John Kim on networking
From John Kim Reveals #1 Mistake 90% of Startups Make · · Kurve - The App Growth Agency
“If you're so outward facing you'll be attending so many networking parties going to every single conferences going to every single speaking events but you don't go back to fundamentals of building a strong product.”
On , John Kim, Chief Legal Officer, Chief Administrative Officer & Corporate Secretary at Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp, spoke about networking during John Kim Reveals #1 Mistake 90% of Startups Make on Kurve - The App Growth Agency.
About John Kim
In a 2025 clip, John Kim stated that the most common mistake startups make is failing to talk to enough customers. He said he is surprised when founders report speaking to only three to five customers per week, arguing they should be speaking to that many per day. Kim also cautioned that founders often over-index on their strengths—engineers may focus too much on product development, while outward-facing founders may spend excessive time networking—and advised that nothing else matters until a strong product-market fit is found. In a 2018 appearance, Kim described working for a Fortune 500 company as "one of the most dangerous career things you can do," arguing that such companies are not nimble and that C-level executives lack the courage to resist investor pressure, leading to layoffs. However, he also said he would hesitate to recommend that people leave a W-2 job where they are still learning, noting that some may later find their skills are inadequate. Kim expressed support for 1099 work, stating it can provide greater job security through diversified income streams.