Y Combinator Startup Podcast Startup Experts Discuss Doing Things That Don't Scale | Office Hours
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Nov 16, 2024 Explore the significance of founders personally engaging with customers in the early stages of a startup. Learn how addressing immediate challenges can lay a strong foundation, as seen in a case study of a secondhand clothing marketplace. Discover the power of manual tasks in shaping business insights and building relationships. Uncover the unconventional launch strategies of startups and the importance of balancing unscalable efforts with scalable growth for long-term success.
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Scalability Obsession
- Scalability was an obsession in the early 2000s due to technical limitations and Google's influence.
- This warped founders' and investors' minds, prioritizing scalability over user needs.
Prioritize User Acquisition
- Focus on your biggest problem at any given time, which is often user acquisition, not scaling.
- Address scaling once your product has proven its value and user base.
Airbnb's Early Growth
- Airbnb founders initially struggled with user growth.
- Paul Graham advised them to manually enhance listings with high-quality photos, a non-scalable but effective tactic.