1/ To celebrate @trends_vc turning 1, here's a free Trends Pro Report.
๐ Trends PRO #0052 โ Competitor Risk
๐ 25 Players + 51 PRO
๐ฎ 3 Predictions + 2 PRO
โ๏ธ 3 Opportunities + 7 PRO
๐ 3 Key Lessons + 4 PRO
๐ Trends PRO #0052 โ Competitor Risk
๐ 25 Players + 51 PRO
๐ฎ 3 Predictions + 2 PRO
โ๏ธ 3 Opportunities + 7 PRO
๐ 3 Key Lessons + 4 PRO
2/ Why It Matters
โข Time is wasted trying to create new markets.
โข Non-venture businesses may be placed on venture paths and ruined.
โข Some choose glory over freedom without realizing the consequences.
โข Time is wasted trying to create new markets.
โข Non-venture businesses may be placed on venture paths and ruined.
โข Some choose glory over freedom without realizing the consequences.
3/ ๐ Problem
Time, money and energy are often wasted trying to create new markets.
Time, money and energy are often wasted trying to create new markets.
4/ ๐ก Solution
Index into an existing market instead of trying to create one.
Index into an existing market instead of trying to create one.
5/ ๐ Players - Podcast Hosting Services
๐ @TransistorFM
๐ @CastosHQ
๐ @podbeancom
๐ @Simplecast
๐ @anchor
(๐ Pro โ)
๐ @CaptivateAudio
๐ @ResonateRecord
๐ @buzzsprout
๐ @spreaker
๐ @SoundCloud
๐ @blubrry
๐ @libsyn
๐ bCast
๐ @MegaphonePods
๐ @getredcircle
๐ @TransistorFM
๐ @CastosHQ
๐ @podbeancom
๐ @Simplecast
๐ @anchor
(๐ Pro โ)
๐ @CaptivateAudio
๐ @ResonateRecord
๐ @buzzsprout
๐ @spreaker
๐ @SoundCloud
๐ @blubrry
๐ @libsyn
๐ bCast
๐ @MegaphonePods
๐ @getredcircle
6/ ๐ Players - Community Platforms
โช๏ธ @Edition_so
โช๏ธ @DiscipleMedia
โช๏ธ @MightyNetworks
โช๏ธ @peerboard
โช๏ธ @PlaygroupHQ
(๐ Pro โ)
โช๏ธ @discord
โช๏ธ @podia
โช๏ธ @Kajabi
โช๏ธ @crowded_co
โช๏ธ @forumbee
โช๏ธ @TribePlatform
โช๏ธ @genevachat
โช๏ธ @telegram
โช๏ธ @discourse
โช๏ธ @hivebrite
โช๏ธ @Edition_so
โช๏ธ @DiscipleMedia
โช๏ธ @MightyNetworks
โช๏ธ @peerboard
โช๏ธ @PlaygroupHQ
(๐ Pro โ)
โช๏ธ @discord
โช๏ธ @podia
โช๏ธ @Kajabi
โช๏ธ @crowded_co
โช๏ธ @forumbee
โช๏ธ @TribePlatform
โช๏ธ @genevachat
โช๏ธ @telegram
โช๏ธ @discourse
โช๏ธ @hivebrite
7/ ๐ Players - Calendar Booking
โซ๏ธ @savvycal_
โซ๏ธ @Calendly
โซ๏ธ @xdotai
โซ๏ธ @doodletweet
โซ๏ธ Rally (@imlukevella)
(๐ Pro โ)
โซ๏ธ @woven_app
โซ๏ธ @meetingbird
โซ๏ธ @Setmore
โซ๏ธ @YouCanBookMe
โซ๏ธ @SimplyBookMe
โซ๏ธ @OnceHub
โซ๏ธ @picktimeIn
โซ๏ธ @savvycal_
โซ๏ธ @Calendly
โซ๏ธ @xdotai
โซ๏ธ @doodletweet
โซ๏ธ Rally (@imlukevella)
(๐ Pro โ)
โซ๏ธ @woven_app
โซ๏ธ @meetingbird
โซ๏ธ @Setmore
โซ๏ธ @YouCanBookMe
โซ๏ธ @SimplyBookMe
โซ๏ธ @OnceHub
