Turning Bad into Brilliant

There are no bad ideas, only bad decisions

Author

Tim He
April 25, 2025

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Hey, I’m Tim! ☕

Every Mon and Fri, I help you become a top 1% cofounder.

  • Actionable advice: Practical tips you can start applying today.

  • Relatable stories: Real-life experiences from people just like you.

PS — If you really want to answer the unGoogleable questions, book time with me. I’ve coached dozens of pre-seed/seed stage cofounders.

What’s New

Took a quick breather to reset but I’m back. Here’s what’s new:

  • First of all, this newsletter isn’t going anywhere 😤.

  • Cherrytree community is now underway → waitlist is open.

  • I joined Thrive, a founder community many of you would love.

  • Cherrytree is partnering with Twill, a talent referral marketplace.

    • List your founding [insert function] roles there for vetted talent.

And finally, I’m doubling down on sharing cofounder stories.

They’re real, raw, relatable. Refreshing.

This week, I want to chat about the cofounders behind Hoppn.

Bridger & Carson Hart (brothers), and Humberto Morales are the cofounders.

At a foundational level, this company just makes a ton of sense for them.

  • Bridger and Carson grew up in an art family. Bridger was a film producer and Carson was a photographer. They see in color. They speak in story.

  • Humberto has been a software engineer/architect for over 25 years.

In other words, cofounding the company feels like an extension of themselves.

Another trait I’ve noticed with design-centric companies is their comfort with feedback.

Partnerships work decently when you can judge each other by how good their good ideas are rather than how bad their bad ideas are.

Seems logical.

But the Hoppn team turns that on its head.

“We encourage bad ideas as much as we can.”

“Bad ideas are good thought experiments.”

“Considering bad ideas is a good way of figuring out what’s right.”

“So really, there are no bad ideas.”

Giving each other permission to share “bad” or half-baked ideas makes space for early collaboration. That’s how they keep progress going.

Trust isn’t about having the answer but being allowed to look for it together.

And it’s a whole lot easier to take feedback when you’re surrounded by people you admire. That’s the power of being in a community that gets it.

That’s why we’re building the Cherrytree community.

That’s all for now,

Tim He

BTW — Grab yourself some dumbfound coffee. Our grind fuels yours.

Work With Me

Coaching — I take 6-9 clients per month. Can be individual or as a cofounding team. Starts at $500/month and includes 2 one-hour calls plus ad hoc support.

Workshops — Designed for accelerators, incubators, and venture studios. Learn the fundamentals of building a solid cofoundership from Day 1.

Legal Help — Get a $500 incorporation package or an all-inclusive fundraising prep package (includes data room audit), depending on your stage.

Case Study — A published breakdown of your cofoundership. Great for product launches, fundraising credibility, and even visa applications.

Speaking — Now booking engagements for 2025. Perfect for VCs, unis, and podcasts. Webinars and in-person available.

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