Traction: How Startups Start | Nextview Ventures

Informações:

Synopsis

In this story-driven show from seed-stage VC NextView, tech startup founders, executives, journalists, and investors share how they gained initial traction against the odds. Every startup hears that they should do things that don't scale -- scrappy, atypical, whatever-it-takes things. Traction asks a simple question: What ARE those things?With a unique sound that avoids the boring, typical talking head format, Traction features some of the most interesting early-stage stories, tactics, and theories from some of the best entrepreneurs today.For all episodes plus exclusive resources for early-stage startups, subscribe at nextviewvc.com/blog.

Episodes

  • #17: Go Home, Clickbait, You're Drunk (Tony Haile, Chartbeat)

    21/01/2016 Duration: 36min

    There's no denying the sheer creative power of the internet, but too often, it turns into a race to the bottom -- more clicks (and therefore more clickbait), more pageviews, more impressions, more ads. When Tony Haile first became CEO of Chartbeat, the analytics startup based in New York City, he faced this massive problem of an internet teeming with clickbait headlines and short-term thinking. He also faced challenges like competing directly with Google Analytics (and the annoyingly competitive price point of "free"). It was his first experience in analytics, too, and he wound up selling his product to a user base (writers and others in editorial) that historically strayed away from data. Easy, right? This episodes also includes… The tradeoffs Tony made to compete with a goliath like Google Tips for media and other content-driven platforms (including blogs) for rethinking its key metric from clicks and pageviews to something else -- and the tech breakthrough that helped Chartbeat create it What the future h

  • #16: Building Startups City-by-City (Justin Robinson, Drizly)

    06/01/2016 Duration: 37min

    Justin Robinson, co-founder of mobile startup and liquor delivery app Drizly, talks about some of the ridiculously non-scalable things they had to do just to get their business off the ground in the right way. In addition, he'll share some tactics and stories around being a location-based startup and all the challenges that come with trying to gain traction anew in each market. This episodes includes... 1) The huge (if stereotypical) mistake Justin and his co-founder Nick made when they started, and how that ironically helped them 2) Why they spent six months working for a liquor retailer and the comical but powerful things that led to 3) How expanding from your home city to other locations differs 4) How to gain credibility in an industry populated by traditionally-minded partners Follow Justin @glassrobinson and visit drizly.com to learn more. And let me know what you think of the show -- tweet me (Jay Acunzo) @jayacunzo. You can also subscribe to receive every episode plus weekly insights and resources abo

  • #15: Skype-Side Chat on Data Science & Inventing the Future (Hilary Mason, Fast Forward Labs)

    10/12/2015 Duration: 45min

    Hilary Mason, founder at Fast Forward Labs and Data Scientist in Residence at Accel Partners, debunks some of the myths around startups being "data-driven." In addition, she tackles some complex but critical topics and translates them for the rest of us. This episodes includes... 1) A clear definition of what data science actually is (and should be) 2) Hard truth about how much a startup should actually value its data 3) The evolution of the field of data science, who should use it, and where it's going and why Follow Hilary @hmason and visit fastforwardlabs.com to learn more. And let me know what you think of the show -- tweet me (Jay Acunzo) @jayacunzo. You can also subscribe to receive every episode plus weekly insights and resources about gaining startup traction: goo.gl/4eP9Ch

  • #14: How Hardware Startups Get Traction (Ben Einstein, BOLT)

    24/11/2015 Duration: 01h01min

    Ben Einstein, Founder/Partner of BOLT, an early-stage VC investing in hardware startups, shares the stories of several connected devices and hardware companies and their tricks and challenges. We compare and contrast software to hardware in this episode, examining three core aspects of building any company: 1) Building early products (customer dev, prototypes, etc.) 2) Acquiring initial customers (including one "magic" number Ben proposes for a hardware startup to reach) 3) Raising seed capital. (In a fun rant, Ben addresses his fellow investors and tells them how they need to change their approaches to hardware startups and their founders.) Follow Ben @beneinstein and visit bolt.io to learn more. And let me know what you think of the show -- tweet me (Jay Acunzo) @jayacunzo You can also subscribe to receive all NextView projects focused on helping startups gain initial traction, as well as episodes of the show. Click here: goo.gl/4eP9Ch

  • #13: More Women. Fewer Trolls. Better Internet. (Sandi MacPherson, Quibb // 50/50Pledge)

