Jason Fan’s Post

Here's the 1st rule in startup. You can't market a product nobody wants. That’s what makes GTM the first milestone. It sets the stage for all-things-revenue, hiring, pricing, even term sheet negotiations. When your try to do the term sheet thing before understanding your GTM, that’s what makes fundriaisng so draining. If your startup's GTM strategy isn't a priority, you're not starting on the right foot. Remember this, dear founders. A great GTM won’t sell shitty product. But a shitty GTM (or the lack of one altogether) can kill a great product. So, first things first. Nail your GTM. If you’re an early-stage B2B software founder, consider joining our Dena Startup Lab GTM Community.  Link down in first comment. Happy Thursday, ya’ll.

99% of Startup founders : "We can't develop our product; it's too complicated. We need a full-stack CTO, a ninja, a front-end, 14 pairs of flip flips and $400k." Me : I just created an "email signature generator" because it's crazy that in 2024 it's still a struggle to get proper signatures in emails. like. WTF. <Tables ?> How long it took ? 8min24 How ? bolt.new Bolt Is giving a new dimension to software development and the way we will build micro applications aka #microsaas in the futur. I'm quite impressed by the results. Crazy Times Check it out : https://lnkd.in/d7FDWu-i

I am giving up! It's time to admit the truth: the Curbn Community just isn't working. People don't engage with it. It makes sense, since the people I target are already overwhelmed by default. So, it's time to pivot and develop a new strategy. One that better suits startup founders and still helps them beat burnout and ship faster. Because I won't give up on that! Already working on some ideas, and even a landing page. Stay tuned!

Wrong tech stack = Wasted time. Selecting the wrong technologies for your software product can result in costly setbacks. I have seen many founders & companies struggle with this crucial decision. But Your competition isn't waiting. Which factor matters most when choosing your startup's tech stack? A) Popularity of the technology B) Your team's expertise C) Scalability potential D) Development speed Vote in the comments! We'll reveal the answer and explain why in our next post. #TechStackChoice #StartupPoll

Open source is much more than just sharing code; it represents a culture of collaboration, innovation, and transparency that can supercharge a small startup’s growth into something much larger. A great example is Red Hat. This company started small, betting on open-source software at a time when few believed in its potential. By building a business around Linux and fostering a global community of developers, Red Hat didn’t just create a product. It built an entire ecosystem where innovation flowed freely. Fast forward, and Red Hat became a billion-dollar company, eventually acquired by IBM. Another fantastic story is GitLab. They opened up their development process to contributors from across the globe, allowing anyone to contribute ideas and improvements to the platform. This community-driven approach enabled GitLab to scale rapidly and become a multi-billion-dollar company. The beauty of open source for startups is that it allows them to tap into a global pool of talent, ideas, and resources without the limitations of working in isolation. By embracing open-source development, startups can grow dynamically, engage with their users in meaningful ways, and scale at a much faster rate. More importantly, when startups contribute back to the open-source community, they build trust and credibility, attracting top talent and positioning themselves as leaders in their space. If you’re running a small startup and aiming for rapid growth, embracing open source could be the key to unlocking new opportunities and innovation. #OpenSource #StartupGrowth #TechCommunity #Innovation #BusinessDevelopment

🌟 The Story of Reddit: How Persistence and Curiosity Built an Internet Giant Before Reddit became the massive platform it is today, it started with two young founders, Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian, pitching a completely different idea—ordering fast food via cellphone. 🚀 Their first idea wasn’t great, but what made them special was their determination and curiosity. When their original idea didn’t stick, they pivoted to what we now know as Reddit, inspired by the success of the link-sharing site Delicio.us. 💡 It’s incredible how closely Reddit’s personality matches its founders: curious, skeptical, and always looking for something new—traits that Steve embodied and which helped shape the platform into a place where fresh content thrives. In the early days, it was just a few users—Steve, Alexis, and their friends—but the concept had so much value that the platform grew steadily. Even during periods of mismanagement, Reddit’s utility and community-driven design made it nearly unkillable. When Steve returned in 2015, Reddit was poised for explosive growth. Under his leadership, it’s clear there’s much more to come. The story of Reddit shows that a great startup isn’t just about the initial idea—it’s about the founders’ ability to adapt and stay curious. #Startups #Reddit #TechStory #Persistence #PaulGraham #Leadership

Getting a product built is extremely difficult for non-technical founders who just want to get a solid V1 out to market. Finding a reliable CTO to work on equity alone is nearly impossible. No-code tools are helpful but have massive limitations. Traditional development agencies are too expensive and aren’t nimble enough to work with the iterative nature of a startup. That’s why I’m stoked to partner up with Byldd aiming to get them on the radar of founders who follow me. BYLDD is a startup product studio that partners with non technical founders to build their first product in under a month for about $10,000. They understand revenue is the best validation so they focus on getting in front of customers as fast as possible to help founders go from zero to a revenue generating product in under a month. I’ve had several chats with the founder, Ayush Singhvi, and he’s a straight shooter who just wants to help founders ship faster, for less, and get to market (and revenue) quickly. If you’re interested in learning more about their process, check out their website (linked the first comment), and if you want to have a conversation, shoot me a DM, and I’ll be happy to introduce you to a member of their team. #sponsoredPost

Did you know that startups with a pre-launch waiting list outperform their peers in traction, demand validation, and community building? 🤯 Think Gmail’s invite-only launch or Dropbox’s referral-powered buzz—these weren’t accidents. They were strategies. 🎯 But here’s the catch: most startups don’t know how to build one effectively. If you’re preparing to launch your MVP, these are our insider secrets to get your first 100 (or 1,000!) customers. It's the actual roadmap we use for our clients—from creating irresistible landing pages to viral referral programs, these 8 actionable steps will set your product up for success from day one. 👉 Your MVP’s future isn’t in the launch. It’s in the build-up. (Link in 1st comment)

Wrong tech stack = Wasted time. Selecting the wrong technologies for your software product can result in costly setbacks. I have seen many founders & companies struggle with this crucial decision. But Your competition isn't waiting. Which factor matters most when choosing your startup's tech stack? A) Popularity of the technology B) Your team's expertise C) Scalability potential D) Development speed Vote in the comments! We'll reveal the answer and explain why in our next post. #TechStackChoice #StartupPoll

An issue I often discuss in startup circles is "SaaS market maturity." It's frustrating to continually emphasize this point, only to be met with outdated perspectives and approaches. The reality is that the old ways are no longer effective. Get and follow a NEW PLAYBOOK for 2024!