Interesting perspective and I agree. On one hand in today's business environment we have the tools and tech to automate and scale like never before, but at the same time human interaction is key, such as interaction directly with founders and team members. The balancing of sides of this equation is one of the biggest challenges start ups face.
Interesting article with some relevant observations. Some do feel like old ideas parading as new ones.
For instance, points 1 and 2 essentially say the same thing - PR (aka storytelling) and community engagement have always been crucial for startups, regardless of their stage, unless you’re in a very niche or technical B2B space.
The visual split seems arbitrary, resembling two different types of companies rather than a clear distinction between "old" and "new" methods. It feels more like two strategies: the left side is geared towards outbound sales-driven companies, while the right leans into product-led and organic growth.
Customer needs and product-market fit have always been central to startup success, though the metrics and methods for gauging them have evolved. Staying lean and leveraging automation isn’t new either, but it’s getting a renewed spotlight as technology makes it more viable.
The idea of aligning marketing and sales efforts is familiar; the push for a more integrated approach feels like a refinement rather than a complete overhaul.
What I do see as a true shift is the focus on quality over speed or quantity in competitive markets. The emphasis on rigorous experimentation and operations-focused roles indicates a more analytical and iterative mindset.
I’m not fully on board with prioritizing retention and word-of-mouth over revenue milestones. Startups without revenue are struggling to attract investors, and many are now more focused on monetization than they were 15 years ago. It’s really about having flexibility in funding options, especially given the rising interest rates and economic uncertainty we’re facing.
Love to see WoM (word of mouth) being a clear indicator of PMF. Not a complicated and basic approach.
Fortunately, It is become essential KPI to measure in several cases and a traction engine.
A real and basic network effect example.
I feel like branding and brand story is so important right now.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Absolutely Mustafa & Matt.
Luckily, we are back to the essence 🙌🏼
Kyle, thanks for the inspiration and cutting through the noise as usual! Kudos.
Jose, Totally agree! What used to be buzzwords are now essentials in this new epoch moving at the speed of AI.
However, human-first fundamentals remain absolute and matter now more than ever.
Therefore, perhaps one could argue:
- human collaboration is the new competitive rocket fuel
- authenticity is no longer interesting, its vital
- and you need both to ignite and launch anything to great heights
If these are your superpowers as a startup, imagine the possibilites...
Onwards and upwards!
Mustafa "Inventing Future of Human-AI Collaboration" Sualp
🙌
Interesting perspective and I agree. On one hand in today's business environment we have the tools and tech to automate and scale like never before, but at the same time human interaction is key, such as interaction directly with founders and team members. The balancing of sides of this equation is one of the biggest challenges start ups face.
Interesting article with some relevant observations. Some do feel like old ideas parading as new ones.
For instance, points 1 and 2 essentially say the same thing - PR (aka storytelling) and community engagement have always been crucial for startups, regardless of their stage, unless you’re in a very niche or technical B2B space.
The visual split seems arbitrary, resembling two different types of companies rather than a clear distinction between "old" and "new" methods. It feels more like two strategies: the left side is geared towards outbound sales-driven companies, while the right leans into product-led and organic growth.
Customer needs and product-market fit have always been central to startup success, though the metrics and methods for gauging them have evolved. Staying lean and leveraging automation isn’t new either, but it’s getting a renewed spotlight as technology makes it more viable.
The idea of aligning marketing and sales efforts is familiar; the push for a more integrated approach feels like a refinement rather than a complete overhaul.
What I do see as a true shift is the focus on quality over speed or quantity in competitive markets. The emphasis on rigorous experimentation and operations-focused roles indicates a more analytical and iterative mindset.
I’m not fully on board with prioritizing retention and word-of-mouth over revenue milestones. Startups without revenue are struggling to attract investors, and many are now more focused on monetization than they were 15 years ago. It’s really about having flexibility in funding options, especially given the rising interest rates and economic uncertainty we’re facing.