5 Simple Phrases Every Startup Should Know And Use

In 2009, I launched my first startup. I sent out a message to a handful of former colleagues on Facebook asking if they knew anyone that needed mobile application development work done. A fellow startup founder and classmate working in Toronto, reached out to me a few weeks later with an introduction offer.

At the time, it seemed completely insignificant. Looking back at it now, the only other introduction that has had a larger impact on my life would be when I met my wife.

This introduction would eventually lead to a strong partnership between my company and Five Mobile. In less than two years, I leveraged this partnership to grow my company to include 7 tremendously talented engineers. When Zynga came along in 2011 to acquire Five Mobile for their mobile expertise, we were rolled into the deal as well. Voila — my first successful startup exit!

All from a simple introduction.

What does this mean for other startups?

Being a startup grants you special privileges that you didn’t realize you were getting. As soon as you launch that venture, you are now privy to the networks of all other startups and startup supporters in your ecosystem. Or so you should be…

As startups, we often become protective of ideas, people, and connections. It’s human nature. We see other startups as competitors for resources, funding, employees, and most notably, attention. We turn inward and focus on building our companies and our products. We operate in ‘stealth mode’ and keep our lips tight.

For me, it took being part of a successful startup — actually, being aligned with a successful startup — to realize that completely the opposite is true. Your fellow startups should be your best friends. They are the only ones that understand the pain of anonymity that you are going through and your struggles to juggle wearing twenty-five hats at a time. They can relate to trying new things daily and having no idea where its all going to lead. They are the holders of that one key introduction that could change everything for you, your employees and your company.

They are most valuable resource available to you.

The success of the startup ecosystem wherever you live does not depend on one or two big startups. It depends on the success of all the startups, no matter what size they are. As a startup in this ecosystem, your goal is not only to succeed but to have the others around you succeed as well.

With that in mind, here’s five phrases every startup should know and use:

“Yes, I’d Love To Meet”

When another startup founder or employee reaches out to you to meet for coffee, lunch, whatever, then meet with them. I know you’re busy — we all are — but you have to eat or drink anyways.

They may have nothing in common with you or they may even be a competitor. So what? You never know where these chance meetings will lead.

There should be no agenda to the meeting. Just chat, learn about each other and each other’s business. Congratulations — you’ve just grown your network by one.

“Let Me Introduce You To…”

Once you’ve met with another startup, think about who else in your network would be a good fit for them to meet and ask them to do the same. While at face value, that initial meeting you just took grew your network by one, the reality is that it just grew your network by a whole lot more.

Looking back at 2009, I have no idea what would have become of my startup had my friend not looked at who in his network would be worth meeting for me. That single introduction changed everything.

“How Can I Help?”

Ok, so you’ve met. You’ve expanded your network and maybe you have a few new connections to follow up with. Next up — think about how you can help that fellow startup.

Have you solved similar problems? Do you have some expertise in that particular area? Do you have lessons learned that may be relevant?

If you’ve taken the time to understand their basic business, I guarantee there is some insight, some tool, some resource you can point them towards.

Recently, I met with a fellow startup founder and our discussion turned to a simple problem we were having. We were using generic boxes and packaging and I wasn’t happy with how it looked. I was contemplating spending a bunch of money and time to get custom packaging made. He gave me the solution in three words— buy a stamp.

$40 bucks later, I love how our packaging looks.

“That’s A Terrible Idea”

Ok, that’s probably too blunt. But the point is, finding someone you can lean on who understands your business and is willing to tell you the truth is hard. While mentors are great sounding boards, they may not be completely in tune with your market and tend to be generalists compared to other startup founders, especially those operating in your industry. They may not feel comfortable giving advice about a market they are not familiar with or may just find it difficult to be that pointed with clients.

If you meet with another startup founder — be honest and if necessary be blunt. If something they are doing is wrong or you’ve already tried it — tell them. If you just smile and politely nod, you aren’t doing your duty to the startup ecosystem. Your goal is to help make stronger businesses around you and that means giving out the hard truths sometimes.

“Let Me Share That”

I believe the biggest challenge facing startups is getting people to pay attention. We all have huge dreams of thousands or millions of users but we all have to start from the same place — zero.

When a fellow startup launches a crowdfunding campaign — share it. When a fellow startup puts out a new promotion — share it. When a fellow startup has some big news— share it.

While one startup’s megaphone may be small, the collective megaphone of multiple startups can be huge. Remember, if other startups in your ecosystem are successful, the ecosystem as a whole benefits — that includes you.

The Caveat

If you’re a startup and you expect other startups to use all these phrases with you, then you better be doing the same thing yourself. There’s nothing worse than a startup looking to get something for nothing. Make sure you are giving back just as much as you are getting.

All startups are at different phases of their lifecycle and as you grow, you will probably be asked to do more and more of these types of favours. Remember that when you were small, the bigger fish were the ones saying these phrases to you and it’s your turn to pay it back. So, for the good of the ecosystem — keep saying them. In fact, say it more often.