Beyond Fit: How Speedsters Win the Startup Race

A Thought Leadership article we liked from Valor Ventures:

Speed is the New Seed: What Founders Need to Know To Attract A Top Seed Round Lead Now

The pace of top startup software adoption is accelerating at an unprecedented rate.

The graph showing how quickly ChatGPT reached 100 million users in just two months is a testament to this. For a “reality check,” think about how Reed Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, wrote a book about how to scale fast, Blitzscaling. See how that “blitzscale” reads in comparison now!

(FYI, this chart is part of an excellent recent report from Mary Meeker at Bond that you can access here).

For founders seeking a seed round today, this rapid scaling underscores the importance of unlocking speed in their growth strategy.

Prioritize Your Scaling Plan in Seed Round Pitches

Investors are looking for startups that can demonstrate a clear, actionable plan for rapid scaling. That has always been true—the companies on this chart WERE the record setters of their day. What most founders don’t realize, though, is how much the scale has shifted because of AI. In this new climate, founders should be prepared to showcase their scaling strategy, emphasizing how they intend to leverage AI to accelerate growth. AI’s potential to streamline operations, enhance user engagement, and optimize marketing efforts can be a game-changer—even if the product is not AI at its core.

The $100M Milestone Mindset

I recommend adopting a mindset focused on reaching 100 million users or $100 million in revenue. It’s not just ambitious, it’s the bar to attract and engage a great seed round lead. Even if you’re not pitching for...

Read the rest of this article at valor.com...

Thanks for this article excerpt and its graphics to Valor Ventures.

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