| Date | Title | Description |
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| Mar 31, 2025 | The ‘Best’ Doesn’t Sell by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
A couple of years ago, I had a talk with the owner of a company offering software fo... |
| Mar 28, 2025 | Why Doesn’t It Grow? by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Your business is not growing. After several dozen investments, it is puzzling to me ... |
| Mar 25, 2025 | Who Makes Who by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Companies think that they are doing someone a favor by giving them a job. But the re... |
| Mar 21, 2025 | Success and the Poles by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Got a promotion? You must have “sucked up” to someone.
Do you earn more? “Dumb luck,... |
| Mar 18, 2025 | You Don’t Have to Be Special by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Everyone has to be unique. To have an extraordinary career, spectacular achievements... |
| Mar 14, 2025 | How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Handle Criticism by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
When I first started putting out my content, I had a problem with criticism. I simpl... |
| Mar 7, 2025 | Boundaries by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Setting boundaries at work is not laziness–it’s mental hygiene. If you don’t take ca... |
| Feb 27, 2025 | Company Loyalty and What It’s Worth by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Loyalty to the company is often just a cheap slogan for keeping people without raise... |
| Feb 24, 2025 | Meaningless Meetings by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
A plague of meaningless meetings ruins your days. It’s funny because companies outdo... |
| Feb 20, 2025 | Why Managers Want Everyone Back in the Office by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Do you work from home and are not seen at the office? You must be lazy and barely wo... |
| Feb 17, 2025 | “A Company Is a Family.” But Is It? by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
When you deliver, you are a family. When you stop, you are a resource.
How many time... |
| Feb 13, 2025 | Your Job Is Not Your Lover by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Not everyone has to love their job and contrary to what you read and hear – there is... |
| Feb 10, 2025 | Employees Don’t Want to Be a ‘Cost’ by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
An employee is a cost, not an investment. As a shareholder in dozens of companies, I... |
| Feb 6, 2025 | “Full-Time Is F***ing Great” by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
‘I work full-time and it’s f***ing great! I don’t want my own company. I don’t want ... |
| Feb 3, 2025 | Is Your Company Stuck in the 90s? by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Szymon Janiak, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Czysta3.VC
Employees get treated l... |
| Nov 11, 2024 | Wannabe Startups by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Software houses want to be like startups – confronting a difficulty on the market, t... |
| Nov 4, 2024 | Not a Startup by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
‘We are not and we do not want to be a start-up. For us, this culture seems frivolou... |
| Oct 31, 2024 | No Funds for Idea-Stage by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
If you have a great idea for your first startup, you are highly unlikely to get VC m... |
| Oct 30, 2024 | When VCs See Red by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Investing in startups, I rejected over 6,000 companies. Many of them got refused not... |
| Oct 29, 2024 | ‘Grantosis’ by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Startups take millions in subsidies and then collapse completely. Everyone loses. Pu... |
| Oct 28, 2024 | Mental Health in the Startup World by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
A founder ended up in a mental ward because they could not take the pressure. A foun... |
| Oct 24, 2024 | Inflating Startups by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Startups collapse from excess money. I regularly meet startup founders who think tha... |
| Oct 21, 2024 | Is It Worth to Return to the Office? by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Forcing employees to return to the office has nothing to do with their efficiency. T... |
| Oct 14, 2024 | Startup Leadership and Sales by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
A CEO who can’t sell is not fit to be a CEO. When I hear from a startup founder that... |
| Oct 2, 2024 | The Overrated Role of VC by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
The Venture Capital industry is overrated. This is my personal conclusion after more... |
| Sep 23, 2024 | The World Is Bigger Than Poland by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
The startup in which I invested found itself in a difficult situation when the CEO s... |
| Sep 19, 2024 | The Importance of Degradation by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
We promoted a great specialist to manager. After a short while, it turned out that t... |
| Sep 17, 2024 | Capital Difference in Silicon Valley and Coal Valley by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Szymon Janiak, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Czysta3.VC
US-based startup Safe S... |
| Sep 9, 2024 | Don’t Rely on VCs by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
90% of VC funds bring no value except money, and 70% do more harm than good to start... |
| Sep 2, 2024 | Investment VS Revenue by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
A startup approached me asking for assistance with raising capital from VC funds. In... |
| Jul 22, 2024 | A Tale of Two Managers by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
A manager stabbed a colleague in the back to stand out. The CEO decided to react fir... |
| Jul 15, 2024 | Venture VS Debt by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Startups are looking for investors because no one wants to lend them money. In pract... |
