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🧠Top 5 Startup Tips of 2024
summary of our top newsletters
John Roche
May 09, 2024
Hey IdeaHub Crew! 🎉
We’ve already written 15+ startup newsletters this year - it’s our mission to help you make your idea the next biggest thing!
Today, I am reviewing our top-performing newsletters and giving you some helpful tips along the way.
And thanks to Rehance for sponsoring today’s newsletter ✉️
Let’s dive in…
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Top 5 Startup Tips of 2024
Ready to turn your idea into a real-life business in just a weekend? Here’s how you do it: Forget waiting for the perfect moment—it doesn’t exist. Focus on solving problems first, money second.
Burning out is a real thing in the startup world. We have these wild jobs with high stress based on an idea that may or may not have demand.
Man, we entrepreneurs are all a little crazy, right?
Let’s look at it this way. Imagine you spend 3 years focusing on a problem. It works for a bit, then tapers off and eventually fails. You learn lots and make friends. It’s a learning and one that you value.
But..
Imagine if you came to that realisation in a couple months rather than 3 years.
Giving yourself 48 hours to launch a small product is the perfect answer.
You give yourself positive feedback and feel good about how you spent your weekend. Most importantly, you spent your time building which is what we all love!
48 Hour Launch - Key Learnings 👇
Forget Perfectionism: Embrace the chaos of rapid prototyping. Don't over-plan—test early and iterate.
Money Talks: If people won't even spend a dollar, rethink your value proposition. Early validation is crucial.
Build for Your Pain: Solve a problem you deeply understand; you're likely not the only one struggling with it.
Charlie dives into how any startup can find its first 100 customers for free.
Experiment with various channels like Reddit, Facebook groups, and Quora to find where your audience is hiding.
Start by throwing everything at the wall and focusing on instant-traffic strategies that don’t rely on brand presence or large followings. Just add major value!
After casting a wide net, double down on what works and drop what doesn’t.
Lastly, it’s important to know when to move beyond guerilla marketing channels. Scaling up with paid ads and other growth channels is key when the initial channels run dry…
Marketing Channels - Key Learnings 👇
Be Everywhere: Try everything in the early stages—social groups, niche forums, and viral posts. The right channel will quickly reveal itself, and you'll reach your first 100 customers faster than you think.
Fail Fast: If a platform doesn’t deliver, move on and focus on the ones that do. One or two channels often drive 90% of growth in the early days.
Prepare to Pivot: Guerrilla marketing can't scale forever. Recognise when to automate with paid ads or find new strategies as your initial channels taper off.
Myth #1: Founders Come from Wealthy Backgrounds
Jan Koum, co-founder of WhatsApp, grew up in Ukraine without much before moving to the U.S. at 16. He co-founded WhatsApp in 2009, despite struggling financially, and later sold it to Facebook for $19 billion in 2014. You don't need to come from money to make it big.
Myth #2: Founders Can Do It Alone
Jack Ma, the Alibaba founder, faced numerous rejections, including from Harvard and KFC. Instead of giving up, he built a strong network of entrepreneurs and learned from different industries. He co-founded Alibaba in 1999 and turned it into a global e-commerce powerhouse.
Myth #3: Founders Don't Spend Their Own Money
Kevin Plank, Under Armour’s founder, launched the company from his grandmother's basement after using personal savings and maxing out his credit cards to fund growth. Despite early financial struggles, he stayed committed and built a multi-billion-dollar business.
Myth #4: Founders Get the Easy Jobs
Christina Cacioppo, Vanta's CEO and co-founder, used to hand-craft automated emails at 5:45 a.m. daily to set high customer experience standards. Founders often do unscalable work to understand customer behaviour and improve their products.
Founder Myths - Key Learnings 👇
Resilience Matters More Than Background
Jan Koum and Jack Ma proved that persistence and a strong network can be more valuable than wealth.Don't Shy Away from Personal Investment
Sometimes, founders must invest their own money and resources to bring their vision to life.Founders Must Wear Many Hats
Early-stage startup life isn't about delegating; it's about hustling.
Finding a trusted co-founder is one of the most important steps to set your startup up for success.
The key is your network.
Focus on building a network of really smart people who lean more towards entrepreneurial activity rather than getting a job.
Finding a Co-Founder - Key Learnings 👇
Build a Network Before You Need It
Finding a co-founder is like building a relationship: don't rush it. Surround yourself with smart, ambitious people at events, co-working spaces, and online communities. Build genuine connections, and the right partner may emerge naturally.Look for Values Over Flash
Not everyone with charisma makes a good co-founder. Focus on shared values, motivations, and complementary skills by working on trial projects and having in-depth conversations about their approach and goals.Define Roles and Equity Early
Unclear roles lead to conflicts. Establish titles, responsibilities, and a transparent equity split that reflects each co-founder’s contribution and risk. Communication about leadership roles is crucial to build trust and long-term collaboration.
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