Back

𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 Peter Thiel asks every founder he invests in: "Why will the 20th talented person join your company when they can get paid more at Google, work less, and have a shinier resume?" The first few hires get equity. The founders get prestige. But the 20th hire? They’re just another employee—unless your startup offers something extraordinary. Thiel’s answer: Your startup must be the only place in the world solving an incredibly important problem. Top talent doesn’t leave comfort for mediocrity. They leave for missions that matter. If you’re just another SaaS tool, another delivery app, another fintech platform—why would the best minds take the risk? They won’t. But if your startup is solving the problem—something urgent, world-changing, and impossible to ignore—you attract the best. This is how SpaceX, OpenAI, and Palantir built legendary teams. They didn’t just offer salaries. They offered a chance to do the most meaningful work of their lives. So ask yourself: "Why would a world-class 20th hire bet their career on me?" If you don’t have a clear answer, you don’t have a truly great startup yet. Follow Vishu Bheda for more valuable startup insights from the world's best founders!