Shattering the Illusion: Understanding Investors in the Real World
As an aspiring entrepreneur in the early stages of my career, I held investors and high-level decision-makers in awe. They seemed like vaulted individuals, almost like royalty, wielding power that could significantly impact the lives of many, including my own.
But as I gained more experience and knowledge, I realized that my perception was flawed. Investors, executives, and other key players weren't all-knowing and invincible as I once believed. They were still navigating the complexities of the business world, just like the rest of us.
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Scaling a Tech Startup: A Journey from $10M to $100M in Revenue
In September 2013, I took a moment to capture an image of our brand new offices - the latest symbol of our growth at Vision Critical. As I took in the sleek, modern surroundings, I reflected on how far we'd come since I first joined the company in mid-2009.
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The Key to Startup Success: Scaling Yourself
As a CEO or a member of a high-growth startup, you wear multiple hats and shoulder various responsibilities.
However, as your company expands and more team members come on board, it becomes crucial to distribute these responsibilities effectively.
In this article, we'll explore the concept of scaling yourself and provide a practical method, known as L.E.A.D., to help you identify tasks that can be delegated, eliminated, or automated. By implementing these strategies, you can focus on high-value activities and propel your startup towards success.
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Influencer Marketing Masterstroke: Zero Ad-Spend, 100% Growth
Is it possible to create a thriving business solely through the power of influencer marketing? That's the question we set out to crack when we embarked on the adventure of building our first venture with a 3PL partner - a vibrant e-commerce brand, rooted in plant power and dedicated to the wellness of women aged 25-55.
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Navigating the Downturn: Raising Funds, Building Companies, and Solving Critical Problems
In the turbulent seas of economic downturns, raising funds and building early-stage companies can seem like a Herculean task.
However, with focused efforts and a strategic approach, entrepreneurs can indeed turn adversity into opportunity. The key lies in identifying mission-critical problems, achieving product-market fit, and driving towards profitability.
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Optimizing Your Marketing Team Structure: A Guide for Sub-$25M SaaS Companies
What is the optimal configuration for a marketing team in a SaaS company with less than $25M/year in revenue?
I had an enlightening discussion with a friend who oversees marketing for a $5M/ARR startup supported by venture capital. His marketing team consists of four members, and he's grappling with the decision of what to handle internally versus what to outsource.
While I'm not a traditional marketer, my experience in building and operating various companies has provided me with valuable insights about the essential human elements within an organization and the functions that are more about execution than in-house intellectual capacity.
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Captivating Your Audience: The Magic Formula
What does it mean to captivate an audience?
In the realm of business, especially when working with early-stage companies developing their go-to-market strategies, we've been focusing on identifying and captivating our target audience. Here, a captivated audience is one that is deeply engaged, attentive, and receptive to your value proposition. But how do we achieve this? It can be distilled into a simple formula:
Mission Critical Problem + No-Brainer Solution = Captivated Audience
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Mastering Growth Logistics: Key Strategies for Sustainable Profit
As a startup growth advisor, I've come to realize the crucial importance of logistics in achieving sustainable growth and success.
While many individuals focus on strategy and tactics, it is the professionals who truly understand the significance of logistics.
Drawing from my extensive experience of over 30 years in Operations for high-growth tech companies, I have consistently encountered the challenge of transforming strategy and assumed tactics into repeatable, predictable actions that can scale effectively.
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Defining the Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy
In the realm of startup growth, establishing a solid Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy is vital.
Recently, Amrita Mathur, an exceptional marketer, raised an intriguing question on LinkedIn: What exactly constitutes a GTM strategy?
Is it the campaign and channel strategy, pricing plan, target customer persona, sector, and regions, branding, messaging, and positioning, sales approach and enablement, customer acquisition and retention strategy, talent roadmap, product roadmap, or revenue plan?
The answer is quite simple—it encompasses all of these elements.
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Finding Confidence in Execution: Unveiling the Secrets of a Defensible Go-To-Market Strategy
It has been three long years since I last stepped foot on that stage. I thought I had it all under control, but as I stood behind the podium, a rush of uncertainty and nerves washed over me, just like it did the first time.
I had forgotten how to synchronize my thoughts with the content, how to effortlessly switch slides with the pointer, and even the arc of the narrative I was trying to share escaped my grasp.
Thankfully, my wife Tas came to my rescue. She suggested that I practice the presentation the night before, but the exhaustion from putting our little ones to bed took its toll on me.
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