A Product Market Fit Show | Startup Podcast for Founders He raised $250K, had thousands of users, but failed— because he didn't pivot fast enough. | Darius Vaillancourt, Founder of Howdy
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Jan 16, 2025 Darius Vaillancourt, the founder of Howdy, an EdTech startup that gained traction during the pandemic, shares his journey from success to a missed opportunity. He discusses the initial surge of users and improved course completion rates, but reveals the crucial mistake of not pivoting quickly enough when universities showed little interest in paying. Darius emphasizes the gap between user needs and buyer priorities, the importance of identifying the right KPIs, and the necessity of adapting swiftly to market dynamics.
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Howdy's Origin
- Darius Vaillancourt's background was in real estate private equity.
- He pivoted to ed-tech during COVID, creating Howdy to connect online learners.
Early Success
- Initial tests showed increased engagement and course completion rates.
- Online courses, even those by top professors, suffer from high dropout rates.
Prioritize Product
- Darius' advisors recommended prioritizing product development over monetization.
- Focus on making the product so good that potential clients cannot ignore it.