The Startup Chat with Steli and Hiten

166: How to Think About Hot Trends in Business & Technology


Listen Later

In this episode, Steli and Hiten discuss the pros and cons of following technology business trends. Startups tend to just go with the flow in regards to these trends without considering if the concept fits their company and is even doable. Listen to learn why it is important to do your research before jumping in and how there is a RIGHT way to implement these new technologies.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

00:33 – Steli and Hiten open today’s show

00:43 – Steli and Hiten introduce the topic of technology business trends
01:24 – Some people can’t distinguish a trend from a fad
01:41 – “Big data in machine learning turning into artificial intelligence”
03:26 – Hiten has been building products for 13 years now
04:11 – “We are all creators and we’re all looking to create things”
04:26 – There is a lot of software available now and a lot of support for those building software
04:54 – People have the natural tendency to go towards the trends
05:05 – “It’s trendy to be trendy”
05:40 – Amazon just launched a supermarket that allows people to “walk in” and “walk out”
06:15 – People are forgetting that companies apply new technologies to solve everyday human needs and problems
06:45 – If someone is trying to apply new technology to his business, you have to dig in and research more to see if it will fit your business
07:30 – We have to be conscious of the new trends around us
07:50 – Applied trend is a trend that isn’t useful to you until you’ve applied it and it works
08:50 – Some startups try to copy other new technology even if it is far from what they are doing
09:50 – Steli shares how startups want to apply AI to a totally different product
11:05 – Some startups are more focused on getting more investors and press releases
11:39 – They say they need more VC funding so they will show off their new, shiny object
11:50 – Hiten shares that it may actually work for some startups to show off new technology and get funding, but sometimes it fails as well
13:30 – Steli and Hiten both run software companies
14:15 – SaaS has been a trend for awhile now
14:42 – 37signals.com/basecamp has been successful in the SaaS trend
15:20 – Hiten shares what to consider in starting a new trend
16:30 – Hiten shares the disadvantages of following trends
17:10 – Hiten’s business hasn’t gone mobile because they’ve seen their counterparts try and fail in that department
17:35 – Mobile apps come and go
17:57 – Focus on your business target market
18:30 – Make sure that your business can be successful using that specific trend
19:02 – Hiten shares an example of the process he went through to implement a new trend
20:00 – Hiten found an engineer that would work with them
21:00 – For Steli, he enjoys learning how the world is changing by reading about trends
22:18 – Steli shares how he likes to establish a team that will decide if a new technology trend is worth it
23:50 – Hiten’s tip is to make sure that you and your company are well positioned to invest on the trend
24:30 – Another tip is make sure you can do it and make sure it is the right trend for your company
20:32 – Your tactics may change over time, but the framework stays the same

3 Key Points:

In adapting a new technology trend, consider whether it’s good for the world, has longevity, and that you will be able to do it successfully.

People tend to overhype these trends and undervalue the complications—make sure you ASSESS well whether it’s right for you.

Decide whether the technological trend makes sense for your product and company BEFORE making that investment of time, energy, and resources.

The post

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Startup Chat with Steli and HitenBy Steli Efti & Hiten Shah: Serial Entrepreneurs, Sales & Marketing Experts, Startup Investors & Advisors, CEOs running multi million dollar SaaS Startups

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

202 ratings


More shows like The Startup Chat with Steli and Hiten

View all
The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast by Pat Flynn

The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast

3,455 Listeners

The Cardone Zone by Grant Cardone

The Cardone Zone

3,919 Listeners

The GaryVee Audio Experience by Gary Vaynerchuk

The GaryVee Audio Experience

16,823 Listeners

The Side Hustle Show by Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation | YAP Media

The Side Hustle Show

1,583 Listeners

Entrepreneurs on Fire by John Lee Dumas of EOFire

Entrepreneurs on Fire

3,831 Listeners

Marketing School - Digital Marketing and Online Marketing Tips by Eric Siu and Neil Patel

Marketing School - Digital Marketing and Online Marketing Tips

1,254 Listeners

The Martell Method w/ Dan Martell by Dan Martell

The Martell Method w/ Dan Martell

575 Listeners

Noah Kagan Presents by Noah Kagan

Noah Kagan Presents

902 Listeners

REWORK by 37signals

REWORK

210 Listeners

The Russell Brunson Show by Russell Brunson | YAP Media

The Russell Brunson Show

969 Listeners

My First Million by Hubspot Media

My First Million

2,645 Listeners

Marketing Made Simple by StoryBrand.com

Marketing Made Simple

292 Listeners

The Startup Ideas Podcast by Greg Isenberg

The Startup Ideas Podcast

204 Listeners

Marketing Against The Grain by Hubspot Media

Marketing Against The Grain

355 Listeners

The Koerner Office - Business Ideas and Small Business Deep Dives with Entrepreneurs by Chris Koerner

The Koerner Office - Business Ideas and Small Business Deep Dives with Entrepreneurs

218 Listeners