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I'm curious about how do YC top performers do on these stats? So that I might improve myself.
Thanks in advance, Santy
Just kidding. I'm not YC -- I bootstrapped. But never did cold calls.
1. Quality over quantity. "Talk to users" works best when you have a well-defined market or ICP. Talking to 10 users in your ultra-specific niche is way better than talking to 100 users across multiple niches.
2. Your script matters a lot. Asking leading questions will get you results you can't trust. I think The Mom Test (https://www.amazon.com/Mom-Test-customers-business-everyone/...) is a great intro on this topic.
3. Talk to enough users that you start being able to predict their answers. If you are running interviews and still getting new/surprising answers to your questions, then it means you either haven't spoken to enough people or have a poorly defined ICP... If you need #s, I generally find that after 10 interviews in a very focused ICP, you should start seeing patterns.
Finally, there is an exception to every rule. Your specific market might need more interviews, or you might have such a good insight that you skip formal interviewing all together.
You guys cold call? Just kidding. I'm not YC -- I bootstrapped. But never did cold calls.
thanks for answering! very kind
what they say is less important than what they do
Went through S12, and also talk to a lot of YC founders. A few thoughts: 1. Quality over quantity. "Talk to users" works best when you have a well-defined market or ICP. Talking to 10 users in your ultra-specific niche is way better than talking to 100 users across multiple niches. 2. Your script matters a lot. Asking leading questions will get you results you can't trust. I think The Mom Test ( https://www.amazon.co…
1- I hadn't thought about it. Maybe I was being too general. 2- Read it. Using it in all interviews so far. 3- Cool thing to aim for.
Again, thanks so much :)
what they say is less important than what they do
what do you mean?
I like that question because it can avoid the trap of all the end users agreeing something is a problem, but not being interested in spending money on solutions. Quite a few developer SaaS tools fall into this category.
You guys cold call? Just kidding. I'm not YC -- I bootstrapped. But never did cold calls.
that's great. what other strategies did you use to get the first clients? or was it just the pure bliss of making such a great product it spread by word of mouth? thanks for answering! very kind