Founders

Being an entrepreneur is hard

You're given two opposing directives:
1) Manifest your vision, even when nobody else believes in you
2) Listen to the market and adapt to what it tells you

When do you choose option 1 over 2? 

Nobody can tell you deterministically -- it's an art. Respect to anyone who takes this path

I don't think you ever get to choose #1 over #2. Your company's survival is contingent on at least one market choosing you. That could be VCs, customers, or users.

If you can't get buy in from any market to keep you alive then the time runs out on #1.

You can sometimes sell cereal boxes like the airbnb guys but that only buys you a bit of time and you do need to eventually hit an inflection point even if just a local maximum.

Creator of /bot-or-not. Contributing to /blitkin & /orange-dao IRL: Building spatial computing for construction @ Resolve YC W15 | FID 1725

How do you do prevent capitulating on your vision via a series of small accommodations for the market?

Sometimes what the market wants in the near term is antagonistic to your long term vision

I think the latter part is key -- knowing where the line is and refusing to cross it (otherwise, it's "selling out")

That's a tough question. I'd find any opportunities where the market is aligned with your long term vision. Find stepping stones.

I'd make concessions on implementation, market segment, etc. before doing something antagonistic to the vision.