50 Founders Share How They Got Their First Customers

Summary

The video script details various entrepreneurs' journeys to secure their first customers. Techniques ranged from cold emails and LinkedIn outreach to leveraging personal networks and friends. Some started with a minimum viable product, while others used social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter to attract attention. The stories highlight the importance of persistence, creativity, and the power of community in finding initial support and validating their business ideas.

Takeaways

• 📧 The first customer was acquired through a well-crafted cold outreach email.
• 🚪 Another customer was acquired by going door-to-door and capitalizing on a chance encounter with the owner.
• 🗨 A voicemail left for a physical therapist led to a call back and a successful pitch, resulting in a customer.
• 🤝 The founders' background and approach resonated with the first customer, leading to a partnership.
• 💡 Initial customer discovery calls helped to refine the product and understand market interest.
• 💻 The first version of the product was developed in just seven days and deployed to the first customer.
• 🔗 LinkedIn was used effectively to connect with potential customers and understand their needs.
• 📈 A mock-up website with a waitlist posted on Reddit attracted significant interest, indicating a strong market fit.
• 🚀 A successful beta launch on Twitter led to a rapid increase in followers, GitHub stars, and website visitors.
• 🌐 Networking and making introductions within the industry helped to secure initial customers.
• 💡 Leveraging personal networks, including friends and family, was a common strategy for acquiring early customers.

Q & A

How did the company initially find their first customer?

The company found their first customer through a combination of cold outreach and going door-to-door, eventually capitalizing on a chance encounter with the owner of a food truck.

What was the method used to secure the first customer after the initial encounter?

The first customer was secured through a voicemail left for a physical therapist, who showed interest and decided to work with the company after hearing their background and intentions.

How did the company validate the interest in their product before having any code?

They conducted customer discovery calls to understand if there was interest in their product and sold a basic version of it to a company for $250 a month, which they developed in seven days.

What was the strategy behind creating a mock-up of the personal finance product?

The company created a mock-up and website with a waitlist to gauge interest and collect potential customers' information, which helped them understand the market need better.

How did the company leverage Reddit to gain traction for their product?

They posted their mock-up and waitlist on a Reddit group, which resulted in nearly a thousand sign-ups within 24 hours, indicating a strong resonance with the target audience.

What was the impact of launching a beta version of the product on Twitter?

The launch on Twitter led to a significant increase in followers, GitHub stars, and unique visitors, effectively attracting a large number of customers to the company.

How did the company acquire their first paying customer?

The first paying customer was acquired through sharing their work on LinkedIn, which led to inbound interest and a growing waitlist from which the customer was sourced.

What networking strategy did the company employ to find potential customers?

The company used networking, leveraging introductions from an advisor to connect with individuals at large AG tech companies.

How did the company plan to approach potential customers in the production industry?

The plan was to visit Los Angeles, make the rounds of production companies, and see who was interested in their tool.

What unconventional method did the company use to convert potential employers into customers?

The company responded to companies interested in hiring them as a software engineer by suggesting they buy the software that does the same job instead.

How did the company utilize their network to find initial customers?

They started by launching with friends and family to test processes and pricing, and then received referrals through their networks, including extended family holiday home pages.