The perfection trap

Escape the Perfection Trap: Blake Sabatinelli’s Blueprint for Rapid Startup Growth at Web Summit Lisbon 2025

At Web Summit Lisbon 2025, Forbes Contributor Rhett Power and Atmosphere TV CEO Blake Sabatinelli discussed startup growth and “The Perfection Trap.” Mr. Sabatinelli addressed founders, acknowledging the pressures of funding and rapid tech advancements. He advised against trying to do everything at once, urging them to simplify processes and focus on one task for effective, quick execution without dwelling on absolute perfection.

Atmosphere TV’s own experience illustrated this. Despite significant capital intake and a 10x customer growth from 2,500 to 55,000 in 18 months, the executive team felt overwhelmed. This rapid expansion, paradoxically, made operations feel worse. They realized that attempting to be “everything for everyone” led to being “nothing for nobody,” necessitating a strategic shift.

The leadership team, led by Mr. Sabatinelli, decided to narrow their focus. They prioritized revenue generation, even if it meant slowing other business areas. This counter-intuitive approach of imposing “restraints” on the business proved successful. By concentrating on perfect execution in this core area, Atmosphere TV achieved faster, exponential growth, contrary to Mr. Sabatinelli’s initial instinct to accelerate everything.

Mr. Sabatinelli clarified that both speed and perfection have their place. For executives, true speed emerges when they “zoom out,” trusting their teams and avoiding micromanagement. Leaders often impede progress by getting too involved. Empowering employees with autonomy fosters both rapid and efficient execution, allowing for a higher level of quality.

Mr. Power shared his experience of significant growth after stepping back from daily operations. Mr. Sabatinelli expanded on the “perfection trap” in team building, noting that different growth stages demand distinct skill sets. Founders must detach emotionally to build the ideal company, which may involve transitioning early team members to more suitable roles.

On self-talk and leadership, Mr. Sabatinelli emphasized starting each day with gratitude, recognizing the nature of his work (entertaining with viral videos) compared to his past as a journalist. He highlighted the role of therapy and accepting an “imperfect process” while striving for progress. His “North Star” is consistent progress, achieved by setting goals, hitting milestones, and simplifying life.

Mr. Sabatinelli strongly advised against delaying product launches due to fear of imperfection. He recounted a founder’s hesitation at Web Summit Lisbon 2025 and offered direct advice: “Shut up and ship it.” Launching a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is crucial to test demand and gather essential user feedback, which is invaluable for iterative improvement. Waiting for perfection wastes time and prevents crucial learning.