On this episode of Product Market Fit, host Mosheh Poltorak interviews Michael Sayman, founder of Friendly Apps, who shares his journey from building mobile apps as a teenager to working at Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg.

They discuss consumer social, the future of social media, and the impact on Gen Z and Zoomers. They also delve into the Vision Pro goggles and how AI and Augmented reality will change the social landscape.

Tune in for insights into the evolving landscape of consumer social.

_________________ 

🕒 Timestamps:

(02:15) Building healthy social connections

(04:04) Solving monetization in social media

(08:30) TikTok and how Social Media became less social

(11:44) Apple's VisionPro and spatial computing

(15:04) Platform shift prediction

(20:21) The future of home entertainment

(24:34) Society's shift to always-on video

(26:36) The future of phone interfaces

(28:52) AI companions and human connection

(32:05) Impact of social media on kids

(41:39) Becoming a millionaire in your teens

(44:11) Persistence in software development

(48:15) Singular focus and determination

(49:52) Lightning round

(55:15) Conclusion

Guest Contact Info:

https://www.friendlyapps.co

https://twitter.com/michaelsayman

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sayman

_________________ 

Sponsor:

This podcast is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Grwth offers fractional CMOs, paired with best-in-class digital marketing execution to support early-stage startup success. With a focus on seed and series A companies, Grwth has helped a number of SaaS, digital health, and e-commerce startups build their go-to-market function and scale up.

To learn more and book a free consultation, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Get in touch with Mosheh:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/moshehp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/Moshehp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[email protected]

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pmfpod.com⁠⁠⁠

_________________ 

Jake Heller, the founder and CEO of Casetext, brings his expertise in AI and law to the forefront in this episode of 'Product Market Fit'. With an eye for innovation and a deep understanding of the legal landscape, Jake has led Casetext to become a pioneering force in the industry. His insights into the intersection of technology and law offer invaluable perspectives for entrepreneurs, professionals, and anyone interested in the future of AI-driven solutions.

Join host Mosheh Poltorak in an insightful conversation with Jake Heller, the visionary behind Casetext, an AI startup that's reshaping the legal domain. From tracing Casetext's journey to its acquisition by Thomson Reuters for a staggering $650 million, this episode delves into the transformative power of AI in law and professional services. Discover the importance of customer insights, the dynamics of running a startup, and the evolving role of AI in shaping legal representation.

Key Takeaways:

_________________ 

https://casetext.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeheller/

https://twitter.com/Jacob_Heller

Sponsor:

This podcast is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Grwth offers fractional CMOs, paired with best-in-class digital marketing execution to support early-stage startup success. With a focus on seed and series A companies, Grwth has helped a number of SaaS, digital health, and e-commerce startups build their go-to-market function and scale up.

To learn more and book a free consultation, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Get in touch with Mosheh:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/moshehp⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/Moshehp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[email protected]

⁠⁠⁠⁠pmfpod.com⁠⁠

Join host Mosheh Poltorak in a conversation with Laurel Taylor, the visionary CEO behind Candidly, a fintech platform revolutionizing student debt solutions. 

In this episode, Taylor shares Candidly's journey from its inception to serving thousands of employers, offering invaluable insights into startup growth, technology integration, and the importance of company culture.

Key Takeaways:

Join Moshe Poltorak and Laurel Taylor as they delve into the world of startups, technology, and growth, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs and business leaders.

_________________ 

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:00) - What is Candidly?

(03:45) - Laurel's backstory that led to starting Candidly (fka FutureFuel)

(08:28) - Choosing B2B2C instead of going direct to consumer (deflationary vs. inflationary CAC)

(11:20) - Fundraising for a "triple bottom line" business

(13:52) - Early hurdles for a fintech startup

(18:19) - Reacting to a changing regulatory landscape

(23:18) - How to do partner enablement correctly

(33:27) - AI and how "the margin drives the mission"

(37:46) - Scaring away potential employees

(40:00) - Lightning round

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ltmit/

https://www.getcandidly.com/

Sponsor:

This podcast is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Grwth offers fractional CMOs, paired with best-in-class digital marketing execution to support early-stage startup success. With a focus on seed and series A companies, Grwth has helped a number of SaaS, digital health, and e-commerce startups build their go-to-market function and scale up.

To learn more and book a free consultation, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Get in touch with Mosheh:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/moshehp⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/Moshehp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[email protected]

⁠⁠⁠pmfpod.com⁠

In this insightful episode of "Product Market Fit," we step into the dynamic world of e-commerce and scaling businesses with our esteemed guest, Yoni Kozminski. 

