Essay · 12 min read

If You're Not Too Early, You're Too Late

Michael Dempsey · Michael Dempsey (Medium) Free Advanced

A deliberate rebuttal to the safe advice, arguing that in deep tech the only way to own a category is to commit before it is obvious. It is honest that this path needs conviction, patience, and capital most founders do not have. Read it so you can judge whether your situation is the rare exception where early is right.

  • Some categories can only be won by committing early
  • Early bets demand unusual conviction and long runway
  • Know whether you are the exception before you copy the exception
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The question it answers

  1. Is it smarter to ride a trend that's clearly rising, or to bet on a trend that hasn't started yet?

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