They say that “change is the only constant,” and that seems to be a truism in Silicon Valley.

The Valley’s ecosystem changes and evolves constantly. I started my career back in the early days of Sun Microsystems when the Valley giants were Intel and Hewlett-Packard. Today, I run a software startup and the giants of yesteryear have given way to Facebook and Google. Nearly 25 years ago, we were just being introduced to the World Wide Web and software was delivered to the masses via CD-ROMs and floppy disks. Today, we see the widespread adoption of technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

With ever-increasing pressure on CEOs to move quickly, keeping up is mandatory. The startup world has, for decades, moved fast. But now in our always-on, constantly connected world, it’s moving even faster. Whether you are starting a brand new venture or you are a seasoned CEO with many startups under your belt, here are some insights and tips for startup leaders in 2018:

1. Don’t Become Global — Start Global

The global economy is not going away. Our economies, supply chains and workforces are only becoming more intertwined with little respect to borders. As such, CEOs can and should create a global business at a company’s inception rather than focusing most, if not all, efforts on the United States. There are promising markets in Europe, Asia, Latin America and other regions. Be coordinated and diligent in going global at the outset. With such a large concentration of companies in Silicon Valley, it’s important to spread tech companies out beyond the Valley so as not to limit startup momentum and potential growth. Startups should explore the possibilities of other innovation clusters such as Tech City UK, Paris-Saclay, Israel, Bangalore and Beijing. Sales are often easier to close away from the hyper-competitive tech centers in the U.S.

2. Experience Is Back In Vogue In Silicon Valley

Don’t discount being an experienced CEO or bringing one on to lead your company. In an industry all-too-frequently stereotyped by the hoodie-wearing tech CEO, there is a resurgence of the experienced leader throughout Silicon Valley. While innovation will always come from all types of backgrounds, companies and VCs are recognizing the value of having leadership teams in place with proven track records in the industry — both from a technical and a business perspective — and that can make consistently measured decisions based on that experience.

3. Make Integrity A Central Talking Point