Learn how to get your first customers, gain control of your startup destiny, and understand the tactics of sales with this essential Startup School video.

Gustaf Alströmer, a Y Combinator group partner, explains how to get your first customers for a startup. He advises Founders to do things that don't scale, and that they should be the ones doing the sales in the beginning. He references Paul Graham's essay about the early days of Airbnb and the startup curve to illustrate his points. He emphasizes the importance of understanding your customer, writing clear and concise emails, and showing the social proof of your team and product. Finally, he encourages Founders to stay the course, not give up, and have a passion for solving customer problems.

Learning Outline

1. The importance of the mindset of “Doing Things That Don’t Scale” when it comes to getting your first customers
2. Tactics for recruiting customers and the importance of founders doing sales
3. Explaining the startup curve and how founders make the difference between success and failure
4. The importance of learning how to do sales and why founders should be the ones doing it
5. What a great sales email should look like, including clear language, addressing the customer's problem, and describing why the founder and their team are impressive
6. The importance of charging for your product
7. How to work backwards from your goals and why it is important

Instructional Content

Getting customers is a critical and often daunting task that startups face, but it doesn't have to be so difficult. In this video, YC partner Gustav talks about some of the best practices and tactics for getting your first customers as a startup. He starts by discussing Paul Graham's famous essay Do Things that Don't Scale, which emphasizes the need for founders to manually recruit customers rather than relying on automated means. Gustav then presents the startup curve, which highlights the need for founders to stay the course and not give up if they want to reach the promised land of product-market fit.

Next, Gustav talks about the importance of sales. He explains that learning the tactics of sales is only one side of the equation; the most important side is to have the desire to succeed. He also argues that founders should learn how to do sales themselves before hiring a sales team, as only then will they know what good looks like. Gustav then shares success stories of founders who learned to do sales, such as Tony from DoorDash, Matilda from Front, Tracy from PlanGrid, and Steve Jobs.

Gustav then provides an example of a successful sales email written by the Brex founders, which includes a clear value proposition, speaks directly to the customer, and is written in plain text. He also shares advice on how to write a great sales email, including keeping it short, using clear language, addressing the customer's problem, and including social proof.

By following Gustav's advice, startups can take the first steps to getting their first customers. By understanding the importance of manual customer recruitment, staying the course, and learning how to do sales, startups can make their dreams a reality.

Management

"Winning at Management: Customers"

Management is an important skill for any entrepreneur or startup, as it is vital for success. Assertiveness and influence and persuasion are key components of any successful Management strategy. Assertiveness is the ability to express one's opinion or point of view without hesitation or fear. It is important for entrepreneurs and startups to be able to express their ideas confidently and without fear of being ignored or ridiculed. On the other hand, influence and persuasion involve being able to persuade others to agree with your ideas or requests. This is a key skill in the business world and can be the difference between success and failure.

The video “How to Get Your First Customers”, as well as the transcript, provide valuable information for entrepreneurs and startups looking to hone their Management skills. It explains how entrepreneurs can use tactics like “doing things that don’t scale” and how to effectively do sales by understanding their customers’ needs. It also discusses the importance of charging for a product and how to work backwards from goals.

In order to improve Management in learners, a comprehensive guide should include the following components. First, it should focus on developing assertiveness and influence and persuasion skills. This includes teaching learners to confidently express their opinions, as well as how to effectively persuade others. Second, it should cover the importance of understanding their customers’ needs and how to use tactics like “doing things that don’t scale” to help them get their first customers. Finally, it should focus on how to work backwards from goals and why charging for products is so important.

In conclusion, Management is a vital skill for entrepreneurs and startups. Assertiveness and influence and persuasion are key components of any successful Management strategy. The video “How to Get Your First Customers”, as well as the transcript, provide valuable information for entrepreneurs and startups looking to hone their Management skills. A comprehensive guide to improving Management in learners should focus on developing assertiveness and influence and persuasion skills, understanding their customers’ needs, and working backwards from goals.

Startup and Entrepreneurship

Grow Your Business: Ready?

