DiscoverThe Bootstrapped Founder398: The Hidden Cost of Being First
398: The Hidden Cost of Being First

398: The Hidden Cost of Being First

Update: 2025-06-27
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When Python's dominant package manager pip was challenged by newcomer uv—which is so fast users think it's broken—it revealed a fundamental truth about first-mover advantage that every founder needs to understand. Discover why being first means building "unavoidable complexity," how smart competitors exploit this weakness, and the strategic framework for deciding whether to pioneer a market or build a better mousetrap.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-hidden-cost-of-being-first/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/the-hidden-cost-of-being-first


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398: The Hidden Cost of Being First

398: The Hidden Cost of Being First

Arvid Kahl