Strategy
Skills
Your Startup’s API Could be Its DisruptorTomasz provides a framework - a "balance of data trade" - for thinking through what to expose versus what to receive when designing an API to support a platform strategy.
Designing Revenue ModelsProduct leaders must focus on revenue models as much as the product and customer experience, as they contribute to the ability to create a flywheel for businesses, according to Giff Constable. How a company makes money can also create or limit customer behavior. Constable refers to Axial, a fintech marketplace, as an example, and how its revenue model affected its ability to create efficiency for buyers and sellers. Examples of revenue models include: • One-time purchases • Rentals/subscriptions • Advertising • Pay per use/transaction
High Tech vs. Tech-Enabled StartupsKarl defines high tech businesses vs. tech-enabled businesses, and provides pros, cons, and indicators for each.
Supercharge your products with a competitive auditRyan provides a how-to guide for performing a competitive design audit, which analyzes how a competitor uses nomenclature, UI strings, UX flows, and other content & design components.
How to Conduct a Competitive AnalysisPatrick takes a brand-centric perspective in his guide for how to perform a competitive analysis, which includes: • What to collect (including an Airtable template) • How to assess, including who are they talking to, what are their differentiators, and what does their brand believe • What can you infer about why the competitor made the decisions they made
Structuring the Organization and Duties of Product Marketing and Competitive AnalysisDave provides an outline on how to structure a competitive analysis team that reports to the CMO and is a peer to the Product Marketing team.
10 Ways to Build a Moat in SaaSAfter previously believing it is hard to have a moat as a SaaS company, Jason now believes at least 10 types exist: 1. Brand 2. Data 3. Structured Data 4. Partners + Ecosystem 5. Integrations 6. Agencies and Implementation Partners 7. Long-Term Contracts 8. Using Massive Amounts of Capital To Play In Every Segment 9. “Most Enterprise” Vendor 10. No Contract At All
M&A Ladder: Position Your Startup To Sell it For MoreElad goes through different ways acquirers value acquired companies, with valuation ranges as of 2011: 1. Team Hire ("acqui-hire") 2. Team Buy 3. Technology Buy 4. Business Asset 5. Strategic Asset
