Startup Systems
systems that power startups
Startup Systems
The only reason you need venture capital is if (a) the technology is too expensive and you cannot self-fund it or (b) your product is going to catch fire too quickly. If done correctly, crossing the chasm should be inexpensive. Strive for cash-flow-positive and aim to change the value state of your company to attract investors and avoid constant... See more
Lenny Rachitsky • Geoffrey Moore on finding your beachhead, crossing the chasm, and dominating a market
Secular-to-secular swaps create marketplaces like Airbnb and Amazon. Money is exchanged for goods and services.
Secular-to-sacred swaps are most prominent via self-expression—everything from cosmetics in Fortnite to luxury goods from LVMH. Money is exchanged for subjective levels of social signaling.
Sacred-to-sacred swaps describe most... See more
Secular-to-sacred swaps are most prominent via self-expression—everything from cosmetics in Fortnite to luxury goods from LVMH. Money is exchanged for subjective levels of social signaling.
Sacred-to-sacred swaps describe most... See more
Chris Paik • Are You Selling the Secular or Sacred?
Necessary chaos embraces the uncertainty inherent to startups. Here are a few examples:
As growth accelerates and larger teams are needed, people stretch into new roles, teams scale and split, and new processes are formed.
After a promising call with a potential new customer, the product roadmap is re-prioritized to incorporate features that will... See more
As growth accelerates and larger teams are needed, people stretch into new roles, teams scale and split, and new processes are formed.
After a promising call with a potential new customer, the product roadmap is re-prioritized to incorporate features that will... See more
Jean Hsu • Does Your Startup Feel Chaotic? Good.
Startups will have “we’re amazing” moments and they will also have “we’re crashing” moments. In order to weather those storms, you need high levels of trust.
Build Your Culture Like a Product — Lessons from Asana’s Head of People
From Tiago Forte of Building A Second Brain-- We have spent most of our lives in the Attention Era. Our attention today is clearly the most scarce, valuable resource we have, which means we feel the need to capitalize on every bit of attention available, which often means filling almost every minute of the day with information consumption. Even
... See moreUnnecessary versus necessary chaos
In my 13 years working at startups, I’ve witnessed many examples of unnecessary chaos—here are a few.
A major release has been planned for months, but launch communications—new positioning, website copy, customer email, blog post—are reviewed at the last minute.
A manager reschedules 1:1s every week because of... See more
In my 13 years working at startups, I’ve witnessed many examples of unnecessary chaos—here are a few.
A major release has been planned for months, but launch communications—new positioning, website copy, customer email, blog post—are reviewed at the last minute.
A manager reschedules 1:1s every week because of... See more
Jean Hsu • Does Your Startup Feel Chaotic? Good.
"I've noticed three main things holding people back from being more productive and achieving their goals.
They resist creating processes for themselves: This might be baggage from the past where processes were used to control and subjugate them. But processes chosen and designed by YOU can become liberating.
They resist making decisions: Most
