1 YOU BUILD SOMETHING PEOPLE WANT
2 YOU FIND A WAY TO REACH THESE PEOPLE
3 YOU CAN KEEP SOME OF THE MONEY
The most important task at first is to
build something people want. If you
don't do that, it won't matter how
clever your business model is.
- Paul Graham
I
*must*
Have
it!
Not
even
if you
pay me
DANGER ZONE
PAY WITH MONEY
PAY WITH TIME
PAY WITH REPUTATION
If you pay me… If it’s free…
FLIRT
DATE
IN-RELATIONSHIP
ENGAGED
MARRIED
QUALITATIVELY
1. Face-to-face with
potential
customers.
2. Surveys
3. Investors, Partners,
Domain Experts
DEMAND SIZE
1. Email Open / Click
Rate
2. Facebook or
Google Ads
3. Regional
marketing
CONVERSION
1. How many visit?
2. How many scroll /
click?
3. How many enter
their email to be
notified?
How would you feel if you could no longer use this
product?
a) Very disappointed
b) Somewhat disappointed
c) Not disappointed
d) N/A
• CONFIRMATION BIAS IS THE ENEMY
• RATIONALIZE AWAY PROBLEMS LIKE:
• “WE DIDN’T DO A GOOD JOB EXPLAINING”
• “IT WASN’T THE RIGHT TIME OF THE YEAR”
• “IT DIDN’T WORK BECAUSE THE NAME/LOGO/UI”
• INVEST MORE THAN YOU SHOULD
• AVOID COMMITING TO A PATH TO KEEP THE “OPTIONS OPEN”
• BELIEVE THIS IS YOUR LAST GOOD/BIG IDEA
• “MAKE MORE MONEY” > “SAVE MONEY”
• GIVE THE PERSON (USER/BUYER) A SUPERPOWER THEY
DIDN’T HAVE BEFORE
• DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE SEVEN CAPITAL SINS
• 100 PASSIONATE USERS > 1,000 SO-SO USERS
• YOUR PRODUCT HAS TO BE YOUR BEST MARKETING TOOL
• STRATEGY BEATS EXECUTION. PRODUCT BEATS STRATEGY.
CULTURE BEATS ALL.
• ACT FAST. NO, FASTER!
Validating your early stage idea

Validating your early stage idea

  • 3.
    1 YOU BUILDSOMETHING PEOPLE WANT 2 YOU FIND A WAY TO REACH THESE PEOPLE 3 YOU CAN KEEP SOME OF THE MONEY
  • 4.
    The most importanttask at first is to build something people want. If you don't do that, it won't matter how clever your business model is. - Paul Graham
  • 5.
    I *must* Have it! Not even if you pay me DANGERZONE PAY WITH MONEY PAY WITH TIME PAY WITH REPUTATION If you pay me… If it’s free…
  • 7.
  • 9.
    QUALITATIVELY 1. Face-to-face with potential customers. 2.Surveys 3. Investors, Partners, Domain Experts DEMAND SIZE 1. Email Open / Click Rate 2. Facebook or Google Ads 3. Regional marketing CONVERSION 1. How many visit? 2. How many scroll / click? 3. How many enter their email to be notified?
  • 10.
    How would youfeel if you could no longer use this product? a) Very disappointed b) Somewhat disappointed c) Not disappointed d) N/A
  • 12.
    • CONFIRMATION BIASIS THE ENEMY • RATIONALIZE AWAY PROBLEMS LIKE: • “WE DIDN’T DO A GOOD JOB EXPLAINING” • “IT WASN’T THE RIGHT TIME OF THE YEAR” • “IT DIDN’T WORK BECAUSE THE NAME/LOGO/UI” • INVEST MORE THAN YOU SHOULD • AVOID COMMITING TO A PATH TO KEEP THE “OPTIONS OPEN” • BELIEVE THIS IS YOUR LAST GOOD/BIG IDEA
  • 14.
    • “MAKE MOREMONEY” > “SAVE MONEY” • GIVE THE PERSON (USER/BUYER) A SUPERPOWER THEY DIDN’T HAVE BEFORE • DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE SEVEN CAPITAL SINS • 100 PASSIONATE USERS > 1,000 SO-SO USERS • YOUR PRODUCT HAS TO BE YOUR BEST MARKETING TOOL • STRATEGY BEATS EXECUTION. PRODUCT BEATS STRATEGY. CULTURE BEATS ALL. • ACT FAST. NO, FASTER!