| Jul 8, 2024 | Toxic Geniuses by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
The CEO hired a brilliant employee. They were incredibly effective, absorbed knowled... |
| Jul 5, 2024 | The Pointless Sansara of Firing and Hiring by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
The CEO preferred to fire a loyal employee rather than give them a few hundred zloty... |
| Jun 20, 2024 | Fundraising in Silicon Valley by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
My first fundraising for a startup in Silicon Valley was a long and painful series o... |
| Jun 17, 2024 | The Share of Shares to Share by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Unpopular thought: how much % of the company should be covered by an investment fund... |
| Jun 10, 2024 | One Million Zlotys 2024 by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
One million zlotys (EUR ~230K) is not enough to build a startup today, but investing... |
| Jun 3, 2024 | ‘Our Company is a Family’ by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Indeed, a company is just like a family: When you need support or a raise, you hear ... |
| May 19, 2024 | Social Media Envy by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
‘I am irritated by other people’s success. As soon as I open social media, I see onl... |
| May 17, 2024 | A Founder’s Naïvety by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Szymon Janiak, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Czysta3.VC
CEOs of young compani... |
| Apr 30, 2024 | When to Un-Shut Up by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
I’m never good enough to have my own opinion. This is the mindset I’ve been taught f... |
| Apr 25, 2024 | Startup Zoo by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
They say startups are like wild animals. Dignified, predatory, unpredictable. Howeve... |
| Mar 25, 2024 | Startup or Company by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Startups raise money, companies make them. The sooner a startup understands that it... |
| Feb 22, 2024 | Investor’s Angle by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Polish startups often have great ideas, strong teams, and they don’t get funding ju... |
| Jan 24, 2024 | Vanity Fair on LinkedIn by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
LinkedIn is a fairy-tale vision of a fake career. LinkedIn begins to resemble Insta... |
| Jan 17, 2024 | What’s Below a Rich Man? by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Someone lost themselves in pretending to be so rich it was below them to make money... |
| Nov 20, 2023 | Am I a Founder? by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
He quit his job at a corporation, founded a startup, came back crying… On LinkedIn ... |
| Nov 16, 2023 | Didn’t Make It by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
There are people who ‘didn’t make it’ out there. We encounter them every day – some... |
| Nov 6, 2023 | Heroes and Zeroes by Szymon Janiak | he post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Today’s role model in business is a psychopath who has made a lot of money walking o... |
| Oct 26, 2023 | All Eggs in the Venture Basket by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Investing most of your wealth in startups is complete foolishness. I am writing thi... |
| Oct 16, 2023 | Startups and Subsidies by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Startups often thoughtlessly take subsidies, leading to their collapse. You see bil... |
| Sep 29, 2023 | The Germ of Success by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
The widespread and false cult of success is more likely to lead companies to collap... |
| Sep 13, 2023 | Imagined Unicorns to Chase by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
When startups are too honest, they have trouble finding investors. In practice, it ... |
| Sep 6, 2023 | The Golden Rapport by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
The investor yells at the startup CEO about failing to deliver the result. Red as a... |
| Aug 28, 2023 | The Importance of Flying by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
A single low-cost flight can change a lot in the life of startups. Why? Because the... |
| Aug 8, 2023 | Breakfast Is the Most Important Meal of the Day by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Szymon Janiak, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Czysta3.VC
A person gets up in t... |
| Aug 2, 2023 | The Danger of a Premature Round by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
An investment that comes too early kills entrepreneurship in startups. The vision o... |
| Jul 28, 2023 | VC’s Profits and Lack Thereof by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
The vast majority of venture capital funds are unprofitable for investors. But – no... |
| Jul 24, 2023 | Lies Lies Lies by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
A high-ranking marketing director says that after many years he plucked up the cour... |
| Jul 20, 2023 | Paper Millionaires by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
On paper they have millions, in their account they have nothing to pay their bills ... |
| Jul 13, 2023 | The Private Side of Bankruptcy by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
The bankruptcy of a company is now perceived as nothing special. More so, this is n... |
| Jul 6, 2023 | One Million Zlotys by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
One million zlotys is not enough to build a startup today. The amount, which is sti... |
| Jul 3, 2023 | The Health of a Leader by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
In business, sick still means weak even today. It struck me recently when the CEO o... |
| Jun 29, 2023 | The Boom Is Over by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
We have failed the Polish startup ecosystem. After several years of boom and overwh... |
| Jun 23, 2023 | Valuation Magic by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Funds valuate startups at prices for which nobody wants to buy them.
