SAYU's Transition to Founder Mode: Why We're Shifting Gears

At SAYU, we've always aimed for excellence—whether it's delivering beautifully crafted websites or working towards our larger goal of creating immersive, narrative-driven games. With that in mind, we're making a significant shift in how we operate. Effective immediately, SAYU is transitioning into Founder Mode. This means that we are removing traditional management layers and directing all decisions and responsibilities back to me, Alan Pham, and the core team.

Inspired by Paul Graham's post.

Why the change? Let's dive into it.

What is Founder Mode?

Founder Mode, a term popularized by Paul Graham, refers to a way of running a company where the founder (me, in this case!) maintains direct involvement in nearly every aspect of the business. Traditionally, as companies grow, they tend to adopt a "Manager Mode," where tasks and decisions are delegated to managers. However, this method often leads to inefficiencies, a loss of vision, and even worse—misalignment with the core values that originally made the company unique.

Many founders, including Brian Chesky of Airbnb, have experienced the pitfalls of following traditional management advice only to find that it strays too far from what made their business special. Instead of relying on layers of managers, Founder Mode keeps the founder deeply involved in both the strategic and day-to-day operations of the company.

Why SAYU is Moving into Founder Mode

1. Preserving Vision and Values
   At SAYU, our vision has always been to "Say All About You," and we believe that the best products deserve to shine brightly. Founder Mode ensures that our core values—design excellence, accessibility, and community-driven innovation—remain intact. With fewer filters between me and our projects, I can ensure that every decision aligns with our mission to deliver custom, elegant solutions that delight our customers.
2. Direct Communication and Faster Execution
   Removing managers from the equation allows for more direct communication. Instead of ideas being filtered through layers of management, the team will now communicate directly with me and each other. This speeds up decision-making and ensures that nothing gets lost in translation. It also gives us the agility to adapt quickly to client needs and market demands—a critical factor in both website design and game development.
3. Quality Over Scale
   One misconception is that as companies grow, they need to adopt more traditional, management-heavy structures to "scale." But at SAYU, we believe that quality should always trump quantity. Founder Mode allows us to stay small, nimble, and focused on producing top-quality work without getting bogged down by bureaucracy. This gives us the flexibility to focus on highly specialized projects, like our upcoming HavenScape game, where creative control is essential.
4. Creative Control and Innovation
   In Founder Mode, I can stay deeply involved in the creative process, which is essential for projects like HavenScape and our future game developments at NorthStar Games Studio. This direct involvement ensures that the narrative storytelling, gameplay mechanics, and overall feel of our games align with the vision that inspired them in the first place. Creativity thrives when the core vision isn't compromised by layers of management, and Founder Mode allows us to protect that vision.
5. Building a Strong Core Team
   Founder Mode doesn't mean doing everything alone—it means building a strong, core team that shares the same passion and vision. By focusing on a smaller, tight-knit group, we can operate with the efficiency of a startup, even as we take on more complex projects. This also allows for better mentorship and growth within the team, as I'm directly involved in guiding and supporting each member's contributions.

The Challenges and How We Plan to Tackle Them

Of course, there are challenges in running a company in Founder Mode. One of the biggest is scaling without losing quality. Founder Mode requires careful delegation while still maintaining oversight, which can be tricky as the business grows. However, we're confident that by focusing on trust, communication, and transparency, we can manage this balance effectively. Additionally, as we continue to work on specialized projects like indiegamesvn.com, we can refine our processes without sacrificing creativity or quality.

The Future of SAYU in Founder Mode

By adopting Founder Mode, SAYU is doubling down on what we do best—creating custom, high-quality solutions that align with our clients' needs and our internal vision. Whether it's building a stunning website or crafting a compelling game narrative, this shift ensures that we stay true to our mission while also remaining flexible and innovative.

In a world where businesses are often told to "scale or die," we're choosing a different path—one where vision, quality, and personal involvement come first. With Founder Mode, we're ensuring that SAYU remains a studio where creativity thrives and every project gets the attention it deserves.

Stay tuned for exciting updates as we continue this journey!

Alan Pham
Founder & Creative Director
SAYU Studio

If you have any questions or want to collaborate, feel free to reach out! We're always excited to work with like-minded entrepreneurs and creators.