The number one cause of startup death is premature scaling. In this session, we talk about the importance of customer validation and timing in your go-to-market strategy. The most effective growth strategy for your startup will depend on the market in which you operate and the stage of your business, and knowing which lever for growth you can pull. We’ll cover all this and more in Scaling Your Startup.
Key topics: Growth strategy, calculating risk, accessing new markets
2. Why To Sample?About Me!
Marie Chevrier
Founder @ Sampler
!
• Started career in Marketing at JWT!
• Worked as an EIR for Rocket Internet in New York City !
• Founded Sampler in October 2013!
Twitter: @mariechevy @TheSamplerApp!
Website: www.sampler.io!
Email: marie@sampler.io!
!
4. Why To Sample?Who Should Be Part of Your Cheer Squad!
!
• You!
• Key Customers!
• Employees!
• Advisors!
• Mentors!
• Board Members!
• Investors!
!
5. Why To Sample?Step #1: It Starts With You!
You can be your own worst
enemy if you can’t effectively
be both your most valuable
cheerleader and your best
critic.!
!
Know thyself.!
!
Do you believe in this idea
enough to do anything
necessary to make it happen? !
6. Why To Sample?Step #2: Go Get Market Validation!
Ideas don’t pay the bills, but
clients do!!
!
Don’t be afraid to start selling
pre-product. If you solve a real
issue, clients will wait for you
to build it.!
!
!
!
!
7. Why To Sample?Step #3: Pick The Right Early Employees!
• Your early employees will
need to believe in the big
picture even when things
get tough. !
• First WHO then WHAT.!
• “Good leaders are good at
getting the right people on
the bus and the wrong
people off the bus”!
- Jim Collins!
8. Why To Sample?Step #4: Get KICK ASS Advisors!
• There’s no reason why you
can’t work with the cream of
the crop.!
• People love being told they
are awesome, don’t be shy
to ask for help.!
• Once you got them, it’s
your job to make them
valuable to you.!
!
9. Why To Sample?Step #5: Be Part Of The Community!
• Toronto is the best place to
start a company.!
• Get involved with the
different networks at your
disposal.!
.!
!
!
!
!
10. Why To Sample?Step #6: Showcase Your Wins!
• Share easy to read case
studies on your website !
!
• Give a $ incentive to
companies who help you
build case studies or bring
referrals.!
• Don’t be afraid to tastefully
self-promote. You are a
brand too!!
!
11. Why To Sample?Step #7: Bring On Smart Money!
!
!
!
!
• You will be working with that investor for a
long time. Pick someone you get along with.!
• Ask them what they’re really good at and
make sure you exploit it.!
• If you’re building a global company, think
about investors that have ties into some of
your key markets.!
• Treat it like a job interview. Ask for
recommendations from other founders.!
12. Why To Sample?Step #8: Invest In Personal Growth!
• For both you and your employees.!
• The right person is as interested in
furthering their own career as they
are interested in building your
business.!
• Make sure you have regular check-
ins, learning opportunities and
performance reviews.!
!
!
13. Why To Sample?Step #9: Remember Proper Etiquette!
!
!
!
!
• Remind people where/how you met.!
!
• Be timely with your responses.!
• Give the person the proper tools to
facilitate intros when asking for them.!
• Be likeable but don’t be too friendly.!
• Send meeting invites to help
manage that person’s schedule.!
14. Why To Sample?Step #10: Pay It Forward!
!
!
!
!
• As soon as you can, start mentoring
start-ups that are a year or so before
you.!
• Try the year ahead & year behind
concept to remind yourself of lessons
learned.!
!
• Meet with everyone at least once.
You’ve got nothing to lose!!
!
15. Why To Sample?Step #11: (Bonus): Send Constant Signals!
!
!
!
!
• People invest in lines NOT dots. !
–Mark Suster!
• Signals can be: being featured in press,
in a competition or even a job post.!
• Tell your cheer squad what you plan to
have achieved by the next time you see
them.!