Chris Herd Argues "Bigger Vision" Startups Face Less Competition and Easier Capital Attraction

Entrepreneur Chris Herd, known for his insights into the startup landscape and remote work, recently shared a provocative perspective on venture difficulty. In a social media post, Herd stated that a decade in the startup world has shown him "almost no difference in difficulty or success between incredibly ambitious or 'easier' startup ideas." This philosophy suggests that pursuing a larger vision can paradoxically lead to a smoother path.

"A decade in startups taught me there’s almost no difference in difficulty or success between incredibly ambitious or 'easier' startup ideas," Herd posted. He elaborated, "Bigger vision = Less competition, Capital easier to attract, Great talent more interested. Harder things might actually be easier."

Herd's experience stems significantly from his role as co-founder and CEO of Firstbase, a remote work infrastructure platform. Founded in 2019, Firstbase aimed to simplify the provisioning and management of physical equipment for distributed teams globally. The company's innovative approach to supporting remote work gained substantial traction during the pandemic-driven shift in work models.

Firstbase successfully raised significant capital, including a $13 million Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz and a $50 million Series B round led by Kleiner Perkins, accumulating $65 million in total funding. This substantial investment from top-tier venture capital firms underscores the market's confidence in ambitious solutions. The remote work platform was subsequently acquired by AppDirect in December 2024, marking a successful exit for Herd and his team.

Herd's assertion that "harder things might actually be easier" is rooted in the strategic advantages a grander vision can offer. Such ventures often face less direct competition because fewer entrepreneurs dare to tackle them, creating a clearer path to market leadership. Furthermore, highly ambitious ideas tend to be more compelling to investors, making capital easier to attract, and they naturally draw in top-tier talent eager to work on transformative projects. This creates a virtuous cycle that can accelerate growth and success.