A Smart Bear: On Product/Market Fit
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The roadmap to Product/Market Fit (PMF)… maybeThis eight-step process brought WP Engine from an idea to a Unicorn. While there are other roads to Product/Market Fit, consider copying some of these ideas. —December 2023 | 6,600 words. -
Product/Market Fit (PMF): Experience & DataCompanies that achieve Product/Market Fit – both self-funded and VC-funded – exhibit the same prototypical metrics curves and subjective experiences. —November 2023 | 2,500 words. -
Avoid blundering: 80% of a winning strategyWhy do startups typically fail? It turns out that “avoiding those things” is already a plan for success. —March 2024 | 4,000 words. -
Product Purgatory: When they love it but still don’t buyWhen even “free” is too expensive. —May 2025 | 2,000 words. -
Explore vs ExecuteThe two main business modalities are more different than you expect. When you hit PMF, it’s a culture-shift to switch from one to the other. —January 2025 | 2,600 words. -
The Startup Drake EquationWhy do smart, driven founders fail, despite having great ideas and execution? This model offers an answer, and a path to increase the chance of success. —February 2025 | 2,800 words. -
“Stealth mode” and other f’ing brilliant strategiesOh you secretive devil! The last thing you need is anyone finding out about your startup. Like competitors. Or customers. —January 2025 | 1,300 words. -
Your target market isn’t demographicHow to define your actual target market, which probably isn’t traditional demographics and firmographics. —September 2025 | 2,900 words. -
Your idea sucks, now go do it anywayYour idea probably sucks, and it doesn’t matter because your business will probably turn out to be something completely different. —December 2008 | 800 words.
