Steve Avery

🌟 New Product Builder Podcast Episode Alert! 🌟 This week, tune in to hear me chat with the UX expert, Yishay Cohen. The main highlight? The art of balancing user needs with product goals. This episode of Product Builder (available in Hebrew) is packed with insights you won't want to miss. Catch the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. This is a must-listen for anyone looking to boost their UX game (links in the comments)! 🚀🎙️ #ProductManagement #ProductBuilderPodcast #Innovation #UXDesign #ProductLeadership Google for Startups Israel #ProductManagement #ProductBuilderPodcast #Innovation #UXDesign #ProductLeadership

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To any pre-seed / seed founders doing founder-led sales: What sales tools are you using in your journey to PMF? If you're available for a quick call, our eng/product team would love figure out how we can help smoothen out your sales-tech workflow for getting your first 10-100 customers. We've felt the pain on our end and have cobbled together 6+ tools just to find leads and close deals. There's got to be a better approach.

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Yesterday, we hosted Raanan Cohen, Co-Founder and CEO of Bringg, for an insightful Founder Spotlight. He shared his journey, startup lessons, and insights from his book Just a Little Bit More. Link to the recording in the first comment!

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What happened to all the #Forbes #30Under30 led startups from the last 3 years? Are they poised for greater success? Here's my analysis… I went through the Israeli lists from 2021-2023, and mapped out all the startups that had at least one founder noted on the list. 42 startups total: 🎖 8 companies, representing 19% were acquired (awesome work Ran & Eylam among many others). 😥 2 companies, representing 4.7% are inactive. Probably a couple more headed in this direction as the data depicts.  *I will be excluding these companies from the analysis moving forward. Most recurring investors? Samsung Next, Insight Partners, Matias Ventures (nice one Michael!). Deel leads the pack with the most funding to-date, totaling $679M raised. Followed by Remilk with $131M. Funding stage breakdown: ➡ $35M+, 31.25% - 10 Startups ->: Mostly B-Round companies with an occasional A-Round and C-Round. ➡ $15M-$34M, 31.25% - 10 Startups  ->: Mostly A-Round companies with an occasional B-Round and Seed round in there.  ➡ $0-$14M, 37.5% - 12 Startups ->: Mostly Seed companies with an occasional A-Round and a couple of Pre-seeds. Company sizes by headcount: Small (11-34) - 17, 53.1%  Medium (35 - 59) - 5, 15.6% Large (60+) - 10, 31.3% The list is pretty split between small and large companies. A year ago, the medium category would have a greater representation. Fastest growing companies YoY in employees: Vee (Small). Bridgewise (Medium). Humanz (Large).    All growing in high double digits in headcount %. No triple digit growth in the list. Most endured through the 2021-2022 free capital detox and seem to be rebounding at a lower velocity. 📉 46.9% of companies reduced their headcount in the last 12-months. Only 3 companies reduced headcount by over 20%. Any other random sample of decreasing headcount companies would yield higher shrinkage numbers. 📊 12.5% of companies either stayed stale or grew their workforce by up to 10%. 📈 37.5% of companies grew their workforce by 10%-90%+, pretty awesome given the fact some of these are post major firing waves. Latest financing: 25% of the companies disclosed a new funding round in the last 12-months. 21.87% of the companies HAVEN’T disclosed new funding in the last 12-24 months.  The rest haven't disclosed new funding in 24+ months. Final thoughts: 20% M&As is pretty high in any standard. Most companies seem to continue their growth trajectory. And lastly, these Forbes people choose really cool companies 🙂. Get the full list to perform your own analysis here ▶ https://lnkd.in/eRCF5BB8 Want to run your own analysis for any list? Shoot me a DM and let’s schedule a coffee / Zoom meeting! Shout out to my awesome friends on this list - Gila, ‪Aviv, Shir, Alon. Dealigence

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Look! It's 2 leaders in AI companies hosting a Webinar *without* AI in the title! 😉 Excited an honored to share a screen and an hour in the interwebs with the legendary Udi Ledergor 🏳‍🌈 - a true industry pioneer in building category-defining brands, and a founding (Marketing) father of the Gong brand - creating the Revenue Intelligence category through amazing content, unique tone of voice and raving fans. Join us for a fun conversation and helpful tricks on how to create a memorable B2B brand in the noisiest time in Tech, learn about how AI (sorry, had to) can help you maintain a consistent and well-performing tone of voice, and get the scoop on how brand and content can drive real, measurable business results. Register in advance using the link below 🤘

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10 Apps You Need to Know, #9: Apollo Apollo is a handy tool for finding contacts in any industry and location. It lets you create contact lists, download them, or set up email sequences to reach out directly. Similar to the Israeli-founded Lusha tool, but with its own unique features. Makes networking a lot easier, although you can't do much with it for free. Explore it at apollo.io.

