Peter Bordes’ Post

The path to that ambitious TAM in your pitch deck begins with your "Killer Wedge." The best founders know that enormous markets are really just chains of niches. You need to know how to attack step-by-step, building systems, gaining traction, and honing expertise with each move. Finding a true Killer Wedge can catapult you to rapid scale and help you move up the chain to the next, bigger opportunity. #vc #startups #strategy https://lnkd.in/gVpbi5u9

Reminder: The efforts of yesterday become the impacts of today. This is one big reason why growth marketing at early stage startups can feel like such an uphill battle. You write, send, analyze, and brainstorm. Tweak, iterate, hypothesize, and test. You create, publish, refresh, repurpose, publish again, engage, measure, adjust... 😅 You bang your head against the wall wondering why your Olympic-level efforts haven't resulted in a major victory already. 🧠 As a marketer at a startup or early stage company, you're constantly doing—with hopes that it will have immediate impacts. When in reality, a LOT of what you're doing right now (like, almost all of it) will only have impacts weeks—or months, even years—downstream. Patience is a powerful tool. All those purchases and sign-ups you see today are reflections of the work you did a while ago. So keep your chin up. What you're doing matters. 👏 PS. All this being said, there are some initiatives that have immediate turnarounds too. DM me if you want to chat more about those ideas 😉 #marketing #growthmarketing #startups

You wouldn’t believe how many startup founders REFUSE to identify their true market fit. 😵💫 And I’m running out of ways to stress this crucial point: 🎯 You must define your target market! And “kind of choosing” (i.e., being vague)... is the same as not choosing at all. The most common excuses I hear for this behavior: 💢 “We’re aiming for a broader market.” 💢 “Our product could fit into many different markets.” 💢 “We’re concerned the niche is too small to focus on just one group.” When I hear these, I already know the startup is going to struggle to find Product-Market Fit. So for the love of growth, please, please, please… 🚀 Make a clear decision on who your product is for — and go build a reputation by serving that specific group. And after you establish a strong foothold, THEN you can consider expanding into larger markets. Steps to Achieve Product-Market Fit: 1. Identify Your Niche: → Research and pinpoint a specific segment that has a clear need for your product. → Develop detailed buyer personas to deeply understand this segment. 2. Develop a Clear Value Proposition: → Craft a message that clearly articulates the unique benefits of your product for this specific market. → Ensure your value proposition addresses the pain points of your target audience. 3. Gather and Prioritize Feedback: → Engage with early adopters to gather insights and feedback. → Use this feedback to refine your product and messaging. 4. Test and Iterate: → Launch targeted marketing campaigns and measure their effectiveness. → Continuously iterate based on performance data and customer feedback. 5. Build a Strong Brand Presence: → Establish a strong brand identity within your chosen niche. → Focus on building relationships and a community around your product. Remember: Achieving Product-Market Fit requires focus and specificity. By zeroing in on a well-defined target market, you can create a compelling product that truly meets their needs. This focused approach not only accelerates growth but also lays a strong foundation for future expansion. So make a decision, commit to your target market, and watch your startup thrive! #productmarketfit #pmf #startups #foundersjounery

There are more startups now than in the past 20 years - rivaled only by the Great Recession era of the early '00s. Lots of reasons for it, but ease of development and economic uncertainty stand out. This means markets are getting crowded across sectors, and it's flipping startup best practices on their head. When interest rates were down, there was a field of dreams mentality. Build it, and they will come. Money was essentially cheap so founders could get away with leaving the go to market and adoption plan to a post-raise effort once there was cash infusion. But, now money is EXPENSIVE. So product can be "good enough" and revenue generating OR don't build the product at all - have a waitlist or loyal adjacent customers and have a complimentary service. This is great for blue ocean products, but what if you are building in a crowded space. For pigybak - where a handful of brands come to mind, we're leading with features (job clustering) and brand. And I venture to say more startups should be thinking about brand early on. Brand isn't just mission, vision, values - it's how those show up in your go to market, social, etc. When you start mapping your competitors to it, you can find holes in the market for your voice to pop. Brand also converts early adopters to advocates faster than product alone. So what's your brand super power? #foundermode #startup

Savvy founders are using this to get investors to pay attention to them.  Founders are making listicles ranking investors. They put up niche investor articles like "Top Fintech Angel Investors" - an article my friend made that ranks 1 on Google for the term. Inside the article is a list of investors who are of interest to my friend.  Even if it doesn't rank on Google, people are just putting this on Twitter and then tagging the investors. Investors are pitched by countless startups every day. And it's often a struggle for startups to get their idea in front of them. When an investor appears in somebody else's article, they look at the website that the article is on, and then they look at the startup's idea. And it doesn't just have to be investors in a company's niche. Examples: - Happiest angel investors. - Happiest VCs. - Best VCs to get in front of. - Top EdTech investors. - Nicest EdTech investors. There are so many different classifiers to make lists with. Plus, if it ranks on Google, this gives investors extra reason to pay attention to a startup. Now that startup has a little bit of control because they are in charge of the narrative through search engine optimization. They hit up investors and ask for a call, and investors are a lot more likely to get on the phone. But again, even if it doesn't rank on Google, this is an easy way to get noticed. #startups #ycombinator #buildinpublic #entrepreneur