โซ๏ธ @picktimeIn
8/ ๐ Players - CRMs
๐ @LessAnnoyingCRM
๐ @salesforce
๐ @ActiveCampaign
๐ @Zoho
๐ @pipedrive
(๐ Pro โ)
๐ @Zendesk
๐ @Nimble
๐ @HubSpot
๐ @FreshworksInc
๐ @CopperInc
๐ @KeapGrowing
๐ @mondaydotcom
๐ @nutshell
๐ @ScoroSoftware
๐ @close
๐ @Podio
๐ @LessAnnoyingCRM
๐ @salesforce
๐ @ActiveCampaign
๐ @Zoho
๐ @pipedrive
(๐ Pro โ)
๐ @Zendesk
๐ @Nimble
๐ @HubSpot
๐ @FreshworksInc
๐ @CopperInc
๐ @KeapGrowing
๐ @mondaydotcom
๐ @nutshell
๐ @ScoroSoftware
๐ @close
๐ @Podio
9/ ๐ Players - Form Builders
โช๏ธ @TallyForms
โช๏ธ @typeform
โช๏ธ @SurveyMonkey
โช๏ธ @airtable
โช๏ธ Forms (@googledocs)
(๐ Pro โ)
โช๏ธ @survey_planet
โช๏ธ @JotForm
โช๏ธ @Formstack
โช๏ธ @PaperformCo
โช๏ธ @QuestionScout
โช๏ธ @CognitoForms
โช๏ธ @theSurvio
โช๏ธ @TallyForms
โช๏ธ @typeform
โช๏ธ @SurveyMonkey
โช๏ธ @airtable
โช๏ธ Forms (@googledocs)
(๐ Pro โ)
โช๏ธ @survey_planet
โช๏ธ @JotForm
โช๏ธ @Formstack
โช๏ธ @PaperformCo
โช๏ธ @QuestionScout
โช๏ธ @CognitoForms
โช๏ธ @theSurvio
10/ ๐ฎ Predictions
Technical moats will become irrelevant. Code is being commoditized.
Technical moats will become irrelevant. Code is being commoditized.
11/ ๐ฎ Predictions (con't)
Million-Dollar, One-Person Businesses will increase.
APIs, productized services, fractional roles and no-code lower transaction costs. Leading to smaller firms.
trends.vc/trends-0027-miโฆ
Million-Dollar, One-Person Businesses will increase.
APIs, productized services, fractional roles and no-code lower transaction costs. Leading to smaller firms.
trends.vc/trends-0027-miโฆ
12/ ๐ฎ Predictions (con't)
Acquisitions will become more common. Buying product-market fit saves time.
You can pay for success ($3,000 MRR) instead of attempts (3,000 failed experiments).
Acquisitions will become more common. Buying product-market fit saves time.
You can pay for success ($3,000 MRR) instead of attempts (3,000 failed experiments).
13/ ๐ฎ Predictions (con't)(๐ Pro)
Winner-take-most markets, as we know them, will change.
Decentralization lowers switching costs. @SushiSwap is a warning shot to incumbents.
Winner-take-most markets, as we know them, will change.
Decentralization lowers switching costs. @SushiSwap is a warning shot to incumbents.
14/ ๐ฎ Predictions (con't)(๐ Pro)
More SaaS companies will be built with no-code.
@InvestorFuse reached $50k/mo using @Podio and @zapier. SendPilot.co runs on @bubble.
More SaaS companies will be built with no-code.
@InvestorFuse reached $50k/mo using @Podio and @zapier. SendPilot.co runs on @bubble.
