Emulating Empathy

24/9/2016

One of the hardest problems for engineers in founding roles in a startup is interacting with customers up close and personal. Over the years I’ve found the best way to learn to do this is by emulating empathy.
https://steveblank.com/2010/02/08/emulating-empathy/

1 Comment

Naritya link

28/9/2026 09:26:44

A very valuable perspective on one of the hardest parts of building a startup: truly understanding the customer. The idea of “emulating empathy” stood out because founders cannot always rely on their own assumptions about what customers need. They have to observe, listen, ask better questions, and understand the problem from the customer's perspective. This is something we encounter regularly at RaiseMoney while working with early-stage founders. Many founders are deeply invested in their solution, but the more important question is whether they have genuinely validated the problem and customer need. The article is a useful reminder that empathy isn't just a soft skill—it can directly influence product validation and business decisions.

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