Chris Lewicki
interplanetary
Most space startups don't fail because of bad ideas. They fail because of predictable patterns. After 4 years as a @creativedlab Space Stream mentor, I've watched these 6 patterns kill companies before they achieve orbit—and I've made some of these mistakes myself. Here's what
@creativedlab 🔴 RISK #1: You love your technology more than your customer's problems The tell: 20 slides on your propulsion system, 2 slides on who pays for it. The fix: Talk to 20 potential customers—now, not later. Your tech is your solution, but if customer conversations don't
@creativedlab 🟠 RISK #2: You argue with mentors instead of listening The tell: We suggest pivoting your GTM. You spend the next session explaining why we're wrong. The fix: "That's interesting—help me understand why you see it that way" BEFORE defending your position. You don't have to
@creativedlab 🟡 RISK #3: You don't show up (or you send non-founders) The tell: CTO comes while CEO "handles investor calls." Or you miss Session 3 for a Dubai conference. The fix: Founders at every session. Only excuse: closing a customer (send photos/video proof). If the accelerator isn't
@creativedlab 🟢 RISK #4: You optimize pitch decks instead of building The tell: Third round of deck revisions this month. Zero prototype demos. Zero MOUs signed. The fix: Investors fund traction, not slides. Build something. Talk to customers. Make progress that's visible without you having
@creativedlab 🔵 RISK #5: You run out of money and quit The tell: Bank account hits zero. Founder walks away. The fix: Running out of money ≠ game over. Giving up = game over. Founders sleep on couches and work side gigs to stay in the game. Two years later: millions in contracts,
@creativedlab ⚪ RISK #6: You propose generic objectives without leveraging mentor expertise The tell: Your objectives are "achieve PMF" and "scale operations" without researching which mentors can actually help with what. The fix: Research mentors before sessions. "Help me with
@creativedlab Notice the pattern? All 6 risks are about RESPONSIVENESS. To customers. To mentors. To constraints. To reality. Accelerators don't graduate teams with perfect technology. They graduate teams that learn faster than their burn rate.
@creativedlab The startups that achieve orbit aren't the ones with the best initial idea. They're the ones who adapt fastest when reality punches them in the face. Which risk are you most vulnerable to right now?
@creativedlab 6 Risk Patterns Accelerator Mentors Spot (recap): 🔴 Tech > customer problems 🟠 Arguing > listening 🟡 Not showing up 🟢 Pitching > building 🔵 Quitting when broke ⚪ Generic > specific asks Full breakdown above ⬆️ Bookmark this if you're in an accelerator or thinking about
@creativedlab P.S. If you're tracking these risks for your venture, I built RiskThing to help teams manage exactly these patterns—from risk identification through mitigation to resolution. http://RiskThing.com
@interplanetary @creativedlab This is gold; thank you!
One DOES simply build an even bigger private space station. And first rule of government contracting: Why build one, when you can build two at twice the price?