Mark Birch, Community Builder
@markbirch.bsky.social
Startup founder; startup ecosystem expert; Author of Community-in-a-Box; need help with your #community? Dm me 😊
📚 "Facts tell, stories sell." Research says facts are 20x more memorable in stories.
Yet founders pitch with bullet points🙄
Use this story framework: Character (hero) → Conflict (tension) → Resolution (your product saves day) 🙌
Yet founders pitch with bullet points🙄
Use this story framework: Character (hero) → Conflict (tension) → Resolution (your product saves day) 🙌
Better Storytelling for Startup Founders
Your key to influencing others is turning facts into your unique story
foundersinthecloud.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:20 AM
📚 "Facts tell, stories sell." Research says facts are 20x more memorable in stories.
Yet founders pitch with bullet points🙄
Use this story framework: Character (hero) → Conflict (tension) → Resolution (your product saves day) 🙌
Yet founders pitch with bullet points🙄
Use this story framework: Character (hero) → Conflict (tension) → Resolution (your product saves day) 🙌
🚪 *Ring ring* Strange man: "Let's connect!"
*Ring ring* "12 minutes to 10x your pipeline?"
My house = LinkedIn IRL 😂 1B+ users but endless strangers selling stuff. Be intentional!
*Ring ring* "12 minutes to 10x your pipeline?"
My house = LinkedIn IRL 😂 1B+ users but endless strangers selling stuff. Be intentional!
LinkedIn
How to use the world's largest professional network more effectively
foundersinthecloud.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:20 AM
🚪 *Ring ring* Strange man: "Let's connect!"
*Ring ring* "12 minutes to 10x your pipeline?"
My house = LinkedIn IRL 😂 1B+ users but endless strangers selling stuff. Be intentional!
*Ring ring* "12 minutes to 10x your pipeline?"
My house = LinkedIn IRL 😂 1B+ users but endless strangers selling stuff. Be intentional!
📈 "Community = cost center to cut" says every CFO.
I spent 4 years working on this problem while at AWS.
My answer is the Three Levels of Community Metrics: C1 (business impact), C2 (bridge metrics), C3 (health).
Here is how to use this framework:
I spent 4 years working on this problem while at AWS.
My answer is the Three Levels of Community Metrics: C1 (business impact), C2 (bridge metrics), C3 (health).
Here is how to use this framework:
Measuring Community
How to avoid meaningless vanity metrics and highlight real business impact
foundersinthecloud.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:20 AM
📈 "Community = cost center to cut" says every CFO.
I spent 4 years working on this problem while at AWS.
My answer is the Three Levels of Community Metrics: C1 (business impact), C2 (bridge metrics), C3 (health).
Here is how to use this framework:
I spent 4 years working on this problem while at AWS.
My answer is the Three Levels of Community Metrics: C1 (business impact), C2 (bridge metrics), C3 (health).
Here is how to use this framework:
🤖 Community building is pure drudgery. I hired full-time admins, still couldn't keep up.
With AI though, the boring stuff will get managed. This will help people better connect and build bonds through community.
I does the busywork, humans create the magic.
With AI though, the boring stuff will get managed. This will help people better connect and build bonds through community.
I does the busywork, humans create the magic.
Community AI
Excerpt from the second edition of Community-in-a-Box
foundersinthecloud.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:30 PM
🤖 Community building is pure drudgery. I hired full-time admins, still couldn't keep up.
With AI though, the boring stuff will get managed. This will help people better connect and build bonds through community.
I does the busywork, humans create the magic.
With AI though, the boring stuff will get managed. This will help people better connect and build bonds through community.
I does the busywork, humans create the magic.
🎯 Trading floors taught focus. Startup life = chaos.
Harvard found: 87 interruptions/day, 23 min to refocus.
Real secret: enjoy what you're building. If avoiding critical tasks = founder-market fit red flag.
Harvard found: 87 interruptions/day, 23 min to refocus.
Real secret: enjoy what you're building. If avoiding critical tasks = founder-market fit red flag.
Distractions
Tips to fight procrastination and get back your startup focus
foundersinthecloud.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:05 PM
🎯 Trading floors taught focus. Startup life = chaos.
Harvard found: 87 interruptions/day, 23 min to refocus.
