Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on the 'Hardest test' he has ever faced
Amazon
founder
Jeff Bezos
said that raising the company's first $1 million was the hardest thing he had ever done. Speaking at The New York Times DealBook Summit in December 2024 with moderator Andrew Ross Sorkin, Bezos recalled that in 1995, to raise the first $1 million in seed funding for Amazon, he sold 20% of the company at a $5 million valuation to 22 angel investors, each contributing around $50,000. It took him about 60 pitches to secure those investments. At the time, many potential investors did not even know what the Internet was, Bezos said. He added that he warned them that there was a 70% chance they would lose their money. "If those 22 had said no," he said, "none of this would exist."
Bezos said the early struggle shaped Amazon's culture of persistence. 'Conviction matters', explaining that overcoming skepticism in the beginning was crucial.
Amazon was founded by Bezos in 1994. He started the company in a garage in Seattle, Washington, originally selling books online. Over time, Amazon expanded into other areas like cloud computing, streaming, groceries, and artificial intelligence.
The early gamble turned out to be very successful. Today, Amazon's market value is close to $1.99 trillion, according to TradingEconomics. If the original 20% stake had not been diluted over time, it would be worth about $400 billion today. A single $50,000 investment from 1995 would now be worth around $18 billion.
Jeff Bezos shares advice for founders
Bezos also spoke about how founders often "overestimate risks and underestimate opportunities." He said he tries to think differently by focusing more on the possibilities than the dangers. What appears as confidence, he explained, is actually "compensating for that human bias." He added that thinking small leads to small results because it becomes a "self-fulfilling prophecy."
Amazon founder on Trump's second term
During the conversation, Bezos also talked about
Donald Trump
's second term as US president. He said that lighter regulations could boost business activity and suggested that Washington should focus on controlling spending while encouraging faster economic growth. He said the goal should be to grow the economy by 3% to 5% each year, so the national debt grows more slowly than the economy itself.
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Product Rating Price boAt Bassheads 900 Pro Wired Headphones with 40Mm Drivers, Lightweight Foldable Design, Over Ear, Remote Control, Unidirectional Retractable Mic, Adjustable Headband & USB Type-A Compatibility(Black) View Details boAt Rockerz 550/Rockerz 558 Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones with Upto 20 Hours Playback, 50MM Drivers, Soft Padded Ear Cushions and Physical Noise Isolation(Black) View Details Boat Rockerz 450, 15 HRS Battery, 40mm Drivers, Padded Ear Cushions, Integrated Controls, Dual Modes, Bluetooth Headphones, Wireless Headphone with Mic (Aqua Blue) View Details Boat Rockerz 450/450R, 15 HRS Battery, 40mm Drivers, Padded Ear Cushions, Integrated Controls, Dual Modes, Bluetooth Headphones, Wireless Headphone with Mic (Luscious Black) View Details boAt Rockerz 450 Pro Bluetooth On Ear Headphones with Mic with 70 Hours Battery, 40Mm Drivers, Bluetooth V5.0 Padded Ear Cushions, Easy Access Controls and Voice Assistant(Luscious Black) View Details View More boAt headphones come with active noise cancelling, deep bass, clear sound, and strong battery backup, so you can enjoy your music without breaks or distractions. 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Playback Time Up to 30 hours Drivers 40mm high-fidelity Latency Dedicated BEAST Mode for low latency Connectivity Bluetooth v5.2 with USB Type-C charging Technology ENx for noise-free calls, Dual Device Pairing Long battery life supports extended use Seamless multitasking with dual pairing No active noise cancellation, only ENx for calls Slightly bulky design for some users What are buyers saying on Amazon? Buyers praise sound and value but report mixed functionality, with many experiencing irregular power-offs and product malfunctions. You should choose this product because it offers solid sound, long battery, and multitasking ease at a budget-friendly price. boAt offers both passive and active noise cancellation (ANC) in many of its headphones. Models with ANC help cut down background noise like traffic, chatter, or fans, making them ideal for work or travel. 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Sound Quality: Check if the headphones offer balanced audio with good bass, clear vocals, and crisp highs—especially if you love music or binge-watching shows. Noise Cancellation: Look for active noise cancelling (ANC) if you want to block background noise during travel, work, or study sessions. Battery Life: Consider models with longer playback time (20–40 hours) and fast charging support for uninterrupted use. Comfort and Fit: Choose between over-ear, on-ear, or in-ear styles based on comfort. Soft ear cushions and adjustable headbands are a plus. Connectivity and Controls: Make sure the headphones support Bluetooth 5.0 or higher for stable connection. Built-in controls and voice assistant support are useful. Budget and Features: Set a price range and see which features matter most, ANC, dual pairing, water resistance, or gaming mode, then pick the best fit. Best boAt headphones Driver Size Battery Backup Connectivity boAt Bassheads 900 Pro Wired 40mm Up to 15 hours Wired boAt Rockerz 550/Rockerz 558 50mm Up to 20 hours Bluetooth boAt Rockerz 450 (Aqua Blue) 40mm Up to 15 hours Bluetooth, AUX boAt Rockerz 450/450R (Luscious Black) 40mm Up to 15 hours Bluetooth, AUX boAt Rockerz 450 Pro (Luscious Black) 40mm Up to 70 hours Bluetooth v5.0 boAt Rockerz 480 (Black Sabre) 40mm Up to 60 hours Bluetooth v5.3 boAt Rockerz 425 (Active Black) 40mm Up to 25 hours Bluetooth v5.2 boAt Rockerz 650 Pro (Iris Black) 40mm Up to 80 hours Bluetooth, Dual Pair boAt Rockerz 430 (Black Sabre) 40mm Up to 40 hours Bluetooth v5.4 boAt Rockerz 460 (Crimson White) 40mm Up to 30 hours Bluetooth v5.2 Disclaimer: Mint has an affiliate marketing partnership, which means we may get some commission on purchases you make through the retailer sites links provided. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, which is free from any bias or marketing pitch. We strive to provide accurate and unbiased information to help you make informed decisions. We recommend verifying details with the retailer before making a purchase.
