As the title says, I have a meeting with the COO of a potential competitor.

I reached out to them on LinkedIn through a cold message, gave them a very vague message on what we’re doing, and then suggested we meet to discuss what they’re building. I had no idea it would work, but it did! Now, I don’t know how to actually handle that conversation haha.

So how should I go about tackling this call?

  • BasketNo4817@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    First off be honest and tell the COO right up front that you build a competing solution and want to meet for a specific reason. If it means having discussions with the CEO then so be it.

    You are both in the trenches. So in a sense you are frenemies.

    As a 3x co founder and career startup guy, don’t waste your time or theirs.

    CEOs all have the same problems for the most part and if they seem open to discussion after disclosing who you are then have a gameplan.

    Otherwise why did you reach out? To play spy games? You win by being better or offering something mutually beneficial.

    Don’t beat around the bush and play mind games. It will bite you in the ass later if either of you are around long enough.