Startups for the Rest of Us – Mike Taber & Rob Walling – MicroConf Europe 2016

The MicroConf Europe 2016 Talk Recaps can be found on the central hub page.

Website: startupsfortherestofus.com

Podcast episode:

• MicroConf Las Vegas 2017 will be 2 conferences back-to-back
  • Traditional MicroConf: April 10+11
  • MicroConf Starter Edition: April 12+13

Four Unfair Advantages for Faster SaaS Growth

• Why is it that HitTail got traction so quickly?
• All 4 are unfair advantages, but one is a requirement for fast early growth
• “The only real competitive advantage is that which cannot be copied and cannot be bought” – Jason Cohen

Be Early

• Most common unfair advantage
• works only temporary – especially if you talk about your success
• feasible in small or emerging markets
• requires swift execution
• Examples
  • Baremetrics
  • Balsamiq
  • Bidsketch
  • WooThemes
  • Basecamp

Who You Know

• Your network
  • People willing to endorse, promote, advise, or intro you
• You know people that competitors cannot access
• Examples
  • AppSumo
  • Clarity.fm
  • WPEngine
  • CartHook

Who Knows You

• Your audience
• An existing customer base
• People who know, like, and trust you
• Examples
  • SumoMe
  • Edgar
  • KISSMetrics
  • LeadFuze
  • Drip

Growth Expertise

• Tactics, Strategy, Experience in growing a business
• Examples
  • Qualaroo
  • Buffer

Not Unfair Advantages

• great design/UX
• technical or design skills
• Money
• an uncopyable idea
• domain expertise
• passion/interest/time/focus

-Christoph