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@EricRies's new book Incorruptible is due in 16 days (from the post); the…

2026-05-10 · 21:39 UTC ·@lennysan ·1 min read

Brief

@lennysan previews @EricRies's Incorruptible (out in 16 days), summarizing a conversation about "financial gravity", the Groupon email death spiral, founders' post-IPO firing (over 80% within three years), and "governance fortresses" like Anthropic, Costco, and Patagonia, plus three immediate protections founders can implement.

Why it matters

@EricRies's new book Incorruptible is due in 16 days (from the post); the conversation claims over 80% of founders are fired within 3 years of taking their company public and explains why consumers notice changes after PE buyouts (e.g., restaurants) and why even Steve Jobs was once fired from Apple

Key details

  • Conversation highlights include the concept of "financial gravity," the "Groupon email death spiral" every public company eventually runs, and the maxim: "It is always too early to protect your company. Until it's too late."
  • Post spotlights the "governance fortress" model used by Anthropic, Costco, and Patagonia, and promises three concrete actions founders can take this week to protect their companies; audio link provided
Source evidence

"A lot of people liked the Lean Startup, but no one ever said it made them cry."

In 16 days, @EricRies's new book Incorruptible comes out.

It's about why you can taste it when your favorite restaurant gets bought by a PE firm, why even Steve Jobs got fired from Apple, and why over 80% of founders get fired within 3 years of taking their company public.

In our real-talk conversation, we discuss:
🔸 "Financial gravity": the force that predictably pushes successful companies into mediocrity
🔸 The Groupon email death spiral every public company eventually runs
🔸 "It is always too early to protect your company. Until it's too late."
🔸 The "governance fortress" Anthropic, Costco, and Patagonia all have—and your company probably doesn't
🔸 Three things founders can do this week to protect their company long-term.

Listen now 👇
piped.video/PoJ1vTdHpks