50 Founders Share How They Got Their First Customers
Y Combinator
4 min, 0 sec
Entrepreneurs share their experiences and methods of finding their first customers, highlighting the importance of networking, cold outreach, and leveraging online platforms.
Summary
- Founders discuss various strategies used to acquire their first customers, including cold emails, door-to-door visits, and leveraging social media and professional networks.
- One entrepreneur describes success in finding a customer by standing outside a food truck waiting for the owner to take a break.
- Another entrepreneur shares a story of converting users from a Reddit group to a waitlist, leading to a successful closed beta launch.
- Several founders emphasize the significance of using personal networks and community referrals to gain initial customers.
- Strategies such as creating mock-ups, launching on social platforms, and directly converting interested companies are also mentioned as effective customer acquisition methods.
Chapter 1
Founders narrate their early attempts at acquiring customers through cold outreach and in-person visits.
- One founder describes using cold email as an effective tool for customer acquisition.
- Another recounts the method of going door-to-door and waiting for a business owner at a food truck to take a break and then seizing the opportunity to pitch.
- Voicemail left for a potential customer leads to a positive response due to the founder's genuine background story.
Chapter 2
Entrepreneurs leverage online communities and social media to attract their first customers.
- Founders share stories of using Reddit to gather a thousand people on a waitlist within 24 hours, indicating a strong market need.
- A Twitter launch results in a significant increase in followers and website visitors, showcasing the power of social media.
- LinkedIn proves to be a useful tool for one founder who shares their business progress and attracts inbound interest.
Chapter 3
Personal and professional networks play a crucial role in acquiring the initial set of customers.
- One entrepreneur successfully gets introductions to big companies from a well-connected advisor.
- Another plans to visit production companies in Los Angeles to pitch their tool.
- Turning down job offers in favor of proposing the founders' own software solution helps in customer acquisition.
Chapter 4
Founders tap into their friends and family networks to gain early customers and test their products.
- Friends and acquaintances serve as the first customers for some founders, allowing them to refine their offerings.
- Launching with friends and family helps test pricing strategies and business processes before scaling to a broader market.
- Referrals from close networks lead to organic growth and more customer acquisition.
Chapter 5
After utilizing their networks, founders aim to expand their customer base using various marketing strategies.
- Founders rely on their professional networks to gain initial customers who are willing to invest in their products.
- Positive feedback from these first customers, along with other marketing techniques, is expected to help scale the business.
- The goal for many is to significantly increase their customer base by the time of their demo day presentations.
More Y Combinator summaries
How Much Equity to Give Your Cofounder - Michael Seibel
Y Combinator
A detailed guide on allocating equity to co-founders, emphasizing motivation, negotiation, and the use of vesting periods as a safeguard.
The Best Way To Launch Your Startup | Startup School
Y Combinator
An in-depth look at how startups should approach launching, with advice from a Y Combinator expert.
Will OpenAI Kill All Startups?
Y Combinator
Michael Seibel and Dalton Caldwell discuss the impact of OpenAI on startups and the potential for AI to create new opportunities.
The Real Product Market Fit by Michael Seibel
Y Combinator
The video discusses the often misunderstood concept of product market fit, providing insights into what it truly means and why many startups fail to achieve it.
Understanding SAFEs and Priced Equity Rounds by Kirsty Nathoo
Y Combinator
A detailed overview of financing instruments for startups, focusing on the importance of understanding dilution.
Co-Founder Mistakes That Kill Companies & How To Avoid Them
Y Combinator
The video discusses the critical role of a co-founder in a startup's success and the common pitfalls to avoid when selecting one.