Real secret: enjoy what you're building. If avoiding critical tasks = founder-market fit red flag.
Harvard found: 87 interruptions/day, 23 min to refocus.
Real secret: enjoy what you're building. If avoiding critical tasks = founder-market fit red flag.
Whenever I get stuck on something, I find a whiteboard ⬜
Sometimes I have a lot of conflicting ideas in my mind, and a whiteboard helps to get them out of my head.
After an hour or two of furiously scribbling words, shapes & arrows, I can step back and begin to visualize the idea more clearly.
Sometimes I have a lot of conflicting ideas in my mind, and a whiteboard helps to get them out of my head.
After an hour or two of furiously scribbling words, shapes & arrows, I can step back and begin to visualize the idea more clearly.
October 15, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Whenever I get stuck on something, I find a whiteboard ⬜
Sometimes I have a lot of conflicting ideas in my mind, and a whiteboard helps to get them out of my head.
After an hour or two of furiously scribbling words, shapes & arrows, I can step back and begin to visualize the idea more clearly.
Sometimes I have a lot of conflicting ideas in my mind, and a whiteboard helps to get them out of my head.
After an hour or two of furiously scribbling words, shapes & arrows, I can step back and begin to visualize the idea more clearly.
One of the highlights of teaching at NCCU was visiting startups on campus💡
I met a drone entrepreneur, a student startup launching scooters, and an artist doing building cool stuff with paper.
It's an entrepreneurial environment for builders to launch startups🚀
I met a drone entrepreneur, a student startup launching scooters, and an artist doing building cool stuff with paper.
It's an entrepreneurial environment for builders to launch startups🚀
October 14, 2025 at 1:20 AM
One of the highlights of teaching at NCCU was visiting startups on campus💡
I met a drone entrepreneur, a student startup launching scooters, and an artist doing building cool stuff with paper.
It's an entrepreneurial environment for builders to launch startups🚀
I met a drone entrepreneur, a student startup launching scooters, and an artist doing building cool stuff with paper.
It's an entrepreneurial environment for builders to launch startups🚀
What better way to spend the weekend than checking out startup pitches 😂
I shared some thoughts on the need for community for Taiwanese startups to accelerate their GTM during their final session of an entrepreneurship course.
Thanks for having me, it was a blast meeting the startups!
I shared some thoughts on the need for community for Taiwanese startups to accelerate their GTM during their final session of an entrepreneurship course.
Thanks for having me, it was a blast meeting the startups!
October 13, 2025 at 1:20 AM
What better way to spend the weekend than checking out startup pitches 😂
I shared some thoughts on the need for community for Taiwanese startups to accelerate their GTM during their final session of an entrepreneurship course.
Thanks for having me, it was a blast meeting the startups!
I shared some thoughts on the need for community for Taiwanese startups to accelerate their GTM during their final session of an entrepreneurship course.
Thanks for having me, it was a blast meeting the startups!
🏐 Tom Hanks had Wilson. Founders have laptops at 2 AM.
72% of entrepreneurs report mental health struggles. Loneliness = major factor.
Paul Graham said "Low points so low few could bear them alone."
Here's some ideas to fight the loneliness:
72% of entrepreneurs report mental health struggles. Loneliness = major factor.
Paul Graham said "Low points so low few could bear them alone."
Here's some ideas to fight the loneliness:
Loneliness
Launching a startup is a lonely journey, but it doesn’t have to be
foundersinthecloud.com
October 9, 2025 at 1:20 AM
🏐 Tom Hanks had Wilson. Founders have laptops at 2 AM.
72% of entrepreneurs report mental health struggles. Loneliness = major factor.
Paul Graham said "Low points so low few could bear them alone."
Here's some ideas to fight the loneliness:
72% of entrepreneurs report mental health struggles. Loneliness = major factor.
Paul Graham said "Low points so low few could bear them alone."
Here's some ideas to fight the loneliness:
My startup almost died because I ignored friends warnings about outsourcing my engineering.
Adam Grant's solution: Build "Challenge Network" for structured feedback.
I created my own called"The Fifty" - best decision ever to get tangible advice!
foundersinthecloud.com/p/feedback
Adam Grant's solution: Build "Challenge Network" for structured feedback.