VC funds ofte... |
| Jun 21, 2023 | The Tale of the Fake Angel by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
The mysterious business angel turned out to be a mythomaniac.
A startup was lookin... |
| Jun 7, 2023 | Borders and Balance by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
A startup CEO tells me that he was giving up his apartment and moving to the office... |
| May 29, 2023 | The Challenge of Polish Public Money by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Polish public money is currently experiencing a crisis of confidence among startups... |
| May 8, 2023 | Investors and Founders Play the Blame Game by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
When a fund runs out of money, the ‘honeymoon’ with the founders also ends. Statist... |
| May 1, 2023 | Other Sides of the Success Cult by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Szymon Janiak, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Czysta3.VC
A founder ended up ... |
| Apr 17, 2023 | To Abandon the Sinking Ship by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Do not save a sinking startup at all costs, because it will take you down with it.
... |
| Apr 4, 2023 | The Nonsense of the Bootstrapping VS Investment Discussion by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Szymon Janiak, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Czysta3.VC
The way the discuss... |
| Mar 20, 2023 | Startup VS Corporation by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
A startup founder says that they would suffocate in a big corporation. A corporate ... |
| Mar 16, 2023 | Bankrupt Unicorns by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Szymon Janiak, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Czysta3.VC
When a company runs... |
| Mar 13, 2023 | Investor’s Mistakes by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Szymon Janiak, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Czysta3.VC
As an investor, I m... |
| Mar 9, 2023 | After Exit by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Szymon Janiak, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Czysta3.VC
Many of the founder... |
| Mar 6, 2023 | Pointless Pitchdecks by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Szymon Janiak, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Czysta3.VC
Startups’ pitchdeck... |
| Feb 28, 2023 | Part–Time Founders by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Szymon Janiak, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Czysta3.VC
Over the past 5 yea... |
| Feb 27, 2023 | Startups Fail Because They Have Too Much Money by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Szymon Janiak, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Czysta3.VC
Inflated costs, rec... |
| Feb 16, 2023 | Going Back to Full-Time Is No Reason to Feel Ashamed by Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Szymon Janiak, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Czysta3.VC
If a startup should... |
| May 25, 2022 | Differences in the interests of investors and startups – Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
The best fund for an investor can be the worst for a start-up and vice versa. On... |
| May 20, 2022 | VC funds and start-ups are not one, but two sides of the barricade – Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
Founder was cheated by the VC fund – at least in his mind. His trust had been le... |
| May 17, 2022 | Specific scheme to verify potential investments – Szymon Janiak | The post was originally published in Polish on on Szymon’s LinkedIn profile. Szymon kindly agreed to republish what we think is of great value to our readers.
The founder of a new company took offence at me yesterday because he felt offend... |
| Apr 29, 2020 | Startups Focus on Fame, VCs Prefer Gain | Startups want to be: disruptive, innovative, creative – it appears on average in every second pitch deck. They win subsequent competitions, have great media coverage, eloquent CEOs capture the stages. The beautiful story lasts until we begi... |