Mark Cuban Says Kamala Harris Is the Only Candidate in ‘Founder’s Mode’

The “Shark Tank” star made the announcement Thursday in an X post, referencing the term coined by Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham.

Graham published a cover essay on the subject on Sunday, contrasting the hands-on approach of founders with the delegative nature of managers.

“Hire good people and give them the space to do their jobs. Sounds great when you put it that way, doesn’t it? Except in practice, judging by founders’ accounts, it often turns out to mean: hire professional frauds and let them run the company into the ground,” Graham wrote in his essay.

Graham’s essay did not specify which business leaders were in “founder mode,” though mention Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky AND the late Apple founder Steve Jobs.

Cuban himself spoke out on the matter Tuesday, saying in an X post that company founders need to be committed to their businesses.

“They need to be self-aware and find people who can offer skills they don’t have and who won’t slow them down,” Cuban wrote.

“Things start to go wrong when you fall into the trap of believing that every new manager you hire is some kind of magic weapon, and that’s it. If the founder or the founding team is not a magic weapon, then it’s going to be a difficult path forward,” he added.

You’re right. Once product market fit is achieved, the founder will be immersed in everything they know needs to be done. It’s a constant race to get the plane in the air

They need to be self-aware and find people who can offer skills they don’t have, and also…

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) September 2, 2024

While “Founder Mode” is more associated with the tech world and Silicon Valley, Cuban believes Harris exemplifies that.

Cuban’s compliment came after an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” in which he commented on Harris’ stance on entrepreneurship.

“She talked more about entrepreneurs and helping them access investment and making it easier for people to invest in startups than any other president I’ve heard talk about startups and entrepreneurs,” Cuban told CNBC host Andrew Ross Sorkin.

Cuban initially supported President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, but after she became the Democratic nominee, he changed his mind and began supporting Harris.

In an interview with CNBC, Cuban said he remains in constant contact with Harris’ team and even offered to serve on her administration if she wins the November election.

“I told her team, ‘Listen, put my name on the SEC,’” Cuban told Sorkin. “That has to change.”

Cuban and the Harris campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent outside business hours.