I created my own called"The Fifty" - best decision ever to get tangible advice!
foundersinthecloud.com/p/feedback
Feedback
Being more intentional and systematic about gathering constructive feedback
foundersinthecloud.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:20 AM
My startup almost died because I ignored friends warnings about outsourcing my engineering.
Adam Grant's solution: Build "Challenge Network" for structured feedback.
I created my own called"The Fifty" - best decision ever to get tangible advice!
foundersinthecloud.com/p/feedback
Adam Grant's solution: Build "Challenge Network" for structured feedback.
I created my own called"The Fifty" - best decision ever to get tangible advice!
foundersinthecloud.com/p/feedback
💥 "Perfect startup team!" I thought. Same vision, same passion.
Then we started working together.
Epic arguments over dumb stuff.
65% failures = toxic co-founder relationships. Values = conflict resolution systems.
Then we started working together.
Epic arguments over dumb stuff.
65% failures = toxic co-founder relationships. Values = conflict resolution systems.
Values
Startup success begins with the foundation you create
foundersinthecloud.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:20 AM
💥 "Perfect startup team!" I thought. Same vision, same passion.
Then we started working together.
Epic arguments over dumb stuff.
65% failures = toxic co-founder relationships. Values = conflict resolution systems.
Then we started working together.
Epic arguments over dumb stuff.
65% failures = toxic co-founder relationships. Values = conflict resolution systems.
🏴☠️ "Better to be a pirate than join the navy" - Jobs + 20 rebels built the Mac!
Small teams of misfits > big bureaucracy.
When hiring look for: breadth, lateral thinking, creation history. Create your one-pizza team, max 5 people.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/pirates
Small teams of misfits > big bureaucracy.
When hiring look for: breadth, lateral thinking, creation history. Create your one-pizza team, max 5 people.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/pirates
Pirates
Build a small band of renegades and your startup will move faster
foundersinthecloud.com
September 30, 2025 at 1:20 AM
🏴☠️ "Better to be a pirate than join the navy" - Jobs + 20 rebels built the Mac!
Small teams of misfits > big bureaucracy.
When hiring look for: breadth, lateral thinking, creation history. Create your one-pizza team, max 5 people.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/pirates
Small teams of misfits > big bureaucracy.
When hiring look for: breadth, lateral thinking, creation history. Create your one-pizza team, max 5 people.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/pirates
🦁 I'm super excited to be back in Cape Town this week 👋
I will be hosting a masterclass on community growth strategies. Then I speak at AWS Community Day South Africa on the topic of "Community as Code"😉
If you have any recs on places to visit or eat, LMK😁
See you soon Cape Town!
I will be hosting a masterclass on community growth strategies. Then I speak at AWS Community Day South Africa on the topic of "Community as Code"😉
If you have any recs on places to visit or eat, LMK😁
See you soon Cape Town!
September 15, 2025 at 6:34 PM
🦁 I'm super excited to be back in Cape Town this week 👋
I will be hosting a masterclass on community growth strategies. Then I speak at AWS Community Day South Africa on the topic of "Community as Code"😉
If you have any recs on places to visit or eat, LMK😁
See you soon Cape Town!
I will be hosting a masterclass on community growth strategies. Then I speak at AWS Community Day South Africa on the topic of "Community as Code"😉
If you have any recs on places to visit or eat, LMK😁
See you soon Cape Town!
🔍 I was that annoying kid asking "why" about everything. Bit it's such an important question!
Most founders stumble through ideas without deeper motivation and asking why.
Your big why emerges through customer conversations and 3 AM questioning moments.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/why
Most founders stumble through ideas without deeper motivation and asking why.
Your big why emerges through customer conversations and 3 AM questioning moments.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/why
Why
The journey to finding your vision is never obvious
foundersinthecloud.com
September 15, 2025 at 1:20 AM
🔍 I was that annoying kid asking "why" about everything. Bit it's such an important question!
Most founders stumble through ideas without deeper motivation and asking why.
Your big why emerges through customer conversations and 3 AM questioning moments.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/why
Most founders stumble through ideas without deeper motivation and asking why.
Your big why emerges through customer conversations and 3 AM questioning moments.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/why
⚡ Every second counts. But only if it's purposeful.
Startups are perpetual motion machines. Build → feedback → learn → repeat.
