Embracing Imperfections and Rapid Market Entry as a Startup Founder
The concept of “being in the market” is a term that many product-focused individuals might find challenging. However, it’s crucial to understand its importance. Having a product in the market for potential users to experience means invaluable feedback comes your way.
Recently, a trend has emerged advocating for creating the perfect product. This notion, while alluring, insists that your product must be spotless from the get-go. However, this approach can be counterproductive, as it slows down your momentum significantly.
I’ve experienced this firsthand. I used to stress about ensuring that the products I put out made a fantastic first impression. However, the pursuit of perfection can be time-consuming, which contradicts the general principle of launching as quickly as possible. My co-founder and I often disagreed on this point. I wanted to take the time to craft a high-quality product, while my co-founder advocated for creating a basic, albeit less polished, version to get to market swiftly. Looking back, I realize he was right, but that doesn’t discount the validity of wanting to launch a high-quality product.
Even if you manage to create the perfect product, that ‘perfection’ is subjective, shaped by your perspective, not necessarily your customers’ needs. I know many founders whose products have evolved dramatically since their initial launch. You can’t predict whether the first iteration will resonate with the audience. So, launch your product, start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in a workable condition, and encourage people to test it. Collect their likes, dislikes, and suggestions, and continue iterating. Before you know it, you’ll have a product that your customers truly desire.
This is Day 2 of our #100DaysOfStartup journey, building Creavio, which is an all-in-one platform designed for creators to monetize their content and community. If this sounds like you, join our waitlist for VIP 1–1 onboarding and early access.
Read Day 1 issue here here. You can follow me on Twitter, Linkedin, and of course, here on Medium.
