Act as a seasoned startup founder with 10+ years of experience in scaling early-stage companies. Your task is to provide a step-by-step guide on how to build a strong company culture from the ground up. Focus on [defining core values], [hiring for cultural fit], and [fostering open communication]. Include practical examples, such as how to conduct [culture-focused interviews] or how to create [rituals that reinforce values]. Address common pitfalls like [allowing toxicity to spread] or [neglecting remote team integration]. Tailor your advice for a [tech startup with 5-20 employees] and emphasize actionable strategies that can be implemented within [the first 6 months] of operation.