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Essays

Deep thinking on building businesses designed to own forever. Not how-to content. Decision logs, frameworks, and pattern recognition.

George Pu
George Pu
$10M+ portfolio. Zero VC.

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Trump's 'Permanent Halt': Strategic Implications for Founders
Founder Mobility

Trump's 'Permanent Halt': Strategic Implications for Founders

November 2025 changed the game for international founders and cross-border businesses. Trump's "permanent halt" on key immigration and trade policies creates both massive disruption and massive opportunity. Here's what actually happened, what it means for your business, and how to position strategically while others panic. What Actually Happened in November 2025 The "Permanent Halt" package included: Immigration Policy Changes: * Indefinite suspension of H-1B visa processing for new appl

·9 min
You're Being Run (And You Don't Even Know It)
George's Takes

You're Being Run (And You Don't Even Know It)

Using AI for execution is leverage. Using AI for decisions is surrendering control. Most founders think they're getting smarter by consulting AI on every business decision. Actually, they're outsourcing their stress without improving their judgment. And slowly, imperceptibly, they're letting AI run their business instead of the other way around. Here's how to tell if you're being run—and how to take back control. The Execution vs Decision Trap AI excels at execution. It's dangerous for dec

·9 min
Brex Just Sold for $5.15 Billion. Here's What That Actually Means
Freedom by George Pu

Brex Just Sold for $5.15 Billion. Here's What That Actually Means

Nobody's talking about the other number. $12.3 billion. That's what Brex was worth in January 2022. Four years ago.

·11 min
AI Is Coming for 80% of Founders (Which Side Are You On?)
George's Takes

AI Is Coming for 80% of Founders (Which Side Are You On?)

AI is coming for 80% of founders. Not because AI is malicious, but because 80% of founders aren't building anything original. They're building things, they're making things better, but they're not making innovative things. They're not making original things. They're making things that are generic. And generic is exactly what AI excels at. The Great Founder Sorting AI is creating a brutal separation: 80% of founders: Will be replaced by AI or commoditized into irrelevance 20% of founders: W

·8 min
Post-Funding Mobility: How Geography Changes with Investment
Founder Mobility

Post-Funding Mobility: How Geography Changes with Investment

Bootstrap founders can work from anywhere. VC-backed founders discover they're geographically tethered. Nobody warns you about this before you take the money. Here's what really happens to your location freedom when VCs become part of your cap table. The Geographic Freedom Myth Everyone assumes venture funding provides more freedom: "With $5M in the bank, you can work from anywhere!" "Venture backing gives you options and flexibility!" "Now you can afford to base yourself wherever you want

·12 min
What If I Had AI in College? (I'd Be Worse Off)
George's Takes

What If I Had AI in College? (I'd Be Worse Off)

Everyone assumes AI would have made college easier and my path to entrepreneurship faster. They're right. And that's exactly why I'd be worse off today. AI in 2019 wouldn't have made me successful. It would have made me generic faster. The Counterfactual That Haunts Me What actually happened (without AI): * Dropped out of college in 2019 * Had to make a risky, all-or-nothing bet on entrepreneurship * Couldn't balance studies + startups + visa constraints * Was forced into complete comm

·9 min

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The Basement Pitch That Started It All
George's Takes

The Basement Pitch That Started It All

End of 2019. Arashdeep's basement near campus. Trying to make music together on Macbooks. I looked at him and said: "What about building software together? Building an app, building something that's truly amazing and that can potentially change our lives. But most importantly, it doesn't matter if it fails or makes it through—we'd have something that we can talk about, that can help us in our career journey regardless of what we choose." That pitch changed everything. Not because of what we bu

·8 min
Why I Stopped Celebrating Headcount
George's Takes

Why I Stopped Celebrating Headcount

Used to brag about our team size. "We're at 14 people now!" felt like progress. Then we laid off 9 people in 2023. Most painful moment of my career. Two years later, we're still 5 people. Revenue is higher. Product is better. Customers are happier. I stopped celebrating headcount because I finally understood what it actually measures. The Headcount Status Game Every founder plays it: "We just hit 10 employees!" "Scaling to 25 people this quarter!" "Series A means we can finally build a re

·8 min
Building Local Networks Without Local Presence
Founder Mobility

Building Local Networks Without Local Presence

Built meaningful business relationships in 12+ cities without living in any of them. Generated $340K in opportunities from networks I cultivated remotely. Here's how to build local presence without local residence—and when that's not enough. The Remote Network Paradox Everyone assumes local networks require local presence: "You have to be there to build real relationships." "Remote networking is superficial and transactional." "Nothing beats face-to-face for trust building." My experience

·14 min
The Founder Proximity Paradox: When Being There Matters vs Doesn't
Founder Mobility

The Founder Proximity Paradox: When Being There Matters vs Doesn't

Built SimpleDirect from Toronto selling to US customers. Never met 80% of them in person. Built ANC from Toronto working with Middle Eastern clients. Relationship quality improved when I moved closer. Same founder, same skills, opposite outcomes. Here's when proximity matters and when it's just expensive theater. The Proximity Assumption Everyone assumes proximity equals better relationships: * "You need to be where your customers are" * "Face-to-face builds trust faster" * "Remote sal

·9 min
The Sovereign Individual Is Dead
Founder Mobility

The Sovereign Individual Is Dead

I built my life around the Sovereign Individual thesis. Then COVID closed borders in 5 days and states started tracking dentist visits. A revision.

·13 min
Remote Work Killed the Startup Scene
George's Takes

Remote Work Killed the Startup Scene

Went to a startup event in Toronto last week. Half empty. No energy. Dead conversation. Remote work broke something we can't get back. Pre-2020 vs Post-2020 Events 2019 Toronto startup event I remember: * 400 people packed into MaRS Discovery District * Conversations spilling into hallways * Business cards flying everywhere * Deals getting discussed over drinks * Energy you could feel when you walked in * Hard to leave because something interesting was always happening Last week's e

·9 min

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