Uri Levine
Co-founder at Waze (and 9 other companies)
Uri Levine is co-founder of Waze and nine other companies, having sold two for over $1 billion each. He has served on 20 startup boards and advised over 50 startups.
Dimension Profile
Key Themes
Episode Summary
Uri Levine, co-founder of Waze and nine other companies with two billion-dollar exits, shares his core philosophy: fall in love with the problem, not the solution. He covers his 30-day hiring test (would you hire them again?), fundraising tactics, and why engaging others in the problem you're solving is the essence of startup leadership.
Leadership Principles
- → Fall in love with the problem, not the solution — and engage everyone else to fall in love with the same problem
- → Mark your calendar 30 days after every hire and ask: knowing what I know today, would I hire them? If no, fire immediately
- → Leadership is getting everyone to follow you on the journey of solving a problem they all care about
Notable Quotes
"Fall in love, fall in love, fall in love with the problem. Then engage everyone else to fall in love with the same problem, to go into this journey and follow your leadership."
— On the single biggest lesson from co-founding 10 companies and building two unicorns
"Every time you hire someone new, mark your calendar for 30 days. Ask: knowing what I know today, would I hire this person? If no, fire them immediately."
— On his ruthlessly practical approach to hiring and firing
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