From the Marketing Dissenter — Is Your Start-up Marketing like a Start-up?

My guess is — not really. I’m not going to tell you what marketing mix is right for you, but there are a few basic lessons that apply when it comes to marketing any start-up.

Hire behind the curve

When you are in startup-mode you tend to hire only when the workload of each individual becomes so high that you simply know that more hands on deck are needed. This is called “Hiring behind the curve”. Once they become better funded a lot of startups switch to a different mode: They hire…

Ideas are cheap and plentiful

The title says it all. One of the defining features of an entrepreneur is her ability to generate ideas. Lots of them. Which is great.

The problem comes when people believe that ideas in itself are worth something. They are cagy, believing that…

The Lean Startup Deception

It took me a while to put a finger on why I have such mixed feelings about the whole lean startup craze. I read the books, I talked to the people, I spoke to and observed folks who implemented the lean methodology and intellectually it does make sense. And yet — something felt off…

And versus But

How many times during the course of a day do you say but? I bet you money that it’s more than you think. For some obscure reason we are conditioned to string our arguments with but. As in: This is great, but…

Sundays are for Starters — Finding your Investor

One of the (sometimes) most confusing questions which hardly ever gets asked is: Where do I actually find an investor?

Good question.

Big Ideas & Elevator Pitches

I am sure you have heard the term “elevator pitch” before. The idea is that you step into an elevator with a potential investor, partner or employee and you have all of 30 seconds until the elevator reaches the top floor and the two of you will step out of the elevator and go…