The Smartest Founders Aren't Chasing Venture Capital — They're Doing These 5 Things First

Manatt Digital and Technology Consulting Managing Director  authored an article for Entrepreneur examining why today’s founders must adopt a product‑first strategy amid shifting venture capital dynamics.

In his column, Gutierrez explained how higher investment thresholds and growth expectations are pushing founders to validate their products earlier in the startup lifecycle. The piece outlined five practical guidelines—from prioritizing MVP development to leveraging grassroots funding and real‑world user data—to help founders build sustainable companies before pursuing institutional capital. “As the entrepreneurial landscape continues to evolve, both founders and investors are seeking higher success-rate metrics. While the prevailing narrative often pushes speed above all else, taking one step back early in the process can ultimately allow founders to move much further ahead,” he wrote.

Gutierrez’s five key guidelines to help position a company for success are:

1. Streamline priorities and focus on product development
2. Develop a pre-seed funding strategy centered on the product
3. Leverage grassroots funding sources
4. Recruit a product-focused team first
5. Validate the product with real consumer usage data

Entrepreneur subscribers can read the full article .