Starting a Tech Business: A Practical Guide for Anyone Creating or Designing Applications or Software

What Now?

Starting a tech business is ultimately a creative endeavor. Though the tools here will give you a big leg up, the most important thing you'll do is dedicate yourself to your users. Most enduring technology franchises have a singular focus on their users. The reverse is also true. Tinker relentlessly and you'll find what works. Make sure you've set out explicit assumptions about the business and the means to determine whether the business is meeting those or needs a revision to its strategy.

Make sure you're enjoying the endeavor, and others will too.

I hope you enjoyed the book, and I wish you good luck. If the spirit moves you, please share your experiences and ideas on the book's website, Alexandercowan.com, or by e-mailing me at [e-mail].

—Alex Cowan

Chapter 8 Summary

1. Funnel

Use AIDAOR to build an explicit, measurable funnel that's linked to your key assumptions.

2. The Power of Partnerships

Look to expand the business through partnerships. Since partnerships can be a distraction as well, make sure they're tied to revenue in a timeframe you can live with.

3. Mind the Chasm

Don't assume you can extrapolate your sales growth. Tech startups undergo a critical transition from early markets to mainstream markets, and many don't cross that gap. After your early sales, your focus needs to be on establishing a beachhead in the mainstream market.

4. Rigidly Classify Customer Complaints

At NASA, every little piece of the Space Shuttle was instrumented ...