40 reasons you should build a start-up in 2026

I'm 35 and I've been building businesses for 15+ years.

Hands down, 2026 is the best time ever to build a start-up.

I say that with confidence.

The market conditions for startups are perfect right now.

I've put together 40 reasons why this is true in the carousel for you below.
The advancement of technology is utterly crazy.

Claude Code lets one person build what used to require a 5-person dev team, and cloud infrastructure makes building cheap.

But that's only one element of it.

Buyers want what startups offer.

They want flexibility and real solutions to actual problems.
They want partners who move fast and care about outcomes.
And from a hiring perspective, employees are attracted to startup culture.

Because the best talent are sick of legacy companies and no progression.

I've built and sold businesses in multiple cycles.

The combination of technology, market demand, talent availability, and capital conditions has never aligned like this.

- When I built Verb Brands, I bootstrapped for 10 years before exiting.
- When I built Lottie, we scaled to 100+ people and got to a 9-figure valuation.
- When I built Searchable, we went from idea to beta customers in 100 DAYS.

Each cycle got faster because the conditions improved.

2026 is the best environment I've seen for starting a business.
If you've been waiting for the right time, this is it.

The opportunity is here, the timing is now, and the window is wide open (for now).

What's one prediction you have for building businesses in 2026?
Let me know in the comments.

If prediction #1 comes true, and I believe it will,
Your business needs to be visible in AI search.

That's why we built Searchable.

It optimises your content everywhere your customers might be.
Not just Google, but ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude as well.

Click here to start your 14-day free trial:
https://lnkd.in/epgXyFmi

https://tinyurl.com/32asxbj2  

6 Storytelling Frameworks Every CEO Needs to Know

 

Most CEOs get storytelling wrong.

And it's costing them millions.

I've seen brilliant ideas die in boardrooms.
Watched potential investors check their phones.
Noticed employees' eyes glaze over during speeches.

Not because the ideas were bad.
But because the story wasn't there.

These 6 frameworks change everything:

1) Simon Sinek's Golden Circle
↳ Don't start with what you do. Start with WHY you do it.
↳ Then explain HOW you do it differently.
↳ Only then share WHAT you actually offer.

When Airbnb pitches, they don't just say "we rent rooms."
They start with "we create belonging."

2) Minto's Pyramid Principle
↳ Hit them with your main point first.
↳ Support it with clear evidence.
↳ Add details only if they ask.

Your busy stakeholders will love you for this.
No more waiting until slide 20 for the punchline.

3) The Pixar Pitch
↳ "Once upon a time..." (set the scene)
↳ "Every day..." (show the problem)
↳ "Until one day..." (introduce your solution)
↳ "Because of that..." (share the impact)
↳ "Until finally..." (reveal the transformation)

This structure is pure magic for showing
your company's journey or vision.

4) StoryBrand Framework
↳ Your customer is Luke Skywalker
↳ You're Yoda, the guide
↳ Show them how to win

Stop making your company the hero. It's not about you.

5) What, So What, Now What
↳ State the facts clearly
↳ Explain why anyone should care
↳ Define the next steps

Perfect for turning quarterly reports from sleep aids
into action drivers.

6) ABT (And, But, Therefore)
↳ Set up what everyone agrees on
↳ Introduce the challenge
↳ Present your solution

When you need to be quick and compelling,
this is your go-to.

In today's world, the best story wins.

It wins the talent.
It wins the customers.
It wins the investment.

Your brilliance deserves a story that matches it.

Master these frameworks, and watch what happens to:

Your impact.
Your influence.
Your bottom line.

Credits to Eric Partaker, make sure to follow!

https://tinyurl.com/mtnzb86v

Old SEO vs New SEO

 

SEO isn't dead.
But the version you learned is.

Old SEO was a race to page one.
Keywords. Backlinks. Technical tweaks.
Game the algorithm. Win the click.

It worked.

Until people stopped asking Google
and started asking AI.

And AI doesn't rank pages.
It cites sources.

That's a completely different game.

I lead AI transformation in enterprise.

And the number of businesses I see
still pouring budget into old SEO
while AI is reshaping how people find answers
is alarming.

The new SEO has four layers
most teams haven't heard of yet:

𝗚𝗘𝗢 — Generative Engine Optimization
Getting cited in LLMs like ChatGPT and Gemini.

𝗔𝗘𝗢 — Answer Engine Optimization
Appearing in AI summaries and overviews.

𝗔𝗜𝗢 — AI Integration Optimization
Structuring data so AI tools and workflows can use it.

𝗦𝗫𝗢 — Search Experience Optimization
Aligning UX, trust, and conversions with user intent.

Old SEO goal:
Page one. More clicks.

New SEO goal:
Be cited. Be trusted. Be chosen.

Here's what this means for your business:

If your entire strategy
is still keywords and backlinks
you're optimizing for a shrinking channel.

The brands winning right now
aren't just visible on Google.
They're the source AI retrieves
when someone asks a question
in ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity.

