Founder f**K ups

Ben Bagg
  • 0.0 (0)
  • BUSINESS

Instead of Humble bragging and sharing wins. lets dive deep into the Mistakes that shaped us along the way. Tune into Founder f**k ups!

  1. 1D AGO

    "I gave away 50% equity to the wrong partner" - With Reuben Liu

    The conversation delves into the pitfalls of early equity distribution, its impact on company operations, and the transition to a new partnership. Reuben's experience highlights the importance of shared vision and values in partnerships, as well as the emotional and financial costs of ending a partnership. The key takeaways emphasize the significance of careful equity distribution and the impact of partnership dynamics on company growth and operations. Takeaways Early equity distribution can lead to misaligned visions and valuesPartnership dynamics can impact company growth and operations Chapters 00:00 The Equity Trap: Early Mistakes05:45 Impact on Company Operations16:11 Transition and Lessons Learned

    31 min

  2. FEB 10

    The EXPENSIVE "Applause" Trap. Why Your Customers Love you, BUT WONT PAY - with Simone Macario

    The conversation delves into the challenges of building a company on the frontier, the discovery of Sharly, the gravity gap, the challenges of building from Malaysia, the pivot from B2C to B2B, the impact of distance, the shift to San Francisco, and advice for founders. It provides insights into the strategic decisions and challenges faced by the founder, Simon Macario, as he navigates the complexities of building a global company. Takeaways Building on the frontier requires proximity to valuePivoting from B2C to B2B can be a strategic move Chapters 00:00 Building on the Frontier05:35 Pivoting from B2C to B2B12:16 The Impact of Distance23:49 The Shift to San Francisco

    27 min

  3. FEB 4

    Stop Building Zombie Startups: How I Learned to Give Up Fast - With Daniel Cerventus Lim

    Success is the ultimate blindfold. Daniel Cerventus Lim reveals how a 20-year track record of winning almost led him off a cliff—and why the smartest founders are the ones who know how to give up fast.👉 Join the mission: We are helping 1,000 founders break the meta-cycle of team chaos and lack of focus. Subscribe to Founder F**K Ups and stop making mistakes in a vacuum.In this episode of Founder F**k Ups, serial entrepreneur Daniel Cerventus Lim breaks down the "Success Trap" and why past wins often lead to future startup mistakes. As a prominent figure in SEA Tech, Daniel shares raw leadership lessons on the dangers of zombie startups—businesses that aren't growing but refuse to die. We dive deep into the sunk cost fallacy, exploring how the fear of "wasted" time and money prevents founders from scaling a business effectively.The conversation tackles the generational divide in the workplace and why modern founders must master the "Art of Strategic Giving Up" to survive. Whether you're a first-time founder or an experienced CEO, these founder interviews offer a vulnerable look at the grit required to navigate business failure in the Malaysian ecosystem and beyond. Learn how to identify red flags early, manage team chaos, and reclaim your most valuable resource: time.Chapter Timestamps:00:00 The Fatal Mistake: When Success Becomes a Trap 03:01 Why Past Wins Blind You to New Red Flags 06:09 Zombie Startups: The True Cost of Stagnation08:59 The Generational Divide: Working with Gen Alpha & "The Strawberry Generation"12:02 Sunk Cost Fallacy: Why "Pushing Through" is Often a Mistake 16:12 The Decision Framework: When to Pivot vs. When to Quit 24:45 Work-Life Balance is a Myth for Founders29:50 The Art of Strategic Giving Up: Reclaiming Your Momentum#startups #FounderLife #BusinessFailure #Entrepreneurship #SEATech #SuccessTrap #FounderFuckUps #ScalingUp

    29 min

  4. JAN 29

    #15 "I built THEIR brand with my BLOOD & SWEAT - But they tried to sue" - With Selina Chew

    The conversation with Dr. Selina Chew revolves around the journey of transitioning from a franchise to an independent brand. It explores the challenges, realizations, and strategic decisions involved in building and owning a brand. The key takeaways highlight the risks of building a brand on someone else's equity and the importance of careful planning and execution when transitioning to an independent brand. Takeaways Building a brand on someone else's equity can lead to loss of control and potential risks.Transitioning from a franchise to an independent brand requires careful planning and strategic execution. Chapters 00:00 Building a Brand on Someone Else's Equity05:04 Realizing the Need for Independence14:12 Transitioning to an Independent Brand19:50 Owning 100% of the Brand

    26 min

  5. JAN 22

    #14 "Venture Capital is a People Business (AND MOST PEOPLE ARE F**KING UP)" With Kevin Brockland

    The conversation delves into the world of venture capital, exploring the complexities of betting on people, misjudging human nature, the psychological trap of the savior complex, the reputational cost of a bad bet, and the strategy of moving slow to move fast. Takeaways Betting on people in venture capitalMisjudging human naturePsychological trap of the savior complexReputational cost of a bad betMoving slow to move fast Chapters 00:00 Betting on People in Venture Capital05:59 The Psychological Trap of the Savior Complex15:54 Moving Slow to Move Fast

    30 min

  6. JAN 14

    #13 "My team was 66% sales, & 33% product, and we still couldn't scale" with Max Armbruster

    The conversation delves into the drive of entrepreneurs to control their own destiny and the strategic blind spot in non-technical founders. It also explores a decade of hiring mistakes and the impact on business growth and profitability. Takeaways Strategic Blind SpotHiring Mistakes Chapters 00:00 Decade of Hiring Mistakes

    18 min

  7. JAN 8

    #12 "I Didn’t Ask for Help… and Paid for It as a Founder" with Joseph Chin

    Joseph Chin shares his journey of self-reliance and the hidden costs associated with it. He discusses the challenges of realizing the mistake, the process of delegation, and the turning point in his approach to recruiting and managing a team. He also provides valuable advice for founders based on his experiences. Takeaways The hidden cost of self-relianceThe value of delegation and hiring around your strengths Chapters 00:00 The Cost of Self-Reliance08:04 The Process of Delegation14:03 The Turning Point27:31 Advice for Founders

    26 min

  8. 12/30/2025

    #11 "We got so focused on distribution that our product caused high churn" with Ashvin Praveen

    The conversation delves into the challenges of achieving sustainable growth and the importance of user retention as a key metric for product success. It explores the illusion of growth through virality, the reality of churn, the pivotal moment of product realization, and the balance between growth and product focus. Takeaways Virality without a durable product isn't growthUser retention is a key metric for product success Chapters 00:00 The Growth Illusion09:31 The Churn Reality16:31 The Product Pivot24:05 Balancing Growth and Product

    25 min
See All (18)

About

Instead of Humble bragging and sharing wins. lets dive deep into the Mistakes that shaped us along the way. Tune into Founder f**k ups!

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Bagg
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Ben Bagg