How to be a Horrible Startup Advisor

Ever gotten startup advice that sounded like a fact—but was really just someone’s confident opinion? This episode breaks down why so much startup advice is dangerous, especially from well-meaning advisors who lack self-awareness about their bias and the weight their words carry. Ryan and Will unpack how founders, who often can’t tell “ground truth” from bravado, can be pushed into bad decisions by overconfident feedback—particularly from investors and local “yokels” with narrow worldviews. They share examples from pitch competitions and boardrooms, argue that delivery is often more harmful than the advice itself, and highlight “you might consider” as a simple way to add humility and optionality. The key takeaway: great advisors avoid ego, disclose uncertainty, and help founders synthesize perspectives rather than obey directives. 00:00 Why Advice Needs A Test 01:17 Confidence Becomes Fact 03:39 Pitch Judge Hyperbole 10:30 VC Power Dynamics 15:10 Advice Not Facts 17:03 You Might Consider 18:28 Conflicting Perspectives 22:53 Bias And Obedience 28:07 Do No Harm 32:59 Community Outro Resources: Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapy Website https://www.startups.com/begin LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/ Join our Network of Top Founders Wil Schroter https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/ Ryan Rutan https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/