Foundry is a premium business intelligence publication featuring 551 articles from the best founders and investors. Topics cover leadership, strategy, fundraising, growth, AI, and more.

What topics does Foundry cover?

Foundry covers leadership, investing, AI and technology, product development, founder stories, mindset and career, marketing, hiring, fundraising, strategy, and more. Articles feature insights from founders like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, and Jensen Huang.

Can I submit a story to Foundry?

Yes. You can submit a story at thefoundrybrief.com/submit. Foundry publishes articles featuring insights from founders and investors across all industries.

Sequoia's Alfred Lin: Stop Saying You're Better. Start Saying You're Different.

By Doug Leone · Startup Growth · 1 min read

DoorDash didn't win delivery by being better. They won by focusing on selection when nobody else did.

Key Points

The best companies never talk about competition. They talk about being different.
DoorDash focused on restaurant selection while everyone else focused on speed
Founders need a novel insight that nobody else has about their industry

The best companies never talk about the competition. They just talk about the fact that they're different.

Better Is a Trap

Alfred Lin at Sequoia has seen hundreds of pitches. Most founders explain why they're better than the competition. That's the wrong frame.

Better means you're competing head-to-head. Different means you're playing a game nobody else is playing.

Better = head-to-head combat. Different = your own game.

How DoorDash Won a Crowded Market

Food delivery was insanely competitive. Everyone looked the same. DoorDash could have tried to be faster or cheaper. Instead, they focused on selection.

One person orders from 3-5 restaurants. But 300 people order from hundreds of different places. DoorDash bet that selection would win. It did.

Everyone fought on speed. DoorDash fought on selection. DoorDash won.

Find Your Novel Insight

Lin says every great founder has one thing: a novel, compelling insight about their industry that nobody else has.

Everyone will move fast. But they'll move fast in different directions. Your insight determines your direction. Make sure it's one nobody else sees.

Your unique insight determines your direction. Make it original.