15/ โ๏ธ Opportunities
Buy instead of build. Save time and reduce market risk.
trends.vc/trends-0038-miโฆ
Buy instead of build. Save time and reduce market risk.
trends.vc/trends-0038-miโฆ
16/ โ๏ธ Opportunities (con't)
Stack risk reduction plays. Presell into fragmented markets.
This will expose weak distribution and messaging. Itโs better to find out sooner than later.
trends.vc/trends-0044-prโฆ
Stack risk reduction plays. Presell into fragmented markets.
This will expose weak distribution and messaging. Itโs better to find out sooner than later.
trends.vc/trends-0044-prโฆ
17/ โ๏ธ Opportunities (con't)
Build Proprietary Distribution
โข Blogs (@usefyi)
โข Films (@Mailchimp)
โข Courses (@webflow)
โข Conferences (@Moz)
โข Newsletters (@close)
โข Communities (Spiffy)
โข Podcasts (@ConvertKit)
โข Growth Tools (@ahrefs)
Build Proprietary Distribution
โข Blogs (@usefyi)
โข Films (@Mailchimp)
โข Courses (@webflow)
โข Conferences (@Moz)
โข Newsletters (@close)
โข Communities (Spiffy)
โข Podcasts (@ConvertKit)
โข Growth Tools (@ahrefs)
18/ โ๏ธ Opportunities (con't)(๐ Pro)
Lower customer switching costs.
@ConvertKitโs concierge service helps you switch from competitors. This combats embedding effects.
Lower customer switching costs.
@ConvertKitโs concierge service helps you switch from competitors. This combats embedding effects.
19/ โ๏ธ Opportunities (con't)(๐ Pro โ)
Build a productized service first.
@TheCraigHewitt built Podcast Motor before @CastosHQ. The former led to insights and relationships useful in the latter.
trends.vc/trends-0017-xaโฆ
Build a productized service first.
@TheCraigHewitt built Podcast Motor before @CastosHQ. The former led to insights and relationships useful in the latter.
trends.vc/trends-0017-xaโฆ
20/ โ๏ธ Opportunities (con't)(๐ Pro)
Use lifetime deals to enter crowded markets.
See @sendfox and Nichesss. Feature parity and lifetime deals may be enough to threaten subscription-based competitors.
trends.vc/trends-0047-liโฆ
Use lifetime deals to enter crowded markets.
See @sendfox and Nichesss. Feature parity and lifetime deals may be enough to threaten subscription-based competitors.
trends.vc/trends-0047-liโฆ
21/ โ๏ธ Opportunities (con't)(๐ Pro)
Build an ecosystem around your product.
@MailerLite has experts. @integromat has a partner program. These lead others to โinvestโ in your platform.
Build an ecosystem around your product.
@MailerLite has experts. @integromat has a partner program. These lead others to โinvestโ in your platform.
22/ โ๏ธ Opportunities (con't)(๐ Pro)
Leverage othersโ audiences with an affiliate program.
@TransistorFM and @ConvertKit offer recurring commissions.
trends.vc/trends-0025-reโฆ
Leverage othersโ audiences with an affiliate program.
@TransistorFM and @ConvertKit offer recurring commissions.
trends.vc/trends-0025-reโฆ
23/ โ๏ธ Opportunities (con't)(๐ Pro)
Prioritize markets with embedding effects and expansion revenue.
This unlocks negative churn. See @zapier, @integromat and @automate
Prioritize markets with embedding effects and expansion revenue.
