Okay, I just got investment from the largest and most reputable VC in my country.
As part of the deal, I will have access to around 1000 large companies. Basically VC can just call these companies and have them try/buy my product. So this really is a golden ticket. The VC money I am getting is also a pretty size-able amount.
This is a pre-seed round, my product is still at ideation phase. What I am looking to develop is basically airtable.com competitor, but much easier to use, more geared toward small/medium enterprises and will have more country specific integrations. Basically I have unlimited access to distribution and sales should come easy, given the respect VC has in my country.
Given that I will have immediate access to about 1000 large b2b customers, is airtable like competitor the best course of action? Or is there a better idea I can develop into an MVP? My main goal is to develop the MVP and get to profitability as fast as possible.
Good point. And yes that’s what I will be aiming for. Because if we don’t hit that, i will have to raise even more funding.
If your plan is to fully leverage these 1,000 Cos to test/buy your product, then I think you should try to hear what they have to say - what their problems are.
Pick a couple of Execs from each company depending on what the company specializes in, (CEO, CMO/CSO, CTO, CPO), a couple middle managers and 1 low-level employee and interview them.
Take your time in doing so. It will take time. Scheduling talking to them, learning and adapting for the next interviews as your progress… but the insights and feedback will be invaluable. Don’t ask them “would you use this?”, showing them airtable. Understand THEIR problems, THEIR struggles. Build a product that actually solves their problems, not one that you think does.
I am also a previous founder with a successful exit, and I am currently slowly but surely getting back in the game after a year of traveling the world. I’m happy to chat more and more specifically if you’d like. Feel free to DM me!