The faster you iterate, the better your odds. But you need to prioritize!
Real advantage = speed toward right outcome.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/speed-comp...
Startups are perpetual motion machines. Build → feedback → learn → repeat.
The faster you iterate, the better your odds. But you need to prioritize!
Real advantage = speed toward right outcome.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/speed-comp...
Speed is your only competitive advantage
Without speed, your startup is destined to die a quick death
foundersinthecloud.com
September 13, 2025 at 1:20 AM
⚡ Every second counts. But only if it's purposeful.
Startups are perpetual motion machines. Build → feedback → learn → repeat.
The faster you iterate, the better your odds. But you need to prioritize!
Real advantage = speed toward right outcome.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/speed-comp...
Startups are perpetual motion machines. Build → feedback → learn → repeat.
The faster you iterate, the better your odds. But you need to prioritize!
Real advantage = speed toward right outcome.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/speed-comp...
Spent some time tonight at the 9/11 memorial.
People say never forget. I say learn from this moment so we can have a more hopeful and caring future.
People say never forget. I say learn from this moment so we can have a more hopeful and caring future.
September 12, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Spent some time tonight at the 9/11 memorial.
People say never forget. I say learn from this moment so we can have a more hopeful and caring future.
People say never forget. I say learn from this moment so we can have a more hopeful and caring future.
🎯 Bezos: "Most decisions should be made with 70% of the information you wish you had."
Waiting for 90% = being slow.
Type 1 (irreversible) vs Type 2 (reversible). Most are Type 2 but treat like Type 1.
Slow decisions kill startups faster than wrong ones.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/make-faste...
Waiting for 90% = being slow.
Type 1 (irreversible) vs Type 2 (reversible). Most are Type 2 but treat like Type 1.
Slow decisions kill startups faster than wrong ones.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/make-faste...
How to make faster decisions
Startups thrive or die on the speed of decision-making
foundersinthecloud.com
September 12, 2025 at 1:20 AM
🎯 Bezos: "Most decisions should be made with 70% of the information you wish you had."
Waiting for 90% = being slow.
Type 1 (irreversible) vs Type 2 (reversible). Most are Type 2 but treat like Type 1.
Slow decisions kill startups faster than wrong ones.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/make-faste...
Waiting for 90% = being slow.
Type 1 (irreversible) vs Type 2 (reversible). Most are Type 2 but treat like Type 1.
Slow decisions kill startups faster than wrong ones.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/make-faste...
Tariffs are what will ultimately destroy America.
That is not to minimize the other stuff going on right now.
But the long-termhealth of a nation is based on what people believe to be true about their financial security.
And tariffs are already exposing a hole in that safety net.
That is not to minimize the other stuff going on right now.
But the long-termhealth of a nation is based on what people believe to be true about their financial security.
And tariffs are already exposing a hole in that safety net.
September 11, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Tariffs are what will ultimately destroy America.
That is not to minimize the other stuff going on right now.
But the long-termhealth of a nation is based on what people believe to be true about their financial security.
And tariffs are already exposing a hole in that safety net.
That is not to minimize the other stuff going on right now.
But the long-termhealth of a nation is based on what people believe to be true about their financial security.
And tariffs are already exposing a hole in that safety net.
Taking NJ Transit into NYC.
Such a poor experience compared to transit in Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore.
Expensive, late, rude employees, gross passenger behavior, run down stations.
With systems like BART going out, SEPTA going bankrupt, US public transportation is a disaster.
Such a poor experience compared to transit in Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore.
Expensive, late, rude employees, gross passenger behavior, run down stations.
With systems like BART going out, SEPTA going bankrupt, US public transportation is a disaster.
September 11, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Taking NJ Transit into NYC.
Such a poor experience compared to transit in Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore.
Expensive, late, rude employees, gross passenger behavior, run down stations.
With systems like BART going out, SEPTA going bankrupt, US public transportation is a disaster.
Such a poor experience compared to transit in Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore.
Expensive, late, rude employees, gross passenger behavior, run down stations.
With systems like BART going out, SEPTA going bankrupt, US public transportation is a disaster.
⏰ 3:59AM wakeup. Cold shower. Espresso IPO (3 cups). 1,000 pushups. Meditate on valuation multiples. Sprint plan in Notion w/ my Japanese fountain pen. Founder mode!!!
