to someone/people. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people who have gone ahead of you and have done it before. There’s no shame in asking questions or seeking advice but don’t overdo it and make the other party regret their decision to mentor you. Respect their time, be clear and specific when asking questions, and act on feedback. Many mentors are happy to help if you show initiative and gratitude.

4. Podcasts & Newsletters

Honestly, podcasts and newsletters are goldmines for insights, especially when you’re in transport, working out, or taking a break. Podcasts are refreshing and they come as real as they are. Authentic practical stories from successful founders and even failed founders can inspire you and even change your current approach, which is not working, to your product. Newsletters on the other hand are short gemstones with practical advice and examples on how to build better. Some startup podcasts I recommend you start with are: How I Built This by Guy Raz, Acquired by Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, and The Twenty Minute VC. You can also subscribe to newsletters like IndieHackers, The Hustle, Foundr, Y Combinator, and Morning Brew to help you stay up-to-date on startup and industry trends.

Taking courses and joining accelerators are great but continuous learning as a founder goes beyond the classroom. Startups are fast-paced, and your knowledge-gaining should be the same. Great founders read, build, connect, and stay curious as they build. These are what help them stay ahead of their counterparts.