    12/11/2015 Duration: 35min

    Sandi MacPherson, Founder of Quibb, a private community of tech tastemakers sharing professional content and discussions, tells the story of creating an application-only social network. She also shares her vision for an important project helping address the lack of women in tech: the 50/50 Pledge. In this episode, you'll hear... 1) The mission behind the great 50/50 Pledge (visit 5050pledge.com to learn more) 2) How an application-only model for a social network affects your model and early traction (and why it's CRUCIAL that Quibb use this model). 3) How Sandi has been able to build a social network where thoughtful, meaningful, and human conversations actually happen in the comments. (Are we sure this is the internet?) Follow Sandi @sandimac and apply to join Quibb at quibb.com. And let me know what you think of the show -- tweet me (Jay Acunzo) @jayacunzo. You can also subscribe to receive all NextView projects focused on helping startups gain initial traction, as well as episodes of the show. Click here:

  • #12: The Book of Traction (Gabriel Weinberg, Duck Duck Go)

    29/10/2015 Duration: 49min

    In this episode, Gabriel Weinberg, CEO of Duck Duck Go and author of Traction, the book (no connection to this show), shares the story of building a search engine to compete with Google, battle privacy concerns, and gain initial traction with an atypical product. You'll also hear... 1) The framework behind the popular book, Traction: How to get traction and seek explosive growth for your startup ... with an actual plan and purpose. The framework is called "Bullseye." 2) Common pitfalls to avoid when testing various channels and moving through this traction framework, including what timeframe and dollar amount to focus on while testing. Follow Gabriel @yegg and learn more about the second edition of the book, Traction at tractionbook.com And let me know what you think of the show -- tweet me (Jay Acunzo) @jayacunzo. *NEW: Check out the NextView platform of resources for startup traction. Visit nextviewventures.com/platform or subscribe

  • Up Next, More Exciting Things...

    09/10/2015 Duration: 03min

    Exciting times ahead! Just a quick preview. Send us feedback anytime by tweeting me @jayacunzo

  • #11: Arguing with VCs (Danielle Morrill, Mattermark)

    23/09/2015 Duration: 42min

    Danielle Morrill, CEO of Mattermark -- In this episode, Danielle shares her company's origin story, including how they created an addicting, ubiquitous newsletter read by VCs and entrepreneurs everywhere. You'll also hear... 1) Why a TV show inspired Danielle to launch a media company, not software startup, and why she was disillusioned with Silicon Valley. 2) The domino effect of thinking and operating that way at first and how this led to the SaaS startup success that is Mattermark today. 3) Why Danielle would outright argue with almost every VC she called to sell early on in the company's history.    Follow Danielle @DanielleMorrill and subscribe to the Mattermark Daily newsletter at mattermark.com/app/newsletter Let me know what you think of the show -- tweet me (Jay Acunzo) @jayacunzo

  • #10: Can't Code? Smart Ways to Execute Regardless (Vin Vacanti, Yipit)

    02/09/2015 Duration: 34min

    NYC's Vin Vacanti of Yipit -- In this episode of Traction, we tell the story of Vin Vacanti, co-founder/CEO of Yipit (daily deals aggregator) and YipitData (analyzes web data for institutional investors). This episode features a really great story with some very tangible lessons and tactics that Vin willingly shares, including... 1) Why Vin and his co-founder taught themselves to code long before it was common -- and well before any tools existed to shortcut your learning the ropes. As a result, Vin has a great framework for deciding if this is a viable path for your product. 2) Exactly how Vin launched Yipit.com and built his list to the initial 10K and 50K users. 3) Why Vin decided to pivot the business (read: launch a second startup) and what he learned going from B2C to B2B. Listeners should also check out Vin's blog, ViniciusVacanti.com.  BONUS: Subscribe to nextviewvc.com/blog by September 10, 2015, for a special mini-episode with Vin's framework for non-technical founders to decide whether they need a

  • #9: How a Paper Product Sparked a Digital Movement (Scott Belsky, Behance & Adobe)

    20/08/2015 Duration: 35min

    Scott Belsky -- co-founder/CEO of Behance. Brand. Mission. Emotion. These are things that, perhaps surprisingly to some, are still not widely preached, taught, accepted, or built around by investors and tech entrepreneurs alike. But in this episode, Scott Belsky talks about their critical importance and exactly how he built the popular creative portfolio platform, Behance. And, really, this is a story about how he sparked a bigger, medium-agnostic movement across the globe among creatives ... all on the backs of those things that some in tech too easily brush aside. Scott's thought leadership is popular and widely followed, and you'll want to hear some of the things he did to bootstrap Behance and gain initial traction, not least of which was creating and selling a paper notebook as his very first product. From his description of the resulting digital movement, it doesn't seem possible that a notebook is where they could have started. Credit goes to the power of a passionate mission combined with an entrepren

