Lessons in Launching: Shalom Lamm’s Guide to Avoiding First-Year Startup Mistakes

The first year of launching a startup is exhilarating—but also unforgiving. It’s a time of rapid learning, fast pivots, and intense pressure. According to entrepreneur Shalom Lamm, many early-stage businesses fail not because the ideas are bad, but because founders make avoidable mistakes early on.

Shalom Lamm, a seasoned entrepreneur known for ventures across real estate, tech, and nonprofit sectors, has mentored dozens of startup founders. His hands-on experience building companies—and helping others do the same—gives him a unique perspective on the common pitfalls that trip up first-year founders.

In this post, we’ll explore the startup mistakes Shalom Lamm sees most frequently—and his insights on how to avoid them.

 

1. Waiting Too Long to Launch

One of the most damaging mistakes? Overbuilding and under-launching.

“Too many founders get stuck perfecting their product before putting it in front of users,” says Shalom Lamm. “Perfectionism kills momentum.”

Instead of waiting for the “perfect” version, Lamm recommends launching a minimum viable product (MVP) and using feedback to iterate. Speed matters more than polish in the early days. Getting real-world input helps refine your product far better than assumptions ever will.

 

2. Ignoring Customer Feedback

Founders often fall in love with their ideas—but it’s the customer’s opinion that ultimately counts.

“One of the biggest blind spots I see is founders who don’t talk to users,” Lamm explains. “They assume they know what people want, but they’re often wrong.”

He suggests regular check-ins with customers, early adopter interviews, and building a feedback loop into product development. The goal is to validate your assumptions early and often, not after you’ve spent months building the wrong thing.

 

3. Hiring Too Fast—or Too Slow

Shalom Lamm emphasizes the importance of getting the early team right.

Hiring too quickly can lead to bloated payrolls and misaligned team members. On the other hand, waiting too long to delegate can lead to burnout and missed growth opportunities.

“You need people who wear multiple hats and believe in the mission—not just resumes that look good on paper,” says Lamm.

He advises hiring slowly, firing quickly if needed, and prioritizing culture and adaptability over credentials. The first 5–10 hires will shape your startup’s DNA.

 

4. Failing to Manage Cash Flow

“Cash flow mismanagement is one of the top reasons startups fold,” warns Lamm. Many first-time founders underestimate how long it takes to become profitable—or overestimate incoming revenue.

Even if you’ve raised capital, Lamm suggests treating every dollar like it’s your last. “Track expenses, forecast conservatively, and build a runway that gives you breathing room.”

Having a strong financial plan—and the discipline to stick to it—can mean the difference between weathering a storm and shutting down.

 

5. Neglecting Marketing and Sales

Some founders focus so much on a product that they forget to build demand for it.

Shalom Lamm sees this mistake often: “A great product with no customers is still a failure.”

He recommends allocating time and budget to marketing, branding, and customer acquisition from day one. Whether it’s organic social media, content marketing, or paid ads, getting your offering in front of the right audience must be part of your launch strategy.

“Don’t assume people will find you,” Lamm says. “You have to show up where they already are.”

 

6. Not Having a Clear Vision

Early startups often chase every opportunity, which can lead to mission drift and lack of focus.

“Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should,” says Lamm. “Without a clear vision, you’ll spread yourself too thin.”

He encourages founders to define a clear mission and value proposition early on—and use it as a compass for decisions. This helps with prioritizing features, targeting the right market, and communicating your brand effectively.

7. Going It Alone

Lastly, many founders make the mistake of trying to do everything themselves—leading to isolation and burnout.

Shalom Lamm emphasizes the power of mentorship, peer support, and collaboration.

“Find advisors who’ve been there. Join founder communities. Get feedback from people outside your bubble,” he says. “No one builds a successful business in a vacuum.”

Lamm credits much of his own growth to surrounding himself with other smart entrepreneurs who challenged his thinking and helped him grow.

 

Final Thoughts: Build Smart, Not Just Fast

The first year of a startup is a pressure cooker—but it’s also the foundation of what’s to come. Shalom Lamm’s advice? Slow down where it matters, and speed up where it counts.

Avoiding common mistakes isn’t about playing it safe—it’s about being intentional, focused, and adaptable.

“Entrepreneurship isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about learning faster than everyone else,” Lamm says. “And the faster you learn, the faster you grow.”