That doesn't come from gaming algorithms.
It comes from being genuinely useful
credible and worth citing.

The question isn't
"are we on page one?"

The question is
"would an AI recommend us?"

That single question
should reshape your entire content strategy.

If it doesn't
your competitors will answer it first.

Infographic Credit: Chris Donnelly

https://tinyurl.com/mvvsfkph

The T.R.U.S.T Model

 

2 in 3 employees are ready to quit.

Here's the leadership secret that's changing their minds.

Servant Leadership is an “employee-focused” style that’s been studied for over 30 years.

Companies like Starbucks and Southwest Airlines have recently adopted its principles.

The reason?

Straightforward, ethical guidelines that transform work at all levels.

Here's a framework based on years of research
(To catch you up in 2 minutes):

The TRUST Model of Servant Leadership:

1. Train
• Develop leaders who prioritize team growth
• Instill a mindset of service and support

2. Reflect
• Encourage self-assessment and personal growth
• Promote transparency and accountability at all levels

3. Uplift
• Identify and nurture each team member's unique strengths
• Create opportunities for employees to lead

4. Support
• Foster an inclusive environment
• Provide resources and remove obstacles

5. Transform
• Align company culture with servant leadership principles
• Reward servant leader behaviors

5 Practical Tips to Practice Servant Leadership:

• Listen closely
• Lead by example
• Invest in leadership growth
• Foster open, honest feedback
• Celebrate servant leadership acts

Top companies are recognizing the power of this "person-first" approach.

And it's saving teams and organizations worldwide.

Now's the time to embrace the "new school" of leadership!

How do you promote TRUST in your teams?

Credits to Russ Hill, follow him for more valuable models

https://tinyurl.com/y252nf6z

На изображении представлена модель лидерства «T.R.U.S.T.», направленная на создание высокоэффективных команд через принципы целенаправленного и служащего лидерства. Модель включает пять основных принципов, пять компонентов искусства T.R.U.S.T. и десять привычек выдающихся лидеров.

• 5 принципов лидера: Быть намеренным, энергичным, поддерживающим, этичным и настоящим.
• Искусство T.R.U.S.T.: Обучение, рефлексия, развитие талантов (Uplift), поддержка и трансформация.
• 10 привычек: Включают поощрение других, соответствие слов действиям, постановку целей и развитие команды.

---

Модель T.R.U.S.T.: Как лидеры создают высокоэффективные команды

• 5 принципов целенаправленного лидерства от Гарварда
  • Будьте намеренными: Связывайте свою цель с миссией компании.
  • Будьте энергичными: Внушайте надежду и создавайте импульс.
  • Будьте поддерживающими: Ставьте потребности команды на первое место.
  • Будьте этичными: Руководствуйтесь честностью, уважением и состраданием.
  • Будьте настоящими: Делитесь своим истинным «я» и убеждениями.
• Искусство T.R.U.S.T.
  • Train (Обучайте): Ставьте команду выше себя.
  • Reflect (Рефлексируйте): Способствуйте непрерывному совершенствованию.
  • Uplift (Развивайте): Взращивайте уникальные таланты.
  • Support (Поддерживайте): Усиливайте каждый голос.
  • Transform (Трансформируйте): Согласовывайте действия с принципами служения.
• 10 привычек выдающихся лидеров-слуг
  1. Постоянно поощряйте других.
  2. Практикуйте то, что проповедуете.
  3. Ставьте конкретные цели лидерства-служения.
  4. Принимайте этичные решения.
  5. Инвестируйте в личное развитие других.
  6. Уполномочивайте команду проявлять инициативу.
  7. Размышляйте о себе и окружении.
  8. Понимайте и подтверждайте чувства других.
  9. Поддерживайте личное и профессиональное исцеление.
  10. Формируйте ежедневные привычки, поддерживающие лидерство-служение.

5 Japanese Principles every leader should live by

 

📌Kaizen (改善): Focus on small, steady refinements. Progress isn’t about massive leaps, but the momentum created by consistent, daily upgrades.

📌Shoshin (初心): Approach every challenge with a "beginner’s mind." By dropping old assumptions and staying curious, you remain adaptable in a changing environment.

📌Kintsugi (金継ぎ): Treat failures as "golden repairs." Instead of hiding mistakes, use the data from missteps to make your team and systems stronger and more resilient.

📌Ikigai (生きがい): Find the intersection of your strengths, your passions, and the value you provide to others. This alignment makes your leadership more sustainable and impactful.

📌Seiri (整理): Practice the discipline of removal. By decluttering unnecessary meetings, processes, and ideas, you create the mental space needed for clear decision-making.

BREAKTHROUGHS rarely come from new "hacks"; they come from returning to these fundamentals. Small shifts in these areas CREATE the kind of leader others truly want to FOLLOW. ✅

Credit: Paul Evans

https://tinyurl.com/2bvx292n