  • #8: CEO of the Newest Unicorn Startup on Their Tough Start & Fast Rise (Jason Robins, DraftKings)

    03/08/2015 Duration: 42min

    DraftKings' Jason Robins -- In this episode, NextView partner Rob Go talks to the CEO of the newest unicorn -- Jason Robins of DraftKings. Jason is generous with his storytelling and tactical tips for fundraising when VCs aren't receptive, partnering with larger players in your industry (as DraftKings was able to do with brands like Disney/ESPN, the MLB, the NHL, etc.), and building a company that's capable of being truly analytical -- not just driven by data but obsessed with it. So ... how does a unicorn gain traction anyway? STARTUP LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN: - A clever question to ask VCs to ensure you get a firm answer. - Tactics for fundraising when being met with some resistance. - How young startups can partner with massive brands. - Why and how you should build a data-obsessed team. - Marketing and user acquisition advice for those in hot, competitive markets. STORIES YOU'LL HEAR: - The early struggles Jason experienced while raising fundraising (and the way they overcame this pushback). - The surprising

  • #7: Traction by a Thousand Cuts (Kathryn Minshew, The Muse)

    22/07/2015 Duration: 48min

    Kathryn Minshew, co-founder and CEO of career platform The Muse, shares tactical details from her scrappy founding story. Today, The Muse generates over 4 million monthly views and offers job postings from and visual windows into hundreds companies, ranging from Uber and Facebook to HBO and Adidas.   STARTUP LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN: - Tactics to build audience for a startup - What the very FIRST step to building an audience of millions should be - Clever uses of channels blogging, email, social, and more   GREAT STORIES YOU'LL HEAR: - Kathryn's fight for early traffic through some very non-scalable means - How the first promotion discussion of her career led to an uncomfortable moment and, in a positive twist, some national press for The Muse   LINKS MENTIONED: - Kathryn's company: TheMuse.com - Kathryn's Twitter: @kmin - Snow Fall (New York Times): http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/   COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM: - Casey Henry, Growth Expert & Marketing Analyst, Wistia - @caseyhen - Andy Crest

  • #6: Leaving Google & Using a PDF to Bootstrap a SaaS Startup (Patrick Campbell, Price Intelligently)

    06/07/2015 Duration: 53min

    Bootstrappin' CEO Patrick Campbell, cofounder of SaaS startup Price Intelligently, shares his story of leaving Google, bootstrapping a startup, beating cancer, and more.  STARTUP LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN
 What tradeoffs a bootstrapped startup's CEO must make How to price a software product correctly to maximize revenue and avoid leaving money on the table early on A definition of content marketing that actually makes sense Tactics to build an audience using limited resources and content, which you can then use to validate your product idea, get feedback, and convert GREAT STORIES YOU'LL HEAR
 Patrick and team validated the market and built their initial business around one educational ebook written for their customers The lunacy of Patrick and host Jay Acunzo leaving Google and staying in Boston tech (crazy at that time) The moving story of Patrick beating cancer and the surprising way that changed him as a founder
 LINKS MENTIONED:
 Patrick's company: Price Intelligently Their free product for SaaS companie

  • #5: A Career Rocketship, Sexy Shakespeare, & Fixing Boston Tech (Dennis Keohane, Pando Daily)

    22/06/2015 Duration: 35min

    Tech Journalist Dennis Keohane -- Imagine you were told to enter a brand new field tomorrow and that you had 18 months to get hired by one of the top brands in that space. What would you do? That's where the story of Dennis Keohane, national tech reporter for Pando Daily, begins. Dennis shares the story of his whirlwind year and a half, during which time he went from innovative teacher to writer covering tech innovation. Plus, he offers his perspective on how to fix Boston tech's lack of broader awareness and, specifically, how media can help. If you like the show and want more episodes and related content, subscribe at ViewFromSeed.com. You'll receive new episodes of Traction as soon as they're available, along with more stories, resources, and advice for seed-stage startups from entrepreneurs, VCs, and industry experts. Let me know what you think of the show -- tweet me (Jay Acunzo) @Jay_zo