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Iterative’s content is among the top global resources for startup founders. Their fundraising advice is particularly valuable: "Fundraising hinges on supply and demand. The best way to optimize your fundraising efforts is to have multiple investors interested in you simultaneously. We recommend a parallel fundraising approach—engage with as many investors as possible at the same time. The key is to maximize investor activity within the shortest period. This strategy creates urgency because (1) it limits information flow among investors and (2) it pressures them to expedite their decision-making. Investors often communicate with each other, which can work against founders. By creating urgency, you narrow the window for these conversations. On the other hand, serial fundraising—talking to one investor at a time—gives investors control over the timeline, reducing urgency. Remember, your goal is to create pressure for investors to make a decision. Serial fundraising is ineffective in achieving this."

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𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸—𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 > Everything Else The right team is a game-changer. Research shows that startups with a strong, cohesive team are 2.9x more likely to grow faster. At Sveston, our team didn’t just work on tasks—they believed in our mission. When people share your vision, you’re not just building a company; you’re building a legacy. 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 In a survey, 42% of failed startups pointed to a lack of market need as the reason they couldn’t succeed. Don’t just build products; solve real problems. Sveston’s foundation was built on listening. Every product iteration was guided by feedback from our customers, who helped shape our direction with what mattered to them most. 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 In today’s competitive landscape, only 1 in 5 consumers will return if they don’t feel they’ve received quality. Sveston didn’t become Pakistan’s largest wristwatch brand by cutting corners; we focused on consistency and reliability. When you prioritize quality, you’re not just selling a product—you’re creating trust, and trust is the foundation of customer loyalty. 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 Did you know that 65% of a company’s revenue comes from repeat customers? One-off campaigns create buzz, but real growth is sustained by building long-term relationships. At Sveston, we focused on customer engagement over one-time outreach, fostering loyalty that drives consistent revenue. Relationships last far beyond a single marketing push. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 Bootstrapping can be the ultimate teacher. Around 77% of successful startups were bootstrapped at some point, which fosters discipline and a lean approach. With Sveston, we learned to grow within our means, proving that you don’t need millions in funding to build something impactful. Bootstrapping can make you hyper-focused on value and resourceful growth. 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 Not every idea scales—knowing when to pivot is key. With DawaWala, we onboarded 50% of Karachi’s pharmacies but hit a roadblock with scaling due to tight margins and regulatory hurdles. Studies show that 30% of startups succeed because they pivot at the right time. Stepping back wasn’t a failure; it was a strategic move that allowed us to focus on projects with clearer growth paths. If I were to build again, I’d stay focused on value, team, and growth through genuine relationships. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱? 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆.

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Pre-seed investments fuel disruption. At QuikLiq, we’ve built a scalable B2B2C SaaS marketplace that bridges the gap between suppliers, distributors, and consumers in the alcohol industry. 📲 By integrating all tiers of the system, we’re not just making it easier for businesses to manage inventory, orders, and marketing – we’re redefining how alcohol is sold and distributed at the local level. 🍷 Now, we’re looking to partner with investors who believe in our vision to disrupt this $450 billion industry. The opportunity is massive, and we’re ready to make waves. Reach out to learn more about our $3Mpre-seed round! #fundraising #investors #SaaSmarketplace #B2B2C #LP #Pitching #AngelInvestors #Ecommerce #PreSeed #LimitedPartners

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While new apps often face the challenge of discovery, even successful ones might struggle to scale up in the iOS ecosystem. In a recent webinar hosted by SplitMetrics, Jonathan Yantz our Managing Partner, Eran Friedman, Co-Founder & CTO at Singular, and Hanna Kachalka, Head of Sales at SplitMetrics shared key strategies for launching and scaling apps, and some of the latest trends in app marketing. Read more if you're launching your first app or looking to take your current one to new heights. https://hubs.li/Q02Sj7xM0 #AppMarketing #iOSAppGrowth #AppDiscovery #MobileMarketing

