A “build it and they will come” approach skips over work that’s essential for any startup. Distilling your brand strategy, sharpening your value prop, listening to your target customer on why they are hiring you, and then clarifying how you’ll communicate all of that back to your customer is foundational — not optional. Great Startups Deserve Great Brands — Build a Strong Foundation by Avoiding These Mistakes by First Round Capital
Geometry Venture Development | Angel Investment Fund’s Post
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All the buzz about “building your brand” is actually a call to building people! Until you realize this, you will find it really difficult to actually build a thriving brand The first test of a product that would last is how well it appeals to the need of people I heard Grace Olayinka once say that the reason many startups fail is because their products are not exactly solving any real problems (that is, problems that actually appeals to people) I know we all want the money but if you are looking to build to last, focus more on people and the money will come! 😅 #mondaynuggets #productmanagement #day13ofwriting #15daysofwritingwithodunola #linkedinforcreators
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❎ Is marketing irrelevant to early-stage startups? I recently saw this image posted by Philippe V., where he pointed out how rare it is for startups to hire marketing personnel initially. A challenge is still to this day for most startups to properly calculate the value of marketing. Visibility or brand recognition are excellent, but founders then wonder if it brings in revenues, and if is it relevant to their investors? We have grown sizeable with DueDash by putting time and energy into marketing. Might it be events or content? As I'm the CMO, we have a marketing-oriented person in the founding team, and one of our first ten team members is marketing-focused. What about your startup? Is there a founding team member with extensive marketing knowledge on your team or do you have a marketing team member in your first ten team members? #startups #marketing #team
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Founder and CEO of Acquire.com. Acquire.com has helped 100s of startups get acquired and facilitated $500m+ in closed deals.
Your competition can’t copy your startups: - Speed - Culture - Execution - Vision - Story - Team - Brand So focus on those things.
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Tailored Tech Beats Standard | Sustainable & Cost-Effective tailormade Business Software Solutions | CEO at InnoGE GmbH
Have you ever felt sick hearing about startups that seem perfect? 🤢 They have lots of money and fancy websites. You see them in great newsletters and on ProductHunt. Meanwhile, I was working hard, feeling dumb as I tried to make my product fit the market and struggled to manage quick growth. 🚀 But here's the thing: Those 'perfect' companies? They're good at looking good. They tell a nice story afterward because the real story isn’t so pretty. The truth is that starting a business is chaotic. Trying to succeed is like walking through a field of bombs without being able to see. It's hard, uncertain, and even when you think you're doing it right... maybe you’re not. 💥 So, when someone tells you a startup is doing amazingly well without any problems, please don’t believe it so easily. 🧂
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Co-founder, ED | Ascend School of Construction Business | Godrej | NICMAR | Liverpool Business School
When your friends tell you that they want to start a business, don't just ask about their idea, vision and long term goal. Ask these questions as well: 1. What is your plan for distribution? 2. What is your plan for marketing? 3. What makes you think your TAM will accept your product/service? 4. How do you plan on hiring resources for the core team? It helps the founder, think twice before starting the execution of the startup. It also helps them to think whether they are ready or not. I have seen quite often, that founders are not being asked these questions unless they go in front of an investor. If these are asked by friends and well-wishers, the % of failed startups within 1 year of its existence will surely drop down.
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Freelance SEO Writer | Helping Startups Scale with Targeted Content | Writer for B2B, SaaS and IT Companies
Have you ever wondered why some startups succeed while others fail? It's not just about having a great idea or a talented team. It's about knowing how to market yourself and your product. Personal branding is crucial in today's competitive landscape. It helps you stand out from the crowd, build credibility, and attract investors and customers. So, if you're a startup founder who wants to make an impact, start investing in your personal brand today. It could be the key to your success. #StartupSuccess #IdeasToImpact #TalentAndBeyond #MarketingWisdom #PersonalBranding #StandOutInCrowd #CredibilityMatters #InvestInYourBrand #FounderJourney #SuccessKey
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𝟰𝟬 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗬 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 A great questionnaire before investing in a startup. Many founders have perfected the art of pitching. They can storytell like a pro. They can create slides like a pro. They can also hide secrets like a pro. So you need to unravel the truth by asking questions like a pro. ❓ Ask them: “Who can you help first?” This gives you insight into their ability to focus on the right target segment. ❓ Ask them: “How often do they have the problem?” This lets you know if they truly understand their user’s pain points. ❓ Ask them: “What metric will improve with this feature?” This tells you if they know how to measure the impact of every feature they build. ❓ Ask them: “How long is your product development cycle?” Try to see if they have a realistic answer or a farfetched one. This can save you from the headache of falling for an overpromising pitch. Image sourced from Oren Greenberg’s post in the context of joining a startup 👉 https://lnkd.in/gM-vdamn #investing #venturecapital #strategy #innovation #technology #startups 🔔 Curated content for investors - trends, insights, and resources.
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Co-Founder and Wordsmith at Bebop APAC | Storyteller for brands and individuals | Avid video gamer | English-to-English translator
Useful checklist to refer to!
𝟰𝟬 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗬 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 A great questionnaire before investing in a startup. Many founders have perfected the art of pitching. They can storytell like a pro. They can create slides like a pro. They can also hide secrets like a pro. So you need to unravel the truth by asking questions like a pro. ❓ Ask them: “Who can you help first?” This gives you insight into their ability to focus on the right target segment. ❓ Ask them: “How often do they have the problem?” This lets you know if they truly understand their user’s pain points. ❓ Ask them: “What metric will improve with this feature?” This tells you if they know how to measure the impact of every feature they build. ❓ Ask them: “How long is your product development cycle?” Try to see if they have a realistic answer or a farfetched one. This can save you from the headache of falling for an overpromising pitch. Image sourced from Oren Greenberg’s post in the context of joining a startup 👉 https://lnkd.in/gM-vdamn #investing #venturecapital #strategy #innovation #technology #startups 🔔 Curated content for investors - trends, insights, and resources.
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Director of Engineering & Technology | Expert in Building High-Performing Teams, Deploying Scalable Cloud Solutions & Architecting IP-Led Transformation Models
Ever wondered why some startups succeed while others don't? It's not about the latest tools, or the most revolutionary ideas. It's about the team behind it all. 💪 The most successful startups have a team that hustles, communicates effectively, and is driven by a shared vision. They understand the market they operate in, and they’re aware of their strengths as well as their weaknesses. They are resilient in the face of adversity and adaptable to changes. These startup teams are ready to pivot when necessary, persisting through rough patches and celebrating victories together. So before you focus too much on business strategies or marketing tactics, make sure you've got your team in place - a group of people who believe in your mission and are ready to bring it to life. Because at the end of the day, no matter how great your idea is - it's people who turn dreams into reality.
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Bestselling Author, Award Winning Thought Leader, Sustainable Operations Management for Small Businesses
Starting a startup? Processes are your roadmap. 🗺️ Document them before hiring. Clear guidance helps your team navigate challenges confidently and master tasks. Build bulletproof processes for success! Let's connect! Visit this link: https://iamkumarv.com/ #startuplife #processdriven #startupgrowth
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Source: https://review.firstround.com/how-to-build-an-iconic-brand-without-breaking-the-bank/