🧭Crowdsourced Ads (Founder's Compass)

Hello there and welcome to Founder's Compass, a good way to get oriented around the labyrinthian world of startups.

Quick preface:

I know, today isn’t monday, yet you’re seeing Founder’s Compass in your inbox. That’s thanks to the San Francisco trip I was on last week and my timeline being a bit out-of-sync with the usual posting schedule.

Next Founder’s Compass will land in your inbox Monday morning ;)

Tool of the week: Cursor

Game-changer. That’s what Cursor is for programmers. IDE that replaces Visual Studio Code and directly edits your code, provides context and explanation and can actually speed up your development like never before.

Video of the week: You might be too smart for this

Being better at math can make you worse at math problems, and it’s completely rational. Here’s a quick video from Veritasium that will make you feel both smarter and dumber:

Top 5 stories of the week

• We digitized scent

“Holy moly, I’m still processing the magnitude of what we’ve done. And yet, it feels like as we cross this finish line we are instantly at a new starting line. I’ll have more to share about what’s in store that we’re building on top of this.”

• Creating an AI judge to judge your AI

“Ever spend weeks building an AI system, only to realize you have no idea if it’s actually working? You’re not alone. I’ve noticed teams repeat the same mistakes when using LLMs to evaluate AI outputs.”

• Storing Vector databases needs a small, quick improvement.

“Managing these configurations isn’t just messy—it’s risky. One missed step, and you're stuck paying for an index you haven’t used in months. One team recently shared how they ended up paying $2,000 a month for an index that should've been deleted four months ago! And that’s not even mentioning the risk of returning incorrect or stale data to your users.”

• Battery Revolution is real, get ready.

“Intentionally aiming for less energy in a cell—optimizing for a certain attribute—can likewise push power densities into ranges never before seen in lithium-ion cells. “The new cell that [Molicel is] coming out with, the X series, boy, they’re claiming they can charge that from zero to 100% in 90 seconds,” Luebbe said.”

• Advice on applying to YC

“Every founder should be essential to what your company is doing. If not, why bring them on the team at all? Giving your cofounder just 10% equity seems like a bad idea. They might not be motivated enough to stay when things get tough. Michael Seibel advice on that: “Aim for roughly equal equity splits”.”

Update from ReaktorX & Creative Motion.

Here’s what’s going on from our side:

• Founder’s Game Night is happening soon! Building startups shouldn’t be all about work and no fun. That’s why we’re organizing a short game night for any cool founder in Bucharest at the Veridion HQ. register now to get selected for the first edition :)

Startup idea of the week: Crowdsourced Ads

Problem:

Traditional ads often feel stale and miss the mark with audiences. During the recent election, some of the best ads came from independent creators who brought fresh perspectives. This shows that everyday creators can make content that’s more engaging than standard ad agency fare.

Target:

Brands looking for unique, attention-grabbing ads that connect with a younger, digitally-savvy audience.

Solution:

A platform where brands can hire freelance creators to make authentic ads. Creators are paid for their work, and brands get distinctive content that feels real and relatable.

How It Works:

• Brands post project briefs with goals and payment details.

• Creators propose ideas, make content, and submit it.

• Brands approve final content, pay the creator, and receive rights to use it.

Benefits:

• Fresh, memorable ads.

• Paid work and exposure for creators.

• Ads that feel more genuine and less like traditional marketing.

Go-to-market:

Start with digital-first brands in areas like fashion and tech that already use influencer marketing.

Challenges:

• Keeping content on-brand.

• Clear IP agreements.

• Balancing creative freedom with brand guidelines.

Stick close for the next one.