S12E16 - 16 Warning Signs a Founder Is About to Exit Their Water Tech Company

This simple sequence makes 83% of Water Founders Leave Early - that's what I found, investigating 1571 water tech companies and their 3356 founders!

More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/

🙌 Supporters 🙌

A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab

And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot

#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣
The Dynamics of Water Innovation Book: https://www.bluetechresearch.com/the-dynamics-of-water-innovation/

Global Water Intelligence's WaterData: https://www.gwiwaterdata.com/

My Review of Paul O'Callaghan's book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A36PsBc1cnc

My deep dive in Water Tech's growth stage investment scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqQwOC-ys4c

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Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast

Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW

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Website: https://dww.show/podcast/

🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

00:00 Why start-up founders matter to investors

01:02 The Universal Sequence

02:33 3 Red Flags that Predict Failure

03:45 Methodology

05:40 Sponsor
06:26 1. Founders' Profile

08:23 2. Fundraising Events
10:06 3. Market Events

12:13 4. Team Development

15:02 5. Board Structure

16:47 6. Future Evolution

18:24 Sponsor

📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

🔍 The critical 5-step sequence that predicts 83% of founder departures (and how board appointments trigger the countdown)

💼 Why hiring velocity is the second strongest predictor of founder exits, and what happens when a company reaches 80 employees

🚩 The three red flags that doom startups after founder departures, including why losing two founders in 24 months leads to 72% failure rate

💰 How fundraising impacts founder tenure and why hardware companies see 8% higher founder turnover than software startups

🌐 The surprising geographical differences in founder longevity across regions and what market milestones actually keep founders engaged

About this Podcast:

Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.

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