Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People Mike Maples Jr.: Inflection Points and Startup Success
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Jan 29, 2025 Mike Maples Jr., Co-founder of Floodgate and early investor in Twitter and Twitch, dives into the art of spotting the ‘inflection points’ that can make or break startups. He argues that the wildest ideas often take the crown and explains how being dismissed can be a secret advantage. Maples tackles the nuances of pitching for venture capital and shares how understanding key changes in tech, especially in AI and automotive, can set successful entrepreneurs apart. Plus, he reflects on the importance of knowing when to walk away from success for lasting fulfillment.
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Inflections for Disruption
- Startups must leverage "inflections," external changes that allow them to disrupt existing markets.
- These inflections enable startups to offer unique value propositions, rendering comparisons to incumbents irrelevant.
Different, Not Better
- "Better" products often fail because customers prefer established companies.
- Startups should offer something radically different, impossible before the inflection, to truly capture the market.
Target Future Markets
- Aim for outlier potential by defining new markets, not competing in existing ones.
- Focus on the total future market, leveraging inflections to create something unprecedented.
