http://gapingvoid.com/2006/02/15/the-new-way-to-launch-your-product-or-company/ "cartoons drawn on the back of business cards" Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:17:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://gapingvoid.com/2006/02/15/the-new-way-to-launch-your-product-or-company/#comment-9910 Fraser Kelton Fri, 17 Feb 2006 08:40:29 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=2068#comment-9910 There are <a href="http://disruptivethoughts.com/2006/01/30/37/" rel="nofollow">three stages to a start-up</a>: innovation, commercialization, and scaling. With respect to consumer-centric web services, tech gadgets, ... I believe that traditional VCs may not have a say in "what becomes successful", but innovative VCs who practice new services (discussed lately by Rick Segal, myself and others) can still influence what becomes successful - not by spending money to elevate products/services that suck, but by providing support and assistance to ensure that a product/service becomes a "great products/service with intuitive designs that solve a real problem". An innovative VC can add value and influence in the later phase of innovation, Phase II, and especially in the commercializing stage. In this stage validating the market segment, testing value propositions, finding the right foothold, among other tasks will help the product/service become "great". In any case, traditional VCs and innovative VCs can add definite value in the third stage of a start-up by providing the cash influx needed to bring the proven product to market. There are three stages to a start-up: innovation, commercialization, and scaling.
With respect to consumer-centric web services, tech gadgets, … I believe that traditional VCs may not have a say in “what becomes successful”, but innovative VCs who practice new services (discussed lately by Rick Segal, myself and others) can still influence what becomes successful — not by spending money to elevate products/services that suck, but by providing support and assistance to ensure that a product/service becomes a “great products/service with intuitive designs that solve a real problem”.
An innovative VC can add value and influence in the later phase of innovation, Phase II, and especially in the commercializing stage. In this stage validating the market segment, testing value propositions, finding the right foothold, among other tasks will help the product/service become “great”.
In any case, traditional VCs and innovative VCs can add definite value in the third stage of a start-up by providing the cash influx needed to bring the proven product to market.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2006/02/15/the-new-way-to-launch-your-product-or-company/#comment-9909 John Seiffer Thu, 16 Feb 2006 21:13:01 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=2068#comment-9909 But as to living in a meritocracy I think that's an ivory tower view point. The real world isn't so black or white. Examples: Yes it is easier now to get the right info and appreciate design when you're first making a decision. That points toward a meritocracy. But there is still the QWERTY syndrome that makes it hard to switch from what's entrenched even when something clearly better comes along. This is a sub-set of the first mover advantage. Then there is the second mover advantage. They say the early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese. Many times the first mover is ahead of its time and serves only to pave the way for the second mover who can learn from #1's mistakes or capitalize on a market that #1 softened up. But as to living in a meritocracy I think that’s an ivory tower view point. The real world isn’t so black or white. Examples:
Yes it is easier now to get the right info and appreciate design when you’re first making a decision. That points toward a meritocracy.
But there is still the QWERTY syndrome that makes it hard to switch from what’s entrenched even when something clearly better comes along. This is a sub-set of the first mover advantage.
Then there is the second mover advantage. They say the early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese. Many times the first mover is ahead of its time and serves only to pave the way for the second mover who can learn from #1’s mistakes or capitalize on a market that #1 softened up.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2006/02/15/the-new-way-to-launch-your-product-or-company/#comment-9908 hugh macleod Thu, 16 Feb 2006 18:22:54 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=2068#comment-9908 John, until the cheque clears the bank, it's all myth ;-) John, until the cheque clears the bank, it’s all myth

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2006/02/15/the-new-way-to-launch-your-product-or-company/#comment-9907 john Thu, 16 Feb 2006 17:57:13 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=2068#comment-9907 There are many first mover disadvanatges - that's why first mover advantage is a mythical concept! There are many first mover disadvanatges — that’s why first mover advantage is a mythical concept!

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2006/02/15/the-new-way-to-launch-your-product-or-company/#comment-9906 Ric Thu, 16 Feb 2006 16:53:11 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=2068#comment-9906 Having an advantage is good, but unless you TAKE advantage of it, it's been wasted on you. Having an advantage is good, but unless you TAKE advantage of it, it’s been wasted on you.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2006/02/15/the-new-way-to-launch-your-product-or-company/#comment-9905 hugh macleod Thu, 16 Feb 2006 01:31:59 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=2068#comment-9905 I don't think "first mover advantage" is a myth, John. Myth is what happens when you confuse "first mover advantage" with "final victory". I don’t think “first mover advantage” is a myth, John.
Myth is what happens when you confuse “first mover advantage” with “final victory”.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2006/02/15/the-new-way-to-launch-your-product-or-company/#comment-9904 john Wed, 15 Feb 2006 22:16:35 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=2068#comment-9904 I hope he would say that first-mover advantage was largely mythical - the first dotcom goldrush having been only the latest example of the fallacy of this cliche. I hope he would say that first-mover advantage was largely mythical — the first dotcom goldrush having been only the latest example of the fallacy of this cliche.

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