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Eric Ries

What Eric Ries thinks about startups

@eric-ries · 24 positions · On ppll ↗

Author of The Lean Startup and Incorruptible, and founder of the Long-Term Stock Exchange, who advises companies on corporate governance and mission protection.

Eric Ries did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

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Only Eric Ries on startups. See everyone on startups

3 dated positions, 2026, in their own words. Our reading of what Eric Ries has said — not written or endorsed by them.

3 positions so far — this page is not yet offered to search engines.

  1. Our readingOrganizations are dragged into mediocrity by a force no one controls but everyone obeys, until their founders lose control of what they built.

    Their wordsI call it the force that no one controls but everyone obeys that tends to drag organizations down into mediocrity to the point that we lose control of them. Now, sometimes we lose control of them because we get fired.

    ↗How Anthropic, Costco, and Patagonia all build incorruptible companies | Eric Riesyoutube.com 1st of 24 in this recording

  3. Our readingOnly a fifth of venture-backed founders are still CEO three years after going public, and the standard documents their lawyers gave them are why.

    venture capital

    Their wordsAccording to Harvard Law School, among venturebacked companies that have the standard best practices set up that you got from your lawyer, okay, only 20% of founders are still the CEO 3 years after going public.

    ↗How Anthropic, Costco, and Patagonia all build incorruptible companies | Eric Riesyoutube.com 4th of 24 in this recording

  5. Our readingThe corporate best practices lawyers and bankers push on founders are younger than the trees in the local park.

    Their wordsso many of the best practices that your lawyers, your bankers, whoever advisers you have, they're going to be pushing best practices on you that are younger than the trees in your local park.

    ↗How Anthropic, Costco, and Patagonia all build incorruptible companies | Eric Riesyoutube.com 6th of 24 in this recording