{"id":14989,"date":"2025-04-12T09:06:48","date_gmt":"2025-04-12T13:06:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.journee-mondiale.com\/en\/waze-founder-sold-for-1-1-billion-now-warns-startups-must-decide-in-24-hours-during-crisis\/"},"modified":"2025-04-12T09:06:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-12T13:06:48","slug":"waze-founder-sold-for-1-1-billion-now-warns-startups-must-decide-in-24-hours-during-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.journee-mondiale.com\/en\/waze-founder-sold-for-1-1-billion-now-warns-startups-must-decide-in-24-hours-during-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Waze founder sold for $1.1 billion, now warns: “startups must decide in 24 hours during crisis”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Waze co-founder Uri Levine has transformed his hard-won entrepreneurial lessons into actionable wisdom in the 2025 edition of his book, “Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution.” The Israeli tech pioneer, whose navigation app sold to Google for a staggering $1.1 billion<\/strong> in 2013, has added a critical new chapter focusing specifically on navigating startup crises\u2014something he knows intimately from decades in the trenches.<\/p>\n

The entrepreneur’s crisis playbook<\/h2>\n

“Building a startup is a journey from one crisis to the next,” Levine candidly admits, offering a refreshing perspective that normalizes the challenges entrepreneurs face. Rather than viewing crises as exceptional events, he positions them as integral milestones<\/strong> on the path to success\u2014much like how neuroscience shows focused attention yields deeper results<\/a> than scattered efforts.<\/p>\n

Two types of crises and how to handle them<\/h2>\n

Levine’s framework identifies two distinct crisis categories entrepreneurs might face, providing tailored strategies for each. “It doesn’t matter if the crisis is international and affects everyone: It is your responsibility<\/strong> to solve your problems,” he insists, rejecting the tendency to blame external factors.<\/p>\n

“The only ability to choose is today. You actually need to make a decision rapidly, like today,” Levine emphasizes, highlighting the urgency of crisis management.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Speed: The ultimate crisis currency<\/h2>\n

According to Maria Johnson, Venture Capital Analyst at Austin Capital Partners, “In crisis management, speed beats perfection<\/strong> every time. The startups that survive aren’t necessarily the smartest\u2014they’re the quickest to adapt.” This mirrors Levine’s insistence on immediate action, which preserves options rather than diminishing them.<\/p>\n

Just as stopping damaging practices can yield unexpected growth<\/a>, Levine suggests crisis moments often require eliminating detrimental business practices.<\/p>\n

Transparency as your secret weapon<\/h2>\n

“If there is a crisis, everyone knows, and you don’t do anything about it, this is not a good practice,” Levine warns. Transparency creates the foundation for his approach to team motivation<\/strong> during difficult times. Rather than hiding problems, successful founders address them directly.<\/p>\n

When to pivot vs. when to shut down<\/h2>\n

Levine offers a practical framework for making the toughest decision entrepreneurs face\u2014pivot or quit. Consider these crucial factors:<\/p>\n