FAQ

What is PlatformOS?

PlatformOS is an operating system for building startups. Think of it as "Github for Building Startups". It brings founders, experts, and investors together to discuss themes and trends, source unmet needs, find and fund solutions, and collaboratively build startups together.

This article provides more background: Could the Future of Venture be Like Github?

What is "building in the open"?

In short, we think "stealth mode" is BS. Any advantages to stealth mode are massively outweighed by the benefits of getting early feedback and leveraging the wisdom of the crowd. For every startup that is successful after being in stealth mode, there are ten that come out of stealth mode only to discover that they've built something that no one wants.

What is an "Unmet Need"?

An Unmet Need is a big hairy problem that has been identified. To be clear: an unmet need doesn’t have a good solution yet; that’s why it’s "unmet": someone is calling out a gap in the market. Once we are clear on the unmet need, it's time to propose solutions, which may be existing solutions or ideas for new products and services.

Can I pitch my idea?

Yes, absolutely! Please first sign up to Platform and post it as an Unmet Need, and then tell us about your proposed Solution.

What makes for a great Founder?

There are many qualities that we evaluate but it is best summarized as Smarts, Goodness, Grit, and Fit.

How does a startup get built on PlatformOS?

It starts by posting an Unmet Need. Then you can invite others to participate in solving it. If you have a solution in mind, post that. Surround yourself by early champions and build followers!

How can I participate if I don’t want to start a company?

There are many other roles you can take:

• As an investor - you’ll hear first when Platform companies are starting to fundraise. (Note: you have to be an accredited investor in our network to invest.)
• As a subject-matter expert. No one can be an expert in every industry. We frequently post "help requests" for industry experts to help us research and better understand certain areas of interest. Experts may be offered advisor equity in exchange for their help.
• As a coach - quite simply, being a founder is hard. Our founders need guidance, and we are lucky enough to have many Guild members willing to coach those founders through the company-building process.
• As a commenter/curious person - Platform is “choose-your-own-adventure”. You can serve in any of the roles above, or you can simply read and comment on different discussions being had. Just jump in and join the discussion on unmet needs, themes, and companies you are interested in.

Still have questions? Please ask on the Platform feed and someone will answer!