Get powerful allies to fund / protect you if necessary



  • Uber:
    • Uber did this by:
      • raising money from Google and top VC firms
      • raising a huge amount of money
    • Contrast Uber's approach with Taxi Magic's, where they grew by themselves but then were overtaken by the powerful VC-backed Uber.
      • Each dollar of capital is like a soldier, and a collection of capital is like an army; you have to always be aware of the other armies out in the world that might come after you if you discover some new profitable area.
  • That pharma startup did this by getting powerful government people on their board
  • Palantir did this by having In-Q-Tel as an investor, and that powerful government-VC-firm as investors.