This unlocks negative churn. See @zapier, @integromat and @automate
24/ โ๏ธ Opportunities (con't)(๐ Pro)
Use G2โs categories to find out which market to index into. There are hundreds.
g2.com/categories
Use G2โs categories to find out which market to index into. There are hundreds.
g2.com/categories
25/ ๐ Key Lessons
Be a fast follower to a fragmented market. See emerging markets:
โซ๏ธ AI-Generated Copy
@WriteSonic
Nichesss
@getheadlime
@copysmith_ai
@copy_ai
โซ๏ธ Sheet-To-Site Apps
@PoryHQ
@softr_io
@StackerHQ
Sheet2Site (@AndreyAzimov)
Table2Site (@PoeHaH)
Be a fast follower to a fragmented market. See emerging markets:
โซ๏ธ AI-Generated Copy
@WriteSonic
Nichesss
@getheadlime
@copysmith_ai
@copy_ai
โซ๏ธ Sheet-To-Site Apps
@PoryHQ
@softr_io
@StackerHQ
Sheet2Site (@AndreyAzimov)
Table2Site (@PoeHaH)
27/ ๐ Key Lessons (Con't)
Fragmented markets are won or lost on distribution.
Fragmented markets are won or lost on distribution.
28/ ๐ Key Lessons (Con't)
Run towards competition. Ask how to capture demand. Not whether it exists.
Run towards competition. Ask how to capture demand. Not whether it exists.
29/ ๐ Key Lessons (Con't)(๐ Pro)
You can be marginally better and succeed in fragmented markets.
You can be 3x better and lose to incumbents in winner-take-most markets.
You can be marginally better and succeed in fragmented markets.
You can be 3x better and lose to incumbents in winner-take-most markets.
30/ ๐ Key Lessons (Con't)(๐ Pro)
Taking market risk without network effects leads to the worst of both worlds.
Youโll blaze the trail and split the prize.
Taking market risk without network effects leads to the worst of both worlds.
Youโll blaze the trail and split the prize.
31/ ๐ Key Lessons (Con't)(๐ Pro)
โThis has never been done before!โ โ โI have an idea!โ โ โI need you to sign an NDA.โ
These are anti-patterns.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-pattโฆ
โThis has never been done before!โ โ โI have an idea!โ โ โI need you to sign an NDA.โ
These are anti-patterns.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-pattโฆ
32/ ๐ Key Lessons (Con't)(๐ Pro)
Zero to one is a myth. We stand on the shoulders of giants.
@vrbo preceded @Airbnb but the latter has liquidity.
Zero to one is a myth. We stand on the shoulders of giants.
@vrbo preceded @Airbnb but the latter has liquidity.
33/ ๐ Haters
โScrew all of this. I want to build a unicorn.โ
Just know what youโre getting into.
โScrew all of this. I want to build a unicorn.โ
Just know what youโre getting into.
34/ ๐ Haters
โThis is a race to the bottom.โ
Thereโs still a game being played. Itโs in distribution. Code is being commoditized.
โThis is a race to the bottom.โ
Thereโs still a game being played. Itโs in distribution. Code is being commoditized.
35/ ๐ Haters
โIt takes just as much to go big as it takes to go small.โ
That may apply to energy expended. The expected returns are different.
Dentists have higher expected returns than rockstars.
โIt takes just as much to go big as it takes to go small.โ
That may apply to energy expended. The expected returns are different.
Dentists have higher expected returns than rockstars.
36/ ๐ Haters
โYouโre thinking small.โ
It comes down to taste. I prefer freedom over glory.
Choose your own adventure. Consciously.
โYouโre thinking small.โ
It comes down to taste. I prefer freedom over glory.
Choose your own adventure. Consciously.
37/ ๐ Haters
โFreedom and glory arenโt mutually exclusive.โ
They arenโt. But they often conflict. Thatโs why it matters.
โFreedom and glory arenโt mutually exclusive.โ
They arenโt. But they often conflict. Thatโs why it matters.
38/ ๐ Haters
โItโs immoral to copy.โ
Whoever you copy, copied someone else.
โItโs immoral to copy.โ
Whoever you copy, copied someone else.
39/ ๐ Links
The tweet behind this report.
