Box’s CEO says these are the 3 things startup founders should do — and it includes a reading list

Summary

Aaron Levie, cofounder and CEO of Box, told participants at Y Combinator’s AI Startup School that founders should do three things to improve their chances: read a short list of strategy books tailored to B2B markets, assemble a strong founding team (even if not fully technical), and pursue opportunities created by disruptive forces such as AI. He warned founders that there’s a limited window — roughly two to three years — to launch a great company in the current AI wave and urged ambition while that window remains open.

Key Points

Read these three strategy books: The Innovator’s Dilemma; Crossing the Chasm; Blue Ocean Strategy — Levie says they give founders a framework to think about markets and incumbents.
Build an “incredible founding team” — even one non-technical partner helps with resilience, morale and persistence through hard times.
Target markets being truly transformed by AI — if AI isn’t changing the market, don’t start there because you’ll face unnecessary headwinds.
Levie sets a short runway for opportunity: aim to be bold in the next two to three years to exploit the AI-driven window.
He has repeatedly emphasised hiring and valuing AI-native talent, including recent advice to graduates to master AI skills.

Context and relevance

This advice came at YC’s AI Startup School and is aimed primarily at B2B founders and early-stage teams. It ties into broader trends: rapid AI adoption, a premium on founders who understand disruption, and demand for AI-literate hires. For anyone building enterprise-focused products, Levie’s checklist is a short playbook for market thinking, team formation and timing.

Why should I read this?

Short version: Levie gives a quick, no-nonsense playbook — a must-have reading list, a nudge to stop lone-wolfing, and a time-sensitive push to ride the AI wave. If you’re thinking of launching a B2B startup (or hiring grads), this saves you the time of hunting down the core advice yourself.

Author style

Punchy — Levie’s message is blunt and urgent: read the right books, get a co‑pilot, and go big now while the AI window is open. If you’re startup-minded, the detail matters because this is tactical advice from someone who built a major enterprise company.