What do Gmail and Slack have in common beyond being among the most loved and used apps in the world? Both were created with a focus on just three key features, which the companies sought to perfect beyond all. Paul Buchheit, who led the development of Gmail, famously wrote about his team focusing on just the ability to search, threaded conversations, and large storage. Similarly, Stewart Butterfield recounts how Slack’s big three features were the ability to search conversations, seamless synchronization, and simple file sharing. In this article, I’ll explain why focusing on just two or three key features is vital to building a meaningfully differentiated and valuable product.
Sergio Paluch
How to find an idea for your next startup
People say that ideas are a dime a dozen in startup land, but many aspiring tech entrepreneurs struggle with finding a worthy one to pursue. What makes things even more difficult is that it’s often difficult to tell a good idea apart from a bad one. Even the world’s best investors who see thousands of products per year pass on startups that end up being category defining tech companies and invest in others that have little merit. Fortunately, there are a few places from whence one can draw inspiration.
What Is Product-Market Fit and How to Find It?
Confused about what is product-market fit? Not sure if or when you have product-market fit? Befuddled about how to “find” product-market fit? Awesome, we got you! This guide describes, in plain English and pictures, what is product-market fit, how to measure it, and how to create stronger product-market it. Read to dive in? Let’s do … more
Get out there! Grow your startup with event marketing
As I wrote before, the best thing that the founders of an early-stage startup can do is talk to people. Speaking to potential customers in person has an enormous advantage over other forms of marketing in that you are able to immediately receive their verbal and emotional reaction to your pitch, product, and important details that can set your startup apart from the competition. Events can be a phenomenal forum to speak to your target audience, promote your startup, and engage with your customers.
Getting your startup covered by the media
You don’t need a multi-million dollar marketing budget to get your startup covered in media, and doing so can be rocket fuel for your growth. Take Warby Parker, the billion-dollar direct-to-consumer eyeglass company, that got covered by both GQ and Vogue right before their launch. The exposure they got from being covered in two leading fashion magazines catapulted them to unicorn land. However, it’s exceedingly unlikely that you can get a world-class media outlet like Vogue or GQ to cover your startup simply by pitching your story. Instead, you’ll need to work your way up to world-class exposure.