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The Tech Startup Playbook | Brian Long (Founder of Attentive)
Jan 10
The Tech Startup Playbook | Brian Long (Founder of Attentive) | EP007
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In today's episode, we are thrilled to have Brian Long, the Founder of Attentive, the company texting you all those deals for your favorite brands. Previously Brian sold TapCommerce to Twitter. Brian brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, and he's here to share his insights on how to navigate the challenging yet rewarding world of tech startups.
Key Takeaways:
• Problem Hunting: Discover the art of identifying real-world problems that are worth solving. Brian shares his journey of problem hunting, providing valuable tips on how to spot opportunities and validate your ideas.
• The Startup Playbook: Dive deep into the strategies and tactics that have propelled Attentive to success. Learn about the importance of adaptability, the role of customer feedback, and the crucial steps to take your startup from idea to execution.
• Building a Dream Team: Uncover the secrets to assembling a team of passionate and dedicated individuals who share your vision and are committed to your startup's success.
• Navigating Challenges: Every startup faces its share of challenges. Brian opens up about the hurdles he encountered along the way and shares practical advice on how to overcome them and stay resilient.
Find the full transcript at: http://www.distribute.so/podcasts/the-tech-startup-playbook-brian-long-founder-of-attentive-ep007
Where to find Brian Long:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianclong/
Where to find Andy:
• Newsletter: https://www.andysnewsletter.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amewborn/
In this episode, we cover:
00:00:06 - The Challenge of Changing Direction
00:00:25 - Potential of Twitter as a Super App
00:00:41 - Free Speech and Twitter's Actions
00:01:04 - Podcast Episode Count and Setup
00:01:22 - Cultural Values and Taking Action
00:02:00 - Content Release Cadence
00:02:20 - Discussing the Guest's Background
00:02:41 - Fundraising and Book Manuscript Review
00:03:01 - Practical Startup Advice from Experience
00:03:22 - Tapcart's Journey and Sale to Twitter
00:03:44 - Unsanitized Startup Stories
00:04:30 - Exercise on Attentive's First 12 Months
00:05:39 - The Importance of Flexibility in Startups
00:06:00 - Initial Idea and Pivot for Attentive
00:07:09 - Market Feedback and Business Direction Shift
00:07:30 - Outreach's Origin Story
00:08:36 - Listening to the Market and Pivoting
00:09:08 - The Challenge of Throwing Away Work
00:10:38 - The Average Worker's Productivity
00:11:06 - Inertia and Its Impact on Business
00:11:17 - Attentive's Early Customer Feedback
00:13:26 - Thoughts on Twitter Under Elon Musk
00:14:02 - Impact of Twitter's Workforce Reduction
00:15:20 - Twitter's Potential and Need for Innovation
00:16:05 - Free Speech and Twitter's Direction
00:17:08 - Going from Zero to One in Startups
00:18:11 - Compensating for Early Feedback
00:20:03 - The Cost of Building and Testing a Product
00:22:02 - Using Compensation for Feedback in Prospecting
00:23:30 - Identifying a Real Market Problem
00:25:05 - Deciding Against a Big Deal to Pivot
00:27:08 - Hiring the Right People Early On
00:28:14 - The Role of a Full-Time In-House Recruiter
00:29:03 - Early Hiring Strategy and Inside Sales Importance
00:30:25 - The Danger of Hiring Too Many Engineers Early
00:31:16 - The Pitfalls of Entrepreneurial Ambitions
00:32:24 - Seeking Honest Feedback and Avoiding Yes-Men
00:33:21 - The Importance of Intellectual Honesty
00:34:17 - The Power of Simple Questions in Interviews
00:35:39 - The Three Core Responsibilities of a CEO
00:37:06 - Finding People Who Align with the Company's Vision
00:38:32 - The Power of the CEO Founder
00:39:56 - The Importance of Vision, Money, and People
00:41:49 - Delegating and Focusing on Impactful Work
00:44:09 - Hiring for Heart and Skill
00:45:46 - The Power of Simple Questions in