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Our data shows that managers/execs spend ~3 more hours in meetings/week than ICs. Over the course of the year, that comes out to ~18 days' worth of meetings. Based on my experience as a founder & CEO, here's how ICs can be better prepared for meetings with busy managers. 1. Start with a simple principle: can I accomplish my goal without a meeting? If it's a request for feedback, is this better accomplished by sending over a document for comment? If it's an update, can you send an email or Loom? If you have a non-urgent concern, can you write it up with a proposal for a solution. If you take this approach, make the ask clear, with a deadline, and put both at the top of the message. If you do this before scheduling the meeting, I guarantee you will set yourself apart from your peers. Do not confuse this with: "never schedule a meeting." Sometimes meetings are better! 2. If you need the meeting, make sure you know what the goal of the meeting is and what ask you have of the manager. Meetings serve important purposes, but the meetings that drive people nuts is when they arrive and the person who organized it is hoping that direction will emerge by talking it through. The meeting *must* have a purpose and goal. Even if that purpose is brainstorming or collecting feedback, make sure you identify that purpose so you can set the appropriate goal and context. 3. Invite the right people! Nothing's more frustrating than getting into a meeting and realizing that you don't have the right set of people to accomplish the goal. This takes actual thought: think through the goal (see #2 above) and then think for a few minutes about who is needed to get to that goal — it really only takes a couple minutes. This is an art, not science: don't over-invite, but if you're unsure if you need someone reach out to them and ask for their perspective. Maybe you really do need them, or maybe you can just represent their perspective in the meeting. 4. Prep. Hopefully this goes without saying, but please take the appropriate amount of time to prep the meeting so that the time together is effective. Again, the purpose/goal set in #2 informs how you need to prep. If it's a brain-storm, you should send a doc ahead of time and/or a video recording that sets out the context of the brain-storm; assemble a whiteboard or figjam or miro board to organize; and be prepared to facilitate. If it's a discussion + decision, make sure you send out an overview of the decision that's needed ahead of time, assemble the right materials to put the decision in context, and (this is important!) come with your own proposal on the solution/decision. There are many types of meetings, so take a beat and make sure you're providing the right materials to make the time together successful. I could write so, *so* much more on this. But if you do the above 4 items (especially #1), you'll be way ahead of the game.

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Description: Welcome to The Unstoppable Product Pioneer podcast, where Tamar Stolz, a seasoned expert in product strategy and SaaS innovation, guides you through the intricate world of product management. With a passion for empowering product managers at mid-size SaaS companies, Tamar shares practical insights on achieving strategic alignment, driving growth, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. In each episode, Tamar dives deep into the strategies and frameworks that successful companies use to streamline processes, align goals, and boost market impact. Whether you're looking to optimize workflows, strengthen your team's leadership, or sharpen your product management skills, Tamar delivers actionable advice to help you stay ahead in the competitive SaaS landscape. What You’ll Learn: How to align your product strategy with your business goals Best practices for product management coaching and mentorship Proven methods to streamline team processes and enhance collaboration Leadership development tips to build strong, high-performing teams Join Tamar as she explores the strategies that help organizations accelerate development, improve product-market fit, and increase revenue. Subscribe now for expert discussions, tutorials, and more to empower your team and drive product success. Subscribe to The Unstoppable Product Pioneer and start building products that matter! Connect with Tamar: 🌐 Website: uxpressed.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📅 Book a Call: calendly.com/tamarstolz 🔔 Newsletter: tstolz.substack.com 📺 YouTube Channel: @TheUnstoppableProductPioneer

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Tracking just one metric for Larafast, like Marc Louvion, revenue per visitor, here’s the breakdown: - July: $0.88 per visitor - August: $1.12 per visitor Exceeding the $0.50 per visitor benchmark that Marc deems a success, these numbers clearly show a winning product.

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Had so many awesome conversations with sales and revops folks yesterday that's really got me rev'd up about the problem we're solving. Streamlining your pricing and packaging, accelerating complex quote creation and offering a delightful buyer experience for your prospects really hit home 🏏 Drop by so we at Salesbricks 🧱 can show you how you can close deals 100x faster!! #sales #b2b #saas #CPQ

