Prediction Held up AI assessment confidence: 95% certainty 5/5 debate potential 3/5

Fadell: Never invest in startups with four or more co-founders

Tony Fadell · Tony Fadell: Why You Can't Be a Solo Founder; Mercenary vs. Missionary Operators | 20VC #910 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings · Jul 25, 2022 · at 26:38

Tony Fadell, creator of the iPod, founder of Nest, and principal at Build Collective, details his firm's strict criteria regarding founding team size.

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“I don't like any, I don't like companies with more than three co-founders. I prefer it with two. Three can get as long as people, but four above forget. I don't want to go there.”

quote is from the automated transcript, cleaned for reading: filler sounds and stutters are removed, nothing is rephrased. names can be misheard (the analysis reads context, assessments check outside sources). how →

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