🕒 Timestamps:

(01:32) - Introduction to Yoni Kozminski

(2:52) - Are D2C companies venture backable?

(05:10) - Alternative funding options for D2C

(07:30) - Exit opportunities for D2C brands

(11:42) - E-commerce roll-ups

(14:55) - AI tools for digital marketers and brands

(18:26) - TikTok & Instagram shopping

(21:33) - Omnichannel ecommerce

(25:15) - AI tools and offshoring (or nearshoring)

(32:01) - How to delegate effectively

(37:47) - Maintaining company culture with a distributed team

(43:08) - Lightning round

_________________

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yonkoz/

https://www.weareescala.com/

https://www.multiplymii.com/

https://www.southcol.co/

Sponsor:

This podcast is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Grwth offers fractional CMOs, paired with best-in-class digital marketing execution to support early-stage startup success. With a focus on seed and series A companies, Grwth has helped a number of SaaS, digital health, and e-commerce startups build their go-to-market function and scale up.

To learn more and book a free consultation, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Get in touch with Mosheh:

⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/moshehp⁠⁠

⁠⁠twitter.com/Moshehp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[email protected]

⁠⁠pmfpod.com

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Roland Sibelink on the Midstage Startup Momentum podcast.

I was glad to turn the mic around and answer questions such as:

Checkout the Midstage Startup Momentum podcast here:

Spotify | Apple

Connect with Roland at:

www.midstage.org

Welcome to another exciting episode of Product Market Fit, where we delve into the fascinating world of AI and workflow automation with our esteemed guests, Pascal, Jakob, and Raphael. In this episode, we explore the cutting-edge advancements in AI technology and how it's transforming the way we work and interact with digital tools.

Chapters:

(01:36) Highs/lows (and buffalos) for 2023

(07:20) Is the AI hype cycle slowing down?

(11:23) Will OpenAI live up to its valuation?

(12:50) e/acc vs. deceleration debate and the risks of regulation

(18:55) What does the death of the Adobe-Figma deal mean for startups?

(25:34) Euro-zone tech trends and funding environment

(33:27) Lessons on PLG and reverse trials

(45:01) Advice for founders just starting out

(49:17) Predictions for 2024

(53:44) Raising VC funding in today's environment

(56:00) Is PLG dead?

Guest Contact Info:

Raphael Allstadt, founder and CEO of tl;dv

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascalweinberger/
www.bardeen.ai

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakobknutzen/
https://www.butter.us

Sponsor:

This podcast is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Grwth offers fractional CMOs, paired with best-in-class digital marketing execution to support early-stage startup success. With a focus on seed and series A companies, Grwth has helped a number of SaaS, digital health, and e-commerce startups build their go-to-market function and scale up.

To learn more and book a free consultation, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Get in touch with Mosheh:

⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/moshehp⁠

⁠twitter.com/Moshehp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[email protected]

⁠pmfpod.com

Happy New Year!

We're kicking off 2024 with a bang! Augustus Doricko is the youngest founder I've interviewed and perhaps the most ambitious. His company, Rainmaker, is looking to use cloud-seeding technology to revitalize the American West and, in his words, extend the Great Plains into Nevada and Arizona.

We talked about e/acc and why hard tech is the answer to the growing sense of doomism. And what's happening in "the Gundo" (El Segundo, CA).

I love his optimism and ambition and enjoyed our wide-ranging conversation.

Guest Contact Info:

www.makerain.com

twitter.com/ADoricko

[email protected]

Further reading/ watching:

https://www.thefp.com/p/move-fast-and-make-things-e-acc-ai-altman

https://x.com/johncoogan/status/1741512539979325733?s=20

Sponsor:

This podcast is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Grwth offers fractional CMOs, paired with best-in-class digital marketing execution to support early-stage startup success. With a focus on seed and series A companies, Grwth has helped a number of SaaS, digital health, and e-commerce startups build their go-to-market function and scale up.

To learn more and book a free consultation, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Get in touch with Mosheh:

⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/moshehp⁠

⁠twitter.com/Moshehp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[email protected]

⁠pmfpod.com

I have a very topical episode for you today all about annual review and planning. My guest today is Jason Shen, three-time founder, turned executive coach and resilience expert.

Jason has a wonderful video on YouTube that walks you through a reflection and planning exercise perfect for this time of year. Jason and I discuss the framework and provide relevant context for founders and entrepreneurs.

Jason and I also talk about resilience, pivots, and zombie startups, topics from his recently published book, The Path to Pivot. 