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Day 15: Taking Startups to the Next Level Your Startup Journey Begins Here! Are you ready to grow your tech startup and make it big? Discover how LvlUp Ventures can help you succeed! TL;DR LvlUp Ventures' NextUp program helps tech startups launch and grow. We offer special programs, advice, and money to startups in areas such as AI, the Future of Work, Consumer, Sustainability, and more. Our team has helped many startups succeed, and we can help you too! NextUp: Helping Tech Startups Grow LvlUp Ventures has a special program called NextUp. This program helps tech startups get started and grow. We give advice, support, and money to new companies working with cool tech like AI, Future of Work, Consumer, and Sustainability. Why Us? - $300M: Total value of our companies - 5x: Revenue growth in 6 months - 500%: Increase in company value in 6 months - 90%+: Companies launch faster than expected What is NextUp? NextUp has special programs for tech startups. We help new companies get started and invest in the best ones. Our team gives advice on how to grow, develop products, market, and raise money. Our Team Our team has a lot of experience. We have raised millions of dollars and helped over 25 companies succeed. We know how to help your startup grow. Flexible Program NextUp works with your schedule. Whether you need 12 weeks or 8 months, we tailor our help to your needs. We focus on giving the right advice at the right time. NextUp Pre-Launch NextUp Pre-Launch helps startups that have a plan and product but haven't launched yet. We help them get to market and invest in the best ones. NextUp Scale NextUp Scale helps startups that have already launched and want to grow. We provide advice, mentorship, and support to help them succeed. Join Our Community When you join NextUp, you become part of a big community of entrepreneurs, investors, and partners. We help you connect with the right people and find opportunities. Venture Scout Program Our Venture Scout Program lets you find and invest in new companies. Scouts get rewards when we invest in the companies they find. SPVs, aka Special Purpose Vehicle Opportunities LvlUp Ventures offers special investment opportunities. Accredited investors can invest in our best startups and get great returns. Join Us Today Ready to grow your startup? Apply now to join the NextUp program and become part of our community. Apply Now: - NextUp Pre-Launch (https://lnkd.in/gmVV87Yu) - NextUp Scale: (https://lnkd.in/gNdaMuft) - Venture Scouts: (https://lnkd.in/gc_jqGZN) - SPVs: (https://www.lvlup.vc/spvs) How can the NextUp program help your startup grow? Share your thoughts and let’s create the future together! Let’s make these next 100 days impactful and DOPE! P.S. Want to get involved? If this resonates, repost, to share with others ♻️ and follow Javy Martinez for more in the future.

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Well, these folks helped build Calendly These guys can genuinely say, "𝘐 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘦" I sat down with Yaroslav Lazor and Sergiy Korolov founders at Railsware and dissected: • Railsware's Growth Story, how Railsware evolved into a leading product studio    • Building a product's core "heart" to quickly understand its value and streamline the development process. (aka Calendly)    • Insights into balancing consultancy with product development    Check out the full podcast episode in the first link of this post #productdevelopment

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I Asked 100 Customers: ""What Frustrates You Most About Dealing With Startups?"" Here's what I learned: after the initial excitement wears off, some startup behaviors can leave customers feeling frustrated. Mistake 1: Ignoring Customer Feedback Many startups get so caught up in building their product that they forget about the people using it. Customers crave to be heard. Highlighting proactive ways to gather and implement customer feedback shows you prioritize their experience. Mistake 2: Overpromising and Underdelivering Building a groundbreaking product takes time. Setting unrealistic expectations can lead to disappointment. Emphasize transparency about your development process and celebrate smaller milestones to maintain customer trust. Mistake 3: Making Switching Too Difficult Locking customers into complex contracts or making it hard to migrate data creates friction. Focus on building a seamless user experience that fosters long-term loyalty, not just initial sign-ups. Mistake 4: Inconsistent Communication Ghosting your customers is a recipe for disaster. Clearly outline communication channels and set expectations for response times. Proactive updates on product development or service changes keep customers engaged. Mistake 5: Failing to Adapt to Customer Needs Markets and customer needs evolve. Startups that remain inflexible risk losing ground. Demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement and adaptation based on customer feedback. By avoiding these pitfalls, you can build stronger customer relationships and ensure your startup thrives in the long run. What's one thing startups can do to improve the customer experience? Share your thoughts in the comments! #CustomerExperience #CustomerSuccess #StartupMistakes

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There's a famous quote in a funny Israeli movie about how to win races: “You start at your fastest, and then you speed up.” It's funny because having kids taught me this exact lesson. Before having kids I thought I was so busy, working at 100% capacity, and I can't add anything else to my life without losing productivity. Then we had our first kid. I reduced my working hours and still got everything done. I still felt I was working at max capacity. And guess what happened when we had our second child? Correct. Everything got done with an extra kid while working at max capacity. I learned from this that we always feel like life is happening at max capacity, our time is fully booked, and we can never add anything else to the schedule, but we can. So, if you're feeling like you're at full capacity right now and don't have time for that new project, building your side hustle, or spending time with your family, the truth is—you actually do. There will never be a “downtime” when things will relax for you to do that extra thing you want to do. Make the change now.

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