The Physics of Startups with Rob Snyder The Startup Landscape: Waves, Dams, and Rivers
Jul 24, 2025
Explore how individual demand transforms into market momentum through the fascinating framework of waves, dams, and rivers. Waves represent suddenly urgent priorities, while dams illustrate pent-up demand waiting for the right solution. Rivers signify steady markets catering to niche needs. Learn how timing, regulation, and cultural shifts drive these dynamics, and discover why successful founders excel at recognizing their position within these market metaphors. Engage in the conversation about the strategic importance of aligning products with real customer needs.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Personal Startup Failure Turned Lesson
- Rob recounts building a startup that failed then later reached $4M ARR, highlighting learning gaps.
- That experience drove him to study why startups work when they do.
Start With One Person's To-Do List
- Demand starts at one person's to-do list and then aggregates across similar people.
- Build for one real customer first, then zoom out to find replicable structure.
External Shocks Create Waves
- External shocks (e.g., COVID, regulation) put similar projects on many people's to-do lists simultaneously.
- Those simultaneous projects create waves of demand ripe for focused solutions.
