S2 #11 Ilya Sukhar
Beyond the Obvious: Startup Lessons from Matrix Partners GP Ilya Sukhar
My co-host Alexis and I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Ilya Sukhar, a brilliant engineer, visionary entrepreneur, and now a venture capitalist at Matrix Partners. Few people have navigated the startup world from as many angles as Ilya Sukhar. From building and selling Parse to Facebook, to investing in unconventional but high-potential startups, his journey is a masterclass in spotting opportunities others overlook.
The podcast episode is packed with amazing insights on building companies, investing, and the importance of thinking differently. That said, if you prefer to read rather than listen, here are some of the key takeaways from our discussion!
From Founder to Investor: Lessons in Adaptability
Ilya's own journey - from a young immigrant fascinated by computers to a successful entrepreneur and now an investor - speaks to the power of adaptability. After selling Parse to Facebook, he pivoted into venture capital, first as a part-time partner at Y Combinator and later at Matrix Partners.
His motivation? The thrill of solving hard problems. Early-stage startups, much like the companies he now invests in, require constant iteration and a willingness to shift strategies when necessary. He notes that successful startups aren't just about having a great idea but about how quickly and effectively founders learn from users and pivot when needed.
The Importance of Early-Stage Hiring and Culture Fit
While much of our podcast centers on hiring, Ilya emphasized one critical yet often overlooked aspect: how people handle disagreement. He encourages founders to consider what working through conflict will look like when evaluating early hires. The ability to have productive debates, challenge assumptions, and arrive at the best decision collectively is more important than just hiring the most credentialed candidate.
Likewise, he stresses the value of referencing - both for founders hiring employees and for engineers evaluating potential employers. Too often, people don't take the time to dig into a founder's or candidate's track record. But a few well-placed reference calls can reveal whether someone is truly the right fit.
Contrarian Thinking: Betting on the Unpopular
Venture capital is often about pattern-matching - investors look for familiar signals of success. But Ilya takes a different approach: he actively seeks out startups that don't fit the mold. He looks for ideas that, at first glance, might seem unappealing to the broader investment community but have the potential to be category-defining.
Take FlockSafety, for example - a company that builds AI-driven security cameras for crime prevention. In 2018, the idea of a hardware company selling to law enforcement wasn't exactly in vogue. But Ilya saw past the skepticism, recognizing the immediate impact of their technology. Today, they're making a real dent in crime-fighting across major U.S. cities.
The lesson? If everyone dismisses an idea, it might just mean the market hasn't caught up yet. For founders, this means having the conviction to pursue your vision even when it's unpopular. For investors and early hires, it means looking beyond the obvious and betting on resilience over hype.
Closing Thoughts: Embrace the Unconventional
If there's one thing Ilya's journey makes clear, it's that success in startups isn't about following the herd. Whether it's choosing a startup to join, picking a co-founder, or deciding where to invest, the best opportunities often look unconventional at first. The key is recognizing the deeper signals of potential - founders with resilience, markets with untapped demand, and technology that changes the way we interact with the world.
For anyone building a startup or considering their next big move, Ilya's advice is simple: Think beyond the obvious, and don't be afraid to bet on something the world hasn't caught onto... yet!
Until next time, keep building, keep iterating, and don't be afraid to think differently.
About Us:
1st10 was founded on the simple philosophy that there is nothing more important to the success of your startup than the first ten engineers you hire. Because the first ten will impact the next ten and any wrong misstep can be the difference between success and failure. 1st10 works with visionary founders and exceptional engineers to build world class engineering teams.
1st10 was founded by Boris Epstein, original founder of Binc, the firm best known for pioneering embedded recruiting in Silicon Valley. Binc built early teams for Pinterest, Ripple, Stripe, Square, Airbnb, Reddit, Tesla and many more. Binc was acquired by Robinhood in 2021.