# Michael Dell's Startup Advice

> Dell founder warns startup CEOs: Never ask strangers if your idea is good.
- Title: Michael Dell's Startup Advice · Indiatimes | Shortify
- Summary: Dell founder warns startup CEOs: Never ask strangers if your idea is good. Michael Dell advises startup CEOs not to seek others' opinions on business ideas…
- Keywords: michael dell, startup ceo, business advice, dell computers, dell technologies, fortune 500, risk taking, computers, startup, india, Indiatimes
- Source: Indiatimes — https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/michael-dell-who-started-dell-computers-from-a-dorm-and-has-made-it-a-300-billion-plus-company-has-an-advice-for-startup-ceos-it-is-never-a-good-idea-to-tell-anyone-/articleshow/135706513.cms
- Author: TOI Tech Desk
- Published: 2026-11-10T09:37:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: michael dell, startup ceo, business advice, dell computers, dell technologies, fortune 500, risk taking, ai, computers, startup, india, news
## Michael Dell's Startup Advice
Michael Dell, who started Dell Computers from a dorm and has made it a $300 billion-plus company, has an advice for startup CEOs: It is never a good idea to tell anyone.

> If you want to really make it big, you better come up with something unique. It better be differentiated, that nobody else is doing.
## Dell's Early Career
Michael Dell took up pre-med at the University of Texas in 1983 and sold Houston Post subscriptions for $18,000 in one year.
## Dell's First Business
At age 19, Michael Dell sold computer upgrade kits to students in his dorm for $1,000 to start Dell Technologies.
## Dell's Risk-Taking Approach
Dell says risk-taking has been his greatest advantage in business, with big companies avoiding risks.
## Dell's Manufacturing Team
Dell's early team consisted of three people with screwdrivers at six-foot tables.
## Dell's Early Success
By age 27, Michael Dell became the youngest Fortune 500 CEO in 1992 and Dell became the world's largest personal-computer maker by 2001.
## Dell's Risk Philosophy
Dell states big companies focus on risk reduction, while he embraces risk for innovation.
## Dell's R&D Investment
Dell invests billions in research and development with hundreds of projects that don't all work out.
## Dell's Advice on Ideas
Dell advises startup CEOs not to ask others if their idea is good, as most people will say no.
## Dell's Quote on Risk
Dell says: 'If you don't have risk, you don't have innovation.'

> If you don't have risk, you don't have innovation.
## Dell's Risk Management
Dell's company promotes risk innovation through internal projects and research.
## Dell's Business Impact
Dell's risk-taking approach helped build a $300 billion-plus company from a dorm.
## Dell's Advice on Innovation
Dell says: 'You have to embrace risk, and you have to accept failure.'

> You have to embrace risk, and you have to accept failure.
## Dell's Risk Culture
Dell's company encourages risk-taking with hundreds of projects that may fail.
## Dell's Business Philosophy
Dell believes unique ideas that are differentiated are the key to business success.
## Dell's Final Advice
Dell advises startup CEOs to trust their gut instincts for business ideas rather than seeking others' opinions.
## Key takeaway

Michael Dell advises startup CEOs not to seek others' opinions on business ideas, saying most people will reject them.