The amount of real engineering that must have gone into a system like this is incredible. They didn't have the benefit of being able to iterate on an existing technology -> this is real hacking.
Having worked on the streets dataset for a FAANG, I'm blown away at the ingenuity here.
There is a newly enforced limit on (paid!) Google Workspace accounts - you can only share files with non-Google users up to 5 times each calendar month. Note that this doesn't cap external accounts, just those that are non-Google. So want to share with your personal Gmail account - no problem. More than 5 @hotmails - nope!
Only way around is to upgrade to a plan that is double the price.
"Important: If you use a Google Workspace Business Starter or Frontline account, you can share files up to 5 times each calendar month with non-Google accounts. Each time is defined as sharing one document with one visitor."
Not sure who at Google thought this was the right way to upsell business accounts. Also, there is no mention of this limit in any plan description (eg. https://support.google.com/a/answer/6043385).
Kinda an odd restriction, considering you can also just create an "anyone with the link can edit" link and then email it to as many people as you like...
I prefer mailing out the link myself anyway - I hate tools that send automated emails to someone on my behalf, when I'd much rather write the email myself. That, and in many workplaces, sending the link via slack is far more convenient - especially when dealing with contractors whose email address is often hard to find.
I'm the founder of a venture-backed company in my 30s with two young kids under five. My co-founder is also in the same boat. A few points:
1. My wife works in a well paying field (nothing crazy, but comfortable), and we were financially stable enough to be able to live without my salary for a couple years.
2. We were very customer focused from day one, even before we incorporated. We signed up several customers (using LOIs) with just a deck, before we wrote any software.
3. We discovered a very clearly defined problem, a payer and clear willingness to pay.
4. I don't work like I used to. I feel much wiser about how I spend my time rather than brute forcing it with hours. Because of the two kids, I effectively work 9-5, M-F. I don't work weekends. During 9-5 though, I am dialed-in (I don't spend time reading the news or checking instagram). I delegate much more aggressively than I used to. I don't think I'm actually outputting much less than I used to, I'm just more efficient and focus on the more important things.
5. Venture - this is what it's for. There is still a bunch of venture out there for seed/pre-seed. We raised money early on and that allowed us to take small salaries (and hire folks to delegate things to).
100% it's definitely not as easy to start up in this stage of life, but it's also not impossible. Happy to connect with folks who want to connect (commiserate?) about this situation.
> 2. We were very customer focused from day one, even before we incorporated. We signed up several customers (using LOIs) with just a deck, before we wrote any software.
How did you find these customers? Existing network or fanatical prospecting? Did you, your co-founder, or both close the deal?
We called them and asked if we could come visit in person and learn more about their business. I think you’ll be surprised how open people are to help - especially if you’re curious and let them talk about themselves.
Do you feel like that because you were once a professional, that it helps with the startup? As in, does it help you avoid useless nonsense that doesnt add to the bottom line?
Also the time management piece is ultra important here I think. Its like Leetcode for time management. Theres leetcode easy which is just brute force working hours, then theres more efficient ways of working that become more obvious in a professional setting. Its the one thing I have over myself when I was 24. I know how to manage time more effectively.
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