ask Business Plan Customer Customer Development Vertical 
Steve Blank
NOVEMBER 5, 2009
Chasing funding versus chasing customers and a repeatable and scalable business model, is one reason startups fail. Chasing funding versus chasing customers and a repeatable and scalable business model, is one reason startups fail. What are Early Stage VC’s Really Asking? Is there a profitable business model?
Steve Blank
AUGUST 31, 2009
So what’s wrong the product development model? The first hint lies in its name; this is a product development model, not a marketing model, not a sales hiring model, not a customer acquisition model, not even a financing model (and we’ll also find that in most cases it’s even a poor model to use to develop a product.)
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Steve Blank
MAY 7, 2009
I hate business plan competitions. I Love Business Plan Competitions I had a breakfast with a friend who has founded a few companies in Thailand and started the New Ventures Program at one of their universities. For all the reasons why business plan competitions are wonderful for students from outside the U.S.,
Steve Blank
JULY 27, 2009
I walked into the VP of Sales’ office and with my knees trembling, I politely asked for the job. He said, “you know I figured it would be you to come in here and ask for the job. All I had to do was ask. For entrepreneurs good things come to those who ask. What’s Marketing?
Steve Blank
JUNE 8, 2009
In the last three posts, we drew the relationship of market risk and invention risk with vertical markets and pointed out verticals where customer development would be useful. In contrast to simply executing your business plan, the Customer Development process is built on low-cost and continuous learning and iterating.
Steve Blank
JUNE 3, 2009
Reducing Risk – Simulation versus Customer Development If you remember the first part of this discussion, startups face two types of risk; invention risk and/or customer/market risk. The Customer Development Process I teach and write about is designed to do just that.
Steve Blank
DECEMBER 7, 2009
Customer Development We were starting Epiphany, my last company. I was out and about in Silicon Valley doing what I would now call Customer Discovery trying to understand how marketing departments in large corporations worked. He continued: “I’d like to convince my boss so our company can be your first customer.”
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
267 
Let's personalize your content