Slides from a brief talk at Tech Stars NYC on building product and focusing on emotion. I added some additional text to the original slides to include points I spoke to but did not originally write down.

1. The Damn! Factor
emotion is all that matters...

2. You have gone all in
decided to #beafounder...best thing you will
ever do

3. I love you
remarkable entrepreneurs with burning
passion to build product...

4. By the numbers
everyone will say they have a massive
market, ripe for disruption...

5. But you were compelled
This is irrational, it is subjective, but I know
how you feel...

6. Now you have to build it
awesome product that people love...

7. Your head runs a business
your heart starts one...don’t forget to listen
to your heart as you build

8. Talk to customers
the story of “bright light” aka my time
testing AND 1 products at 155th & 8th

9. Customers have wants
you can address these wants with features...

10. Features are commodity
simplicity of modern languages, SaaS/PaaS,
assume anyone can build what you build...

11. Change your perspective
focus on emotion...love, smiles, goosebumps
will never be commodity

12. Make them stand up
Scoring is not enough... you need to rock the
rim and hear “God Damn! That shit is hot!”...

13. Do the little things
once you have their attention, speak to your
customer one on one...surprise, delight, love

14. Give them what they want
create an experience they must share...
resonate with the core, forsake all others

15. Create magic
let the core discover and make them
smile...normals are aspirational buyers

16. Thanks!
@phineasb...phin@firstround.com...
www.sneakerheadvc.com...