I couldn’t think of a more fitting and practical way to close out the year and I hope you find it useful.

I highly recommend you complete that exercise once you’re done listening to this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gumFl3nYF4U

Chapters:

(02:05) Setting the Guinness World Record (twice)

(03:34) Annual review and planning framework

(04:59) "Looking back" — moments; achievements; lessons

(10:47) "The check-in" — life audit; start, stop, and continue; write a letter to future you

(14:43) "Charting ahead" — the long list; shortlist; systems

(17:28) Common mistakes when doing an annual review

(19:03) Discussion about resilience

(22:59) When to pivot your startup

(28:54) Zombie startups and ZIRP

(34:26) Lightning round

(38:03) Conclusion

Guest Contact Info:

Jason's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasonshen

Company & newsletter: jasonshen.com

Get the book: jasonshen.gumroad.com/l/path-to-pivot-beta

Sponsor:

This podcast is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Grwth offers fractional CMOs, paired with best-in-class digital marketing execution to support early-stage startup success. With a focus on seed and series A companies, Grwth has helped a number of SaaS, digital health, and e-commerce startups build their go-to-market function and scale up.

To learn more and book a free consultation, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/moshehp⁠

⁠twitter.com/Moshehp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[email protected]

⁠pmfpod.com

Join me as I speak with April Dunford, the world's foremost expert in positioning for technology companies and the author of Obviously Awesome.

Together, we explore the fascinating world of positioning and answer key questions like: What's the relationship between positioning, messaging, and go-to-market strategies? How does it tie into product market fit? And why should you prioritize it before lead generation? We also discuss signals of weak positioning, successful repositioning stories, and tips for early-stage founders.

Tune in to learn about the three styles of positioning and way more.

Chapters: 

(02:23) Defining positioning and its relationship with messaging and go-to-market strategies

(03:29) The relationship between positioning and product market fit

(06:36) April’s unconventional path to becoming a positioning expert

(10:49) Prioritizing positioning before lead generation

(13:32) Signals to watch out for weak positioning

(19:47) Repositioning success stories

(24:49) Starting with your best customers for great positioning

(28:07) Customer discovery and interview tips

(35:42) Positioning for early-stage founders

(39:46) Positioning for multiple segments of products

(43:56) The three styles of positioning

(50:54) What comes after positioning: crafting the sales pitch

(53:43) Lightning round

Guest Contact Info:

⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprildunford/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.aprildunford.com/⁠⁠

Sponsor:

This podcast is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠. Grwth offers fractional CMOs, paired with best-in-class digital marketing execution to support early-stage startup success. With a focus on seed and series A companies, Grwth has helped a number of SaaS, digital health, and e-commerce startups build their go-to-market function and scale up.

To learn more and book a free consultation, go to ⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠.

Get in touch with Mosheh:

⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/moshehp⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/MoshehP⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pmfpod.com⁠

My guest today is Brian Long, Co-founder of Attentive, the mobile messaging platform that has raised almost $900M and powers the vast majority of ecommerce companies. Brian previously co-founded TapCommerce which sold to Twitter for $100M; and he recently published, Problem Hunting: The Tech Startup Textbook. 

I absolutely loved my conversation with Brian as he shared his perspective on product market fit, how they found it at Attentive, and lessons learned across both companies. We dive into trends in ecommerce and mobile commerce; and get really tactical about early-stage B2B sales and growth tactics.

!! Also make sure to stay to the end, for my new 'Founder Notes' segment where I’ll provide the latest updates and learnings from my startup journey. 

Chapters:

(01:55) Brian's definition of Product Market Fit

(06:53) Hiring inside-sales early

(11:16) Early-stage growth tactics

(20:18) Thinking about competition

(22:42) Leveraging generative AI

(23:37) The future of ecommerce

(30:05) Why sell TapCommerce so early?

(33:49) Venture capital vs. bootstrapping

(38:27) Mistakes made along the way

(42:06) Lightning round

(48:20) NEW SEGMENT: 'Founder Notes'

Guest Contact Info:

Brian: twitter.com/BrianCLong⁠

Company: attentive.com

Get the book: a.co/d/cLgGYbV

Sponsor:

This podcast is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Grwth offers fractional CMOs, paired with best-in-class digital marketing execution to support early-stage startup success. With a focus on seed and series A companies, Grwth has helped a number of SaaS, digital health, and e-commerce startups build their go-to-market function and scale up.

To learn more and book a free consultation, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠grwth.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/moshehp

twitter.com/Moshehp⁠⁠⁠⁠

[email protected]

pmfpod.com