Why Fast ARR Growth Can Be Misleading

"The important thing isn't how fast you get to a million, but whether you have clear insane product market fit... so the rest of the journey is a tailwind."

• Focus on sustainable growth over quick wins.
• Ensure strong product-market fit for future scaling.
• Early milestones should support long-term objectives.

"Sometimes... VCs and founders tell you this is the way it's supposed to be... as though there were truly one path... There are so many different paths to success."

• Question one-size-fits-all advice.
• Adapt strategies to your unique situation.
• Recognize multiple paths can lead to success.

"You're always trying to get to the same place... true product market fit... where you have a product... that really is getting pulled by the customer."

• Focus on products that customers actively want.
• Let customer demand guide your development.
• Product-market fit is about meeting real needs.

"There is no straight line here. There really is no straight line... There are so many different ways to success and paths to failure."

• Acknowledge that success doesn't follow a single formula.
• Be open to unexpected paths and strategies.
• Leverage diverse experiences to inform your approach.

"If your product is differentiated enough... that's going to be a tailwind for you long term. It may not get you to a millionaire or fast, but it'll help you get to 10 and 100 million later on."

• Invest in creating a truly unique offering.
• Long-term success comes from sustained differentiation.
• Quick wins may not lead to scalable growth.

"I don't think there is a strong correlation between how fast you get to a million and your likelihood of getting to 100 million... Some get to a million fast. Some take... 7 years."

• Early revenue isn't the sole indicator of future success.
• Prioritize building a strong, differentiated product.
• Long-term growth depends on sustained product-market fit.

"He moves from Toronto to SF... He's literally just like messing around, trying to come up with a new idea... He starts playing with Voice AI... That absolutely takes off."

• Don't be afraid to tinker with new tech without a clear goal.
• Serendipitous experimentation can lead to breakthroughs.
• Relocation can expose you to new ideas and networks.

"He stumbled a bunch of times until he actually got to a real problem... These developers basically hate the GitHub PR workflow... They realize how big a potential this is."

• Don't hesitate to pivot when initial ideas don't gain traction.
• Listen to your team's insights for new opportunities.
• True product-market fit may require several iterations.

"He didn't build the product, he just went out and bought products and stitched them together."

• Consider acquiring small solutions to build a larger offering.
• Use cross-selling and cost-cutting to enhance value.
• Traditional playbooks can be applied creatively in tech startups.

"Startups are so random. Like, honestly, the more I look at this stuff, there are so many different ways to find a problem worth solving."

• Embrace randomness and stay open to unexpected opportunities.
• Don't fixate on a single path; explore multiple avenues.
• Recognize that success can come from unforeseen directions.