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
At a big company, you're trained to get it right and get it out. You can’t risk experimenting on your customer base. When you're at a small company, you don't have any product-market fit, so you have to get it out, then get it right.
How to Scale Yourself Down
The demands of a startup are dizzying. To anchor yourself, you must schedule time to write things down.
The 100 Best Bits of Advice From 10 Years of First Round Review
Unnecessary 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.
“Why didn’t they simply do the perfect thing on the first attempt?”
The short answer is: that’s not how this works. Things are not linear or clean. We can only asymptote towards perfection through trial and error.
The short answer is: that’s not how this works. Things are not linear or clean. We can only asymptote towards perfection through trial and error.
Packy McCormick • The Experimentation Layer
“Most product and marketing teams are built to create or expand the core value provided to customers. Growth is connecting more people to the existing value.” —Casey Winters (ex Eventbrite, Pinterest)
Superhuman
...in order to understand how to get a yes, we first need to grasp why people typically say no.
The main reason says Kao, is that people don't see how the idea you're proposing is beneficial to them. She's right.
At least on some level, we're all selfish.
The solution is to present your request in a way that shows the benefit the other party will
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 more