Every startup has competition. If it doesn't have competition, then one of two things are true: They are attacking a market/problem that is too hard to attack. They are not really defining the solution broadly enough to include competitors. It is not always obvious that certain competitors are actually competitors. But willing to look at the market holistically is a key talent for any founder, analyst, or startup marketing professional. This class shows how to look at a competitive landscape and understand where a startup fits into that market segment.

1. Analyst Training: Analyzing a
Competitive Landscape in the Startup
World
AN INNOVATIVE AND DYNAMIC APPROACH TO VENTURE CAPITAL AND INCUBATION

2. “We have no competitors. What
we are doing is so unique it has
never been done before.” – An actual line
used by the founder of a now defunct startup that pitched WV, 2 years
ago

3. Defining Competition
• Same End Customer Spending the Same Dollars
• Tangential Enterprise that Will Need to Pivot
• Opportunities for the same mind share or eyeballs

4. How Do I Find the Competition?
• Google!!!!
• Ask your friends what they use to solve the problem today
• Ask customers of the startup what they used before
• Ask other investors
• Listen to other pitches and use your forward-looking-glasses

5. What Happens When a Startup Doesn’t
Understand the Competitive Landscape
• Doesn’t really understand the real opportunity
• Probably isn’t thinking big enough
• Will make poor strategic decisions
• Almost always ends in failure
• Simply put, the largest non-fundraising mistake any startup will make

6. If you are interested or know someone interested in the Wasabi
Ventures Academy, email wvacademy@wasabiventures.com