LOL, forget the hustle theater—let’s build things that last 💪
LOL, forget the hustle theater—let’s build things that last 💪
September 11, 2025 at 1:20 AM
⏰ 3:59AM wakeup. Cold shower. Espresso IPO (3 cups). 1,000 pushups. Meditate on valuation multiples. Sprint plan in Notion w/ my Japanese fountain pen. Founder mode!!!
LOL, forget the hustle theater—let’s build things that last 💪
LOL, forget the hustle theater—let’s build things that last 💪
Was at Innovation City Cape Town last November for an event.
It was a business matching session.
I was in town to give a talk, and the team invited me to join.
Ended up manning the AWS table, even though I just left AWS 😅
It was all good, made some good connections 😁
It was a business matching session.
I was in town to give a talk, and the team invited me to join.
Ended up manning the AWS table, even though I just left AWS 😅
It was all good, made some good connections 😁
September 10, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Was at Innovation City Cape Town last November for an event.
It was a business matching session.
I was in town to give a talk, and the team invited me to join.
Ended up manning the AWS table, even though I just left AWS 😅
It was all good, made some good connections 😁
It was a business matching session.
I was in town to give a talk, and the team invited me to join.
Ended up manning the AWS table, even though I just left AWS 😅
It was all good, made some good connections 😁
Stop burning cash on stale growth tactics👎
🔥 Build communities that sell for you instead
I grew a community from zero to 30K members across 24 cities with major impact!
I'm in Cape Town Sept 18th to share my playbook of Community Flywheel + 11 step process + real metrics💡
trib.co/innocitytalk
🔥 Build communities that sell for you instead
I grew a community from zero to 30K members across 24 cities with major impact!
I'm in Cape Town Sept 18th to share my playbook of Community Flywheel + 11 step process + real metrics💡
trib.co/innocitytalk
September 10, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Stop burning cash on stale growth tactics👎
🔥 Build communities that sell for you instead
I grew a community from zero to 30K members across 24 cities with major impact!
I'm in Cape Town Sept 18th to share my playbook of Community Flywheel + 11 step process + real metrics💡
trib.co/innocitytalk
🔥 Build communities that sell for you instead
I grew a community from zero to 30K members across 24 cities with major impact!
I'm in Cape Town Sept 18th to share my playbook of Community Flywheel + 11 step process + real metrics💡
trib.co/innocitytalk
This is the real startup mantra
Courtesy of Charles Bukowski
Courtesy of Charles Bukowski
September 9, 2025 at 6:36 PM
This is the real startup mantra
Courtesy of Charles Bukowski
Courtesy of Charles Bukowski
I have finally given up and started using Notion. It actually does not suck as hard as I imagined it would.
Pleasant surprise is the AI assistant actually does a good job helping to create some of the pages I need without doing it by scratch.
Pleasant surprise is the AI assistant actually does a good job helping to create some of the pages I need without doing it by scratch.
September 9, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I have finally given up and started using Notion. It actually does not suck as hard as I imagined it would.
Pleasant surprise is the AI assistant actually does a good job helping to create some of the pages I need without doing it by scratch.
Pleasant surprise is the AI assistant actually does a good job helping to create some of the pages I need without doing it by scratch.
💸 "We spent $50 on MVP." - 2024 reality.
Cloud + AI + no-code = launch for almost nothing.
Biggest cost? Your time. Barrier to starting isn't money anymore. It's having courage to begin.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/build-near...
Cloud + AI + no-code = launch for almost nothing.
Biggest cost? Your time. Barrier to starting isn't money anymore. It's having courage to begin.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/build-near...
How to build a nearly zero-cost startup
There are tons of free things for startups, if only you knew about them
foundersinthecloud.com
September 9, 2025 at 1:20 AM
💸 "We spent $50 on MVP." - 2024 reality.
Cloud + AI + no-code = launch for almost nothing.
Biggest cost? Your time. Barrier to starting isn't money anymore. It's having courage to begin.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/build-near...
Cloud + AI + no-code = launch for almost nothing.
Biggest cost? Your time. Barrier to starting isn't money anymore. It's having courage to begin.
foundersinthecloud.com/p/build-near...