Rippling has accused Deel of putting a spy inside their business. With moles infiltrating companies, should startups be worried?

The truth is, if you have an early stage startup, it’s almost impossible to get anyone to care about it.

Spies? You should be so lucky! At least that would mean someone had heard of you.

The biggest problem a tiny startup faces isn’t espionage. It’s indifference.

Getting the Word Out

Instead of keeping secrets, you should shout from the rooftops about what you’re doing. Let everyone know and get their input, especially if they’re familiar with your market.

When you meet an expert on your market, interview them. Find out what they’re struggling with, and see if you can address it.

Those folks could soon become your customers.

Forget about Stealth

Put the company name on your LinkedIn and Twitter. Get a website up. And to heck with “stealth.”

Now, if your startup involves something highly technical and IP-driven, that’s a little different. No one is saying you should share all the IP behind a new drug or medical device with the world.

But most startups aren’t like that. They’re making a software product that’s driven by solving a customer problem, not by developing unique IP.

Dealing With Investors

Startups should lean toward being open to the world, and especially open to investors.

The best founders I’ve worked with are highly transparent. The weaker ones refuse to share info and try to get investors to sign NDA’s (good luck with that).

In order to give you a check, investors have to know what they’re investing in. You can’t refuse to tell someone anything then turn around and ask for their money.

Wrap-Up

Rippling might need to worry about spies, but you don’t. Odds are, no one is interested in spying on a tiny pre-seed startup.

Instead of hiding what you’re doing, put it in front of as many smart people as possible. They’ll give you ideas and connect you to customers, potential employees and investors.

Leave the stealth to Lockheed Martin.

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