Hey there! 👋
I’m David, and today I want to share my honest opinion about a book I read sometime ago: Hello, Startup by Yevgeniy Brikman.
This book often appears in lists of “must reads” for startup founders or people who want to join a startup.
But the question is: Is it really worth reading? And who is it for?
And if you prefer video, I also made a YouTube version of this review — feel free to check it out!
It’s a Great Book — for Beginners
Yes, the book is great. It’s very professional and well-organized.
But it’s mainly targeted at beginners.
If you are new to startups, this is actually one of the best books to start with. And I’ve read quite a few over the years!
What the Book Covers
The book is divided into 3 main sections:
- Product
- Technology
- Team
And it touches on many important topics:
- MVPs
- Product-market fit
- Marketing basics
- Choosing the right tech and frameworks
- Scalability and security
- Growth and hiring
- Company culture
It’s like a complete, general overview of what launching a startup is all about.
What’s Missing?
Even though the book is solid, there are a few things it doesn’t cover much:
- How to manage senior team members
- How to deal with stress, burnout, or failure
- More detailed strategies around marketing and sales
- And I think a section on founder psychology or mindset would be super useful too
So, Who Should Read This Book?
✅ If you are new to startups
✅ If you’ve never built a product before
✅ If you are a junior developer
✅ If you want to launch your first startup
✅ Or if you are planning to join a startup for the first time
In all of these cases, I’d say yes, Hello, Startup is definitely a great place to begin.
It gives you the big picture and helps you understand how everything fits together.
But…
❌ If you’ve already worked in tech for a few years
❌ If you’ve launched a couple of products
Then honestly, you might not learn much new.
Still, sometimes a book is helpful not because it teaches you something new, but because it confirms you’re already doing the right things. That’s valuable too.
Final Thoughts
Have you read Hello, Startup? What did you think of it? Did it help you in your startup journey?
Thanks for reading, see you next time! 👋