The tweet behind this report.
https://twitter.com/DruRly/status/1358090576877539329?s=20
40/ ๐ Links (con't)
Most Micro-SaaS companies live in fragmented markets.
trends.vc/trends-0032-miโฆ
Most Micro-SaaS companies live in fragmented markets.
trends.vc/trends-0032-miโฆ
41/ ๐ Links (con't)
No-Code lowers barriers to entry. Code is being commoditized. Trust is not.
trends.vc/trends-0033-noโฆ
No-Code lowers barriers to entry. Code is being commoditized. Trust is not.
trends.vc/trends-0033-noโฆ
42/ ๐ Links (con't)
Transactions costs are dropping. Firms are getting smaller.
trends.vc/trends-0027-miโฆ
Transactions costs are dropping. Firms are getting smaller.
trends.vc/trends-0027-miโฆ
44/ ๐ Links (con't)(๐ Pro)
โCopying is how we learn.โ - @remixeverything and @edmundamoye on everything being derivative.
listennotes.com/podcasts/codelโฆ
โCopying is how we learn.โ - @remixeverything and @edmundamoye on everything being derivative.
listennotes.com/podcasts/codelโฆ
45/ ๐ Links (con't)(๐ Pro)
@robwalling and @csallen on competitor risk, market risk and customer risk.
indiehackers.com/podcast/178-roโฆ
@robwalling and @csallen on competitor risk, market risk and customer risk.
indiehackers.com/podcast/178-roโฆ
46/ ๐ Links (con't)(๐ Pro)
Build proprietary distribution.
mastersinmpc.substack.com/p/5-media-housโฆ
Build proprietary distribution.
mastersinmpc.substack.com/p/5-media-housโฆ
49/ ๐ Links (con't)(๐ Pro)
Reduce market risk by preselling into fragmented markets.
trends.vc/trends-0044-prโฆ
Reduce market risk by preselling into fragmented markets.
trends.vc/trends-0044-prโฆ
50/ ๐ Links (con't)(๐ Pro)
A relatively new route for bootstrappers.
trends.vc/trends-0019-boโฆ
A relatively new route for bootstrappers.
trends.vc/trends-0019-boโฆ
51/ ๐ Links (con't)(๐ Pro)
Winner-take-most markets are being disrupted. Lower switching costs act as a check on power.
trends.vc/trends-0039-deโฆ
Winner-take-most markets are being disrupted. Lower switching costs act as a check on power.
trends.vc/trends-0039-deโฆ
52/ If you're interested in trends such as
๐ Paid Newsletters
๐ฆ Startup Studios
๐ค Million-Dollar, One-Person Businesses
๐งฑ No-Code
๐ฌ Paid Communities
๐ Online Courses
๐ฃ Referral Programs
๐ฐ Micro Private Equity
๐ณ Cloud Kitchens
Check out โฌ๏ธ
join.trends.vc
๐ Paid Newsletters
๐ฆ Startup Studios
๐ค Million-Dollar, One-Person Businesses
๐งฑ No-Code
๐ฌ Paid Communities
๐ Online Courses
๐ฃ Referral Programs
๐ฐ Micro Private Equity
๐ณ Cloud Kitchens
Check out โฌ๏ธ
join.trends.vc
53/ Thanks to:
@robwalling (TinySeed), @csallen (Indie Hackers), @jerabraham0 (Spiffy), @stewarttownsend (Channel as a Service), @TylerMKing (Less Annoying CRM), Logan Johnson, @natwar86 (Mailchimp), @sibix3 (Earnest Capital)
@robwalling (TinySeed), @csallen (Indie Hackers), @jerabraham0 (Spiffy), @stewarttownsend (Channel as a Service), @TylerMKing (Less Annoying CRM), Logan Johnson, @natwar86 (Mailchimp), @sibix3 (Earnest Capital)
54/ Thanks (con't)
@pcmarts (Lyrico), @LuDoan (DocuDeer), @kennethdreyer and @danieljwulf (Wurst Circle).
We had a great time jamming on this report.
@pcmarts (Lyrico), @LuDoan (DocuDeer), @kennethdreyer and @danieljwulf (Wurst Circle).
We had a great time jamming on this report.
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