Hey, it’s Elan. Welcome to my newsletter on what worked for SaaS startups that reached their first $1M in ARR. If this is your first time here, sign up and be the first to read future posts.
Every other week, I share frameworks and philosophies that helped founders build successful SaaS companies in the ‘How Founders Think’ series.
This week’s insight comes from Aytekin Tank, Founder and CEO of Jotform.
“I always kept one year of salary for every employee in the bank.”
—Aytekin Tank, CEO, Jotform
Most founders focus on how fast they can grow. Aytekin Tank built Jotform by focusing on how long they could last.
While competitors raised big rounds and hired aggressively, Jotform stayed disciplined.
For 18 years, Aytekin followed one rule: always have a year’s worth of salaries saved.
That simple rule meant no layoffs.
Just slow, steady, intentional growth.
No bets they couldn’t afford.
No team they couldn’t protect.
Growth is exciting. Staying alive is underrated.