  • #4: Chicken, Egg or Farm? An Unusual Launch Problem (Brad Hargreaves, General Assembly)

    09/06/2015 Duration: 38min

    General Assembly CEO Brad Hargreaves -- When Brad set out to create General Assembly, he had to face both an unusual and a difficult decision: the "Chicken, Egg, or Farm to Put It All" problem. Listen for an explanation, as well as his story of how GA gained its first few results on the way to a global organization in the education space. Also on the show: Horrible improv comedy When students walk out. A centuries-old industry tells Brad to operate one way while a handful of potential customers tells him another. (What would you do?) In a credibility-driven business, Brad finds a clever way to make GA credible from Day One. The toughest city for GA to land and build (as well as the only place where they couldn’t) And our closing segment for all episodes, Alpha-Beta-Scale — three questions about the entrepreneur, from their early life to today to something unusual they think about the future. Like the show? Subscribe at ViewFromSeed.com to get every new episode plus more exclusive resources and stories from

  • #2: Founding LinkedIn, Elon Musk & Ancient Silicon Valley (Lee Hower, NextView)

    26/05/2015 Duration: 29min

    LinkedIn Co-Founder Lee Hower -- Imagine being on the founding team of not one, but TWO of the startup world's biggest legends: PayPal and LinkedIn. Lee Hower experienced exactly that. In the episode, he shares his stories of how LinkedIn scrapped towards early results back before most of the tech we all use today was even around -- it'll sound pretty archaic to most young entrepreneurs today. Lee also shares what it was like to get hired by Elon Musk, as well as work alongside the great Reid Hoffman twice. If you like the show and want more episodes and related content, subscribe at ViewFromSeed.com. You'll receive new episodes of Traction as soon as they're available, along with more stories, resources, and advice for seed-stage startups from entrepreneurs, VCs, and industry experts. Let me know what you think of the show -- tweet me (Jay Acunzo) @Jay_zo

  • #3: Stalkers at Whole Foods, Sneaky Products & Inventing a Brand (Ken Chen, NatureBox)

    26/05/2015 Duration: 26min

    NatureBox Co-founder/CMO, Ken Chen -- If ever there was a sneaky way to learn and gain initial traction, this is it. NatureBox currently ships millions of healthy snacks to consumers everywhere, but they all started with a single observation, a single hack using some free tools, and a single weekend of effort. Fastforward to 2015, and they're a Series C startup some would call a success, relative to most startups that launch. Ken Chen, co-founder and CMO of NatureBox, reveals the story of how he and his co-founder Gautam Gupta launched and began building an actual brand -- a rare thing for startups to care about from Day 1, but a crucial thing for NatureBox to achieve. Like the show? Subscribe at ViewFromSeed.com to get every new episode plus more exclusive resources and stories from entrepreneurs and VCs. Let me know what you think of the show -- tweet me (Jay Acunzo) @Jay_zo

  • #1: Revenue Before Product, Living Forever & Clever Origins (Fred Shilmover, InsightSquared)

    25/05/2015 Duration: 25min

    Fred Shilmover, InsightSquared -- In Traction's first-ever episode, NextView's VP of platform Jay Acunzo briefly explains the concept behind the show - to share the stories of the creative, unusual, and brilliant ways entrepreneurs scrap their way to early results. Then, Jay and co-founding partner Rob Go hear the seed-stage story of InsightSquared, a successful SaaS startup that's exploded in Boston, all based on a smart-yet-sneaky tactic used by co-founder and CEO Fred Shilmover before he had any capital, co-founders, or even software. If you like the show and want more episodes and related content, subscribe at ViewFromSeed.com. You'll receive new episodes of Traction as soon as they're available, along with more stories, resources, and advice for seed-stage startups from entrepreneurs, VCs, and industry experts. Let me know what you think of the show -- tweet me (Jay Acunzo) @Jay_zo

  • Coming Soon: Creative & Unusual Ways Startups Start

    23/04/2015 Duration: 01min

    Launching this spring, a podcast from NextView Ventures about the creative, unusual, clever, and downright brilliant things that entrepreneurs do to gain early results. While everyone gets told to "do things that don't scale," we don't often hear what those things actually are -- at least not until a company succeeds and the story gets polished for the press. NextView partner Rob Go and VP of Platform Jay Acunzo talk to top founders, startup executives, media members, and VCs about how they scrapped and fought their way to enough traction to survive and advance against the odds. Subscribe at the NextView blog for seed-stage startups, the View from Seed.

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