As a Founder and a startup owner you crave freedom, flexibility, and efficiency, and most of the time it looks like you are overreaching, especially with the amount of attention early-stage startups demand to break into the market. But the Good news is, IT IS VERY ACHIEVABLE.. Walk with me..🚶♂️🚶♂️🚶♂️ Most founders know and are used to the LEAN STARTUP MODEL…Which is; ✅Get a product idea ✅Launch an MVP and experiment to find Product market fit  ✅Drive user Acquisition and Gain Traction ✅Raise Funds as you scale and Hire a bigger team Yeah, and you still want freedom and flexibility regardless.. Let's call you, “The New Generation Founder” and these are your needs..(The Problem), ✏ Location and time freedom ✏ Efficient small infrastructures ✏ High tractions/engaged audiences With respect to data and several written articles. here is one from Pierre Herubel (https://lnkd.in/dH8ZRZ6Q) From all indications, founders like you are now tilting towards a new wave called “The Audience-First Model”(The Solution), Which is; ✅Pick a niche and Build an Audience around it ✅Create a feedback loop and build a product around the audience's pain point. ✅Drive user Acquisition with your audience and distribution channels ✅Add more offers to the product portfolio. We're currently witnessing a shift towards audience-first models, where Founders, solopreneurs, media-equity co-founders, and content creators are building successful businesses by monetizing their expertise and content. This approach prioritizes the audience's needs, creating a loyal and engaged community. At placidcode.io, we resonate with this approach and more. We believe in empowering startups to build profitable business models with an efficient product to match and help launch new features and offers with flexibility.. #startups #founders #foundersinsight #MVPs

Here's a sobering thought: Is your startup really in product-market fit, or are you just riding the wave? I recently revisited a video with Sam Blond, who spoke at SaaStr, and his insights on today's venture and startup landscape are eye-opening. Back in 2021, it felt like every other pitch could snag some funding. But since then, the game has changed drastically. As Sam navigated his 18 months at Founders Fund, he learned some unfiltered truths about what it takes to get funded today. Gone are the free-flowing VC dollars—and with them, the luxury of inefficiency. In a world where the bar for funding is higher than ever, Founders Fund only gets excited about one in a hundred companies. Specialized investment flavors abound, meaning your chances are slimmer and more specialized. In 2021, the flood of investment created a frenzy where new startups popped up in saturated markets, often without solid footing. But now, it's clear: If your growth has slowed, you're likely out of product-market fit, and mere tweaks won't save you. Here are some nuggets from the conversation: - Efficiency is Key: Startups must now focus on maximizing their resources, from sales strategies to marketing spend. - Demand-Supply Alignment: If your sales team is underperforming, it's likely not their fault alone. The demand has to be there for the sales to follow. - Apply Creativity Over Capital: High spending isn't the answer. Lean into creative campaigns and personalized outreach to stand out. - Long-Term SDRs: Strive to find and retain sales development representatives who view their role as a long-term career, rather than a stepping stone. So ask yourself: How can you creatively maximize your existing resources? Are you scrutinizing metrics and making decisions based on both performance and gut feelings about fit? Reframe your approach for 2024. It's not about throwing money at your problems; it's about strategic, efficient growth. How are you adapting to the new landscape? Share your thoughts and experiences! #StartupGrowth #VentureCapital #Efficiency #ProductMarketFit #Innovation #SaaS #SalesStrategies

Great way to start a business..

Build in Public Imagine sharing every step of your startup journey with the world. The wins. The mistakes. The lessons. That’s what “building in public” is all about. It’s a strategy built on transparency. You let your audience see your process. You bring them along for the ride. For many startups, this approach feels risky. But the benefits can be huge. Why does it work? People connect with real stories, not polished perfection. When you’re open about your challenges, people root for you. Transparency builds trust. Customers, partners, and investors appreciate honesty. When they see your process, they’re more likely to believe in your product. By sharing your journey, you create a community. People feel involved in your success. They share your product, give feedback, and spread the word. You share your milestones and even your failures. The result? A loyal following that grows with them. -> You attract an audience before your product is ready. -> You get real-time feedback to improve along the way. -> You create a sense of ownership among your followers. -> You differentiate yourself in a crowded market. Building in public also helps you stay accountable. You’re showing your progress to the world, so there’s pressure to keep moving forward. It’s not just about marketing—it’s about building relationships. PC: Single Grain | Start Growing #marketresearch #productlaunch #businessconsulting #linkedinpost #linkedinforcreators #marketing #buildinpublic #startupstory #startupgrowth

How to build startups in 2024: 1. Post on linkedin/twitter about it. If it gets love... 2. Create a video about it. If it gets love... 3. Create a lead magnet about it. If it gets love... 4. Create a private membership about it. If it gets love... 5. Create a saas/agency/software out of it. If it gets love... 6. Hire yourself out of it. If it continues to scale... 7. You can retire or do it all again Each step = more skin in the game. More skin = better signal. Better signal = less risk. Less risk = more success. More success = less working at a job you hate and less pressure not to tip 25% on your $8 oat milk latte Social posts are the new MVP. Unlimited upside. Zero downside. It’s a beautiful time to be building startups -- i put together a database of 30+ startup ideas for you to steal here, https://lnkd.in/eKicBBqe and you can go to gregisenberg.com for my weekly newsletter with free startup ideas and frameworks to win on the internet.