In this episode, Christian Idiodi welcomes back Martina Lauchengco, partner at SVPG and author of “Loved”, to explore the realities of startups. They discuss common challenges and key lessons for startup founders, employees, and investors. Whether you're considering launching your own company or evaluating a job opportunity, this episode offers valuable guidance on understanding and navigating startups.

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Today’s discussion unpacks:

What startup success requires (far beyond a good idea)
Cultural differences between startups and enterprises
How to tell if you’re truly ready to start a company
How to assess if a startup is worth joining
The pros and cons of startup life

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References:

Costanoa Ventures: https://costanoa.vc/
MARKET Product Fit: Part 2 by Martina Lauchengco and Jim Wilson: https://costanoa.vc/market-product-fit-part-2/
PMF is dead… it’s MARKET Product Fit by Martina Lauchengco and Jim Wilson: https://costanoa.vc/product-market-fit-pmf-is-dead-for-early-stage-startups-its-market-product-fit/

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Where to find SVPG:

SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/
Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/
Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/
Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/
Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/

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Where to find Christian Idiodi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/

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Where to find Martina Lauchengco:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinalauchengco/

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Timestamps:

(00:51) Signs you should start your own company

(2:26) A good idea is not enough

(3:44) How to assess if you’re ready to work in startups

(06:31) The extremely high quality bar for new products

(09:44) Some traits of great founders

(12:25) Finding the right co-founder

(14:27) The first steps to take in a startup

(16:48) What startups should focus on

(18:29) What's scary about startups

(20:44) The upsides of startup life

(22:01) What to look for in startup hire #1

(23:13) How to assess if a startup is worth joining

(25:52) Startup culture vs enterprise culture

(27:17) Leading indicators of startup success vs failure

(29:30) Outro

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Disclaimer:

While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

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Production:

Production by ⁠supermix.io

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