The Startup Idea Matrix — B2B Edition
Last month I published The Startup Idea Matrix to help founders brainstorm new startup ideas. The matrix outlines various consumer markets and tactics a company can take to bring a unique product to the market. Chris Dixon first showed me this format a few years ago, and since then I’ve found that browsing rows and columns of matrixes like this can help inspire new ideas.
The response to that post has been amazing— in the past few weeks I’ve received hundreds of messages from readers, outlining a wide range of creative new ideas.
I also received hundreds of requests for the B2B version of the matrix.
In response, I’ve put together a matrix focused on ideas where the end customer is businesses, as opposed to ideas where the customer is individual consumers.
Some of the cells are filled with startups that fit the themes. This is by no means exhaustive, but including existing companies helps ground the ideas in reality and makes it easier to draw connections.
As with the original, you should think of this matrix less as a map and more as a starting point for creativity. If you find inspiration for an idea through either matrix, I’d love to hear from you.
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