Upskilling yourself to be successful in personal growth and professional development starts with taking the necessary steps to get your first customers. The video “How to Get Your First Customers | Startup School” provides actionable advice on how to do just that. The key takeaway from the video is that founders should be the ones doing sales in the beginning. Doing things that don’t scale is also a critical mindset to have when launching a startup. This includes manually recruiting customers, testing new things and continuously adapting to customer feedback.

The most successful startups are driven by the founders, not code or robots. The “startup curve” illustrates how startups take off with manual effort and not by pushing buttons on an advertising network. Learning the tactics of sales is essential, but more important is knowing that it comes down to you. The founders are the ones that make the difference between success and failure.

Breaking into sales requires learning the art of communication. Knowing your customer and the problem you are solving is essential. Founders should practice writing short, clear emails with no jargon or buzzwords. Address the customer’s problem and be sure to highlight your impressive qualifications and social proof.

At the end of the day, it’s important to stay the course and not give up. Doing the hard work in the beginning will pay off and put you on the path to success. Being an expert in startup and entrepreneurship means understanding the tactics and mindset of how to get your first customers.

Assertiveness

Can Assertiveness Attract Customers?

Assertiveness is an important skill for both personal growth and professional development. As outlined in the video “How to Get Your First Customers | Startup School”, success in the early days of a startup requires a mindset of “doing things that don’t scale” and a commitment to actively recruit customers. It is essential that founders take on the sales role and understand the tactics of sales in order to make their startup take off. The “startup curve” demonstrates that it is the founders who make the difference between success and failure in the early days of a startup.

When it comes to sales, the most important thing for founders to remember is that they have to be passionate about solving customer problems. It is not enough to simply push a button on an advertising network; founders need to dedicate themselves to understanding their customers and learning the tactics of sales. They should also take advantage of their resources, such as the Y Combinator batch, to actively recruit customers and spread their message.

Founders should also learn to use clear language without jargon or buzzwords when crafting emails to potential customers. They should address the customer’s problem and include social proof to demonstrate the value of their product. This can be done by mentioning accolades or awards the company has won, or by sharing stories of customers who have had success with the product.

Ultimately, it is essential that founders cultivate their assertiveness and take an active role in recruiting customers. They must understand the tactics of sales, use clear language, and demonstrate their commitment to solving customer problems. Doing so will help them build successful companies and be successful in their professional development.

Influence and Persuasion

Can You Persuade Customers?

Upskilling yourself to become more successful in personal growth and professional development can be difficult, but with the right tools and resources, it is achievable. One such example is the video “How to Get Your First Customers | Startup School”. This video, and the accompanying transcript, provides valuable advice on how to go about getting your first customers. The video outlines the importance of doing things that don’t scale, such as talking to customers and doing sales. It also explains why it is so important for startups to charge for their products, and how to work backwards from goals.

The video highlights the importance of the founders in the early days of a startup, and how they are the ones that make the difference between success and failure. It is therefore important to understand the tactics of sales and take control of one’s own destiny.

The video also explains the concept of the startup curve, which gives a timeline for startups and shows how companies can go from the launch energy to the trough of sorrow, to the wiggles of false hope, and then eventually to the promised land of crack market fit.

Furthermore, the video emphasizes the importance of the founders learning how to do sales themselves, rather than outsourcing it or hiring a sales team. Doing so will give the founders a better understanding of the customer and the product, as well as a better appreciation of the problem they are trying to solve. Finally, the video provides examples of founders who have successfully taken on the sales job themselves and become proficient.

Overall, the video provides invaluable advice on how to get your first customers and become a successful startup. It is a great resource for those looking to upskill themselves in personal growth and professional development.

For Learners

Watching this video, “How to Get Your First Customers | Startup School”, is an invaluable resource for life-long learners. It provides an overview of early-stage startup strategies and valuable sales tactics for founders. By learning the tactics of sales, the importance of charging for products, and how to work backwards from goals, viewers will be able to develop the mindset and skills necessary to succeed in a startup environment.

From a ‘what’s in it for me’ perspective, viewers will be equipped with the tools to become a successful founder and entrepreneur. They will gain the knowledge to confidently navigate the early stages of a startup, including how to do sales, what it means to do things that don’t scale, and how to find and retain customers. Additionally, viewers will learn how to understand their customers, build a product that solves their problems, and differentiate their product from competitors.

