First round review
First Round Review is a content hub from First Round Capital: long-form articles and the In Depth podcast on product, hiring, growth, and early-stage company building. The tone is tactical and “how we did it” - good for founders and PMs who want playbooks, not platitudes. This guide covers what’s there and how to use it.
Bill Trenchard (First Round Capital) - How First Round Evaluates Markets
Why first round review fits product work
Core concepts that matter
Articles
Long-form pieces on review.firstround.com. Browse by topic: product, hiring, user research, marketing, fundraising. Use search and tags when you’re working on a specific theme (e.g. “user research,” “first 90 days,” “product hiring”).
In depth podcast
Deep-dive interviews with founders and operators. Episodes often match article themes - e.g. user research playbooks, early validation, finding first customers. Good for commutes or background; show notes help you skim.
Topics that show up often
User research and discovery - Interview playbooks, validating ideas, common founder mistakes. Product and PM - Paths to product-market fit, product hiring, how companies like Sentry, Linear, Braze think about product. Hiring and exec search - When and how to hire first execs, what to look for.
First Round Capital - Be open about what you do and don't know
Practical habits
When first round review isn’t the fit
Where to find it
First Round Review. In Depth podcast. Free.
For founders and PMs building early-stage products, First Round Review is a strong default. Use the articles and podcast for playbooks and “how others did it,” then adapt to your context.
