Andrew Wilkinson is the co-founder of Tiny, a holding company that owns over thirty profitable internet and consumer brands, including Dribbble and AeroPress coffee makers. He started as a barista and web designer in his teenage years, building a business portfolio with nearly $300 million in annual sales, and at one point had a personal net worth exceeding $1 billion, all without raising venture capital.
In interviews, he shared many insights about entrepreneurship and business, including:
- The framework of “Where the fish are, the fishermen should be”, which refers to finding high-profit but overlooked niche markets. For example, software for helping people apply for government grants can generate annual revenue of up to $30 million, while seemingly “sexy” industries like cafes and restaurants are highly competitive and have thin margins.
- The combination of AI tools he uses (such as Lindy, Replit, Limitless, etc.) greatly enhances daily work efficiency, even replacing the work of a full-time assistant.
- When evaluating companies, he employs a similar approach to Warren Buffett's moat theory and “lazy leadership,” allowing him to assess a company's potential within 15 minutes.
- He emphasizes the need to decisively handle team members in entrepreneurship; if he has doubts about someone, he believes in firing them immediately, as procrastination only leads to bigger problems.
- He believes that bootstrapping can also build large businesses, with the key being to choose businesses with natural moats and patient growth, without having to give up equity or control.
- Regarding personal mental health, he candidly states that wealth does not solve anxiety issues; medication (such as SSRIs) has helped him more, shifting his mindset from “Times Square” to “a quiet library.”
- He predicts that most knowledge work will be automated in the future, and what will truly be valuable are uniquely human skills, such as humor, interpersonal connections, and taste, which may become high-status professions in the future.
This interview is rich in content, covering various aspects such as entrepreneurial location selection, team management, AI applications, and mental health, providing significant inspiration for entrepreneurs and business professionals.