From a ‘what’s in it for them’ perspective, viewers will gain an understanding of the sales and marketing strategies to build a successful company. They will be able to develop a unique sales funnel to reach and engage with customers, as well as learn how to write effective and concise sales emails. Additionally, viewers will learn to use social proof and create a story to engage potential customers.

From a ‘what’s in it for us’ perspective, viewers will gain the confidence to take their ideas and turn them into companies. They will be able to use the knowledge gained to create a competitive advantage in the market. Furthermore, viewers will be able to develop a growth mindset and become more adaptable to change, allowing them to stay ahead of the curve and anticipate customer needs.

Finally, from a ‘what’s in it for the world’ perspective, viewers will be able to create innovative and revolutionary products and services. They will be able to make a lasting impact on the world, as well as contribute to the economy. By developing their own company, viewers will be able to create job opportunities and support other entrepreneurs.

In conclusion, watching this video provides long-term learning benefits and will equip viewers with the knowledge to become successful founders and entrepreneurs. This video is a great resource for life-long learners and is a must-watch for those looking to take their ideas to the next level.

For Employers

This video, How to Get Your First Customers | Startup School, provides employers and their teams with vital insights into how to secure their first customers and create a successful business. It highlights the importance of ‘doing things that don’t scale’, sales tactics, and how to charge for a product. Employers who understand the content of this video will benefit in a number of ways.

Firstly, they will be able to differentiate themselves from their competitors. By taking the time to learn sales tactics, understand the ‘startup curve’ and realise that they have to make their business take off, they will have a unique advantage over those who don’t.

Secondly, their customers and clients will perceive them more positively. By understanding how to write effective sales emails, employers will be able to create trust and demonstrate their expertise.

Finally, employers can look to the future with confidence. By understanding the content of this video, employers will learn how to scale their business and ensure ongoing success.

Overall, this video provides employers with the knowledge and skills they need to secure their first customers and build a successful business. By watching this video, employers can differentiate themselves from their competitors, create trust with their customers, and look to the future with confidence.

Career Path

Completing a course in Management based on these competencies: Startup and Entrepreneurship, Assertiveness, and Influence and Persuasion can help your career path by providing you with the skills and knowledge to become an effective leader and decision maker. This will enable you to stand out in the competitive job market and become more employable, promotable, and purposeful.

For example, by watching the video How to Get Your First Customers | Startup School and reading the transcript, you will learn how to get your feet off the ground by manually recruiting customers and doing things that don't scale. You will also learn how to do sales, create a sales funnel, charge for your product, and work backwards from your goals. With the right mindset and tactical skills in sales, you will be able to better understand your customer and solve their problems. Furthermore, you will be able to have full control of your destiny as a startup.

By leveling up your skills, you will be able to close the Skills Gap towards meaningful work in high demand and high growth industries, and increase your income-producing skills for better employability. With strong persuasive language, you can demonstrate to potential employers that you have the necessary skills to be an effective leader and decision maker.

By taking the time to invest in yourself and your career, you will be able to stand out in the competitive job market and land your dream job or get promoted at your current employment.

Meaning

"It's not enough to push a button on an advertising Network...Startups don't take off by themselves, startup takes off because Founders make them take off."- Paul Graham

This quote from Paul Graham speaks to the importance of having a do-it-yourself mindset when it comes to getting your first customers. In the video, Gustav emphasizes the notion of doing things that don't scale, especially in the early days of your startup. Founders have to put in the work to manually recruit customers and be the ones doing sales in the beginning. Doing the hard work to get your first customers is essential to the success of a startup and it will pay off in the long run. It is also important to listen to users and make improvements to your product and charge for it. By having the right attitude and being willing to put in the hard work, founders can make a difference between success and failure.

Takeaway

The most important takeaway from this video is that founders must learn the tactics of sales to succeed, and that it is essential to manually recruit customers. This includes understanding the concept of "do things that don't scale" and the startup curve. Founders must also be passionate about solving customers' problems and use clear language to address their needs.