TLDR FoundersJune 14, 2024

TLDR FOUNDERS 2024-06-14

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01HEADLINES & TRENDS

META COULD THREATEN GOOGLE'S SEARCH CROWN

Meta poses the biggest threat to unseat Google in search, more so than ChatGPT or other AI challengers. Meta's advantage lies in its massive distribution across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, rivaling Google's reach. Meta is already testing discovery searches in these apps that could easily be routed to its own search results instead of Google's. While AI search startups lack distribution, Meta's ad network means it can immediately monetize and chip away at Google's market share.

productledseo.substack.com4 min read

OUTBOUND AI SDRS: IS THIS THE FUTURE OF SALES?

AI SDRs that automate the entire outbound sales process, from prospecting to meeting booking, are on the rise. Gartner predicts 30% of outbound comms will be AI-generated by 2025. Products like Jason by Reply, anybiz, AiSDR, and others are leading this wave. As the technology advances, we'll see AI inbound SDRs, AI account execs, and specialized outbound growth teams emerge. However, execution risk remains the biggest challenge in an AI-first sales world.

saashill.beehiiv.com3 min read

THE CONSUMER RENAISSANCE PART II

Forget the VC cold shoulder — consumer tech is ripe for a Renaissance, and savvy investors are tapping into the potential. With only 7.1% of Seed capital flowing to consumer startups, the market's oversight is a golden ticket. Innovations in AI-driven shopping, the booming wellness sector, and evolving consumer spend patterns are hotbeds for disruption. Now's the time to carve out your niche in this underfunded yet overachieving space. Consumer is not just back — it's the future.

digitalnative.tech8 min read

02STRATEGIES & TACTICS

HOW CALENDLY OVERHAULED THEIR PRODUCT-LED SALES MOTION

Calendly, a scheduling tool, faced an inefficient sales process as a PLG business - small deals were routed to sales and enterprises were on self-serve plans. Under CRO Jessica Gilmartin, it transformed its lead scoring, routing, and team structure using automation. This increased meeting rates by 40% while enhancing the customer experience. Key lessons: organize teams around how people buy, tailor web CTAs to intent, seamlessly route leads, and have no dead ends even for small deals.

growthunhinged.com8 min read

SAAS PLAYGROUNDS: HOW INTERACTIVE DEMOS BOOST CONVERSIONS

SaaS companies like Webflow, Mercury, and mmm.page are using interactive no-signup demos to showcase their products' value and reach the user's "aha" moment pre-conversion. Research shows users who engage with demos are 1.5x more likely to convert. While the open access risks competitor snooping and limits lead data capture, demos remain a powerful tool for SaaS, especially those with complex products. Best practices include customization, guided tours, and personalization.

newsletter.failory.com4 min read

WHY BEING THE LAST COMPANY TO LAUNCH IN A CATEGORY CAN PAY OFF

Jordan Nathan's strategic late entry with Caraway cookware turned the tables in a saturated DTC market. By analyzing rivals' positioning, Caraway found its niche with wedding registries, a focus on set sales, and preemptive retail partnerships — a combo competitors missed. While this delayed start meant a tough initial fundraise, Caraway's unique approach eventually cooked up over $40 million in VC funding and product expansion, showcasing the power of strategic timing and differentiation for founders in crowded markets.

techcrunch.com3 min read

03TOOLS & RESOURCES

HOW TO KICKSTART SEO FOR YOUR NEW WEBSITE

New website? Boost visibility and traffic with these SEO essentials.

indiehackers.com3 min read

PHOTOROOM

AI to create realistic, studio-quality backgrounds for your product images.

photoroom.comTool

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO HIRING SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS FOR YOUR STARTUP

Hiring software developers for startups is tough due to a limited talent pool, competition, and high costs – here's a guide covering how to do it well.

deazy.com9 min read

04MISCELLANEOUS

AN ODE TO EARLY EMPLOYEES

Ex-post-facto founders – early employees shouldering 'co-founder-like' burdens – often get the worst equity deal in startups today. Founders undertake the most risk but get outsize rewards, later employees the reverse. However, early team members take on substantial risk too, often for <1% equity. Suggestions: use honorary co-founder titles, allow promotions into the founding team, dedicate a 10-15% equity pool, and standardize founder-like liquidity. Rewarding critical early teammates proportionally benefits both sides.

blog.hariraghavan.com5 min read

WHY HOLLYWOOD AND GAMING STRUGGLE WITH AI

From reluctance to venture into untested waters and legal IP concerns to resistance from creatives and the challenge of hiring AI talent, traditional giants face significant hurdles embracing AI in the entertainment and video game industries. This resistance creates a perfect storm for startups to lead a revolution in entertainment and gaming by building AI-first experiences and exploring new, untapped genres.

andrewchen.substack.com9 min read

THE PRATFALL EFFECT: WHY WE BUY

The Pratfall Effect suggests that displaying vulnerability or flaws can actually increase attractiveness and relatability. In marketing, brands strategically showcase weaknesses to boost likability and trust. Examples include VW's "Lemon" ad, Avis' "We're No. 2" campaign, and Domino's "Pizza Turnaround". By admitting imperfections, brands appear more human and authentic. The key is balancing flaws with competence to avoid damaging credibility. When used deftly, the Pratfall Effect is a powerful persuasion tool.

ckarchive.com3 min read