Avi Publishes LinkedIn Essay on Startup Secrecy
In a column published on LinkedIn, strategist Avi argues that hiding a business idea for 184 days was a mistake, though he acknowledges that building in public carries its own intense pressure. The essay examines the friction between protecting an early-stage concept and using a public network for accountability.
Avi spent six months keeping his million-dollar idea hidden from the world before finally posting about it on the professional networking platform. Throughout the essay, he rejects the blanket advice that execution is the only thing that matters and that sharing ideas poses no risk. At the same time, he notes that telling everyone creates overwhelming pressure to succeed and leaves founders looking fraudulent when pivots occur.
Weighing Accountability Against Public Pressure
The essay describes the psychological toll of sharing early-stage concepts with a broad audience. Avi writes that past experiences of telling everyone about business ideas provided strong accountability but added enormous stress. Business pivots make founders look inconsistent when public commitments shift from project X to project Y.
Building in private offers clarity, according to the author, while building in public provides bargaining power and networking benefits. Avi ultimately concludes that the networking value of public sharing outweighs the fear of judgment. He suggests that founders should tailor their approach to their own psychological limits rather than following a rigid formula.
Strategist Avi reveals why he kept his business idea hidden for months
Who wrote the essay on business ideas?
A strategist named Avi published the essay on LinkedIn, where he assists finance leaders.
How long did the author hide his idea?
The author kept his million-dollar idea hidden from the world for 184 days before sharing it.
What does the author recommend to founders?
Avi advises founders to do what works best for them, noting that those who thrive under pressure should share widely, while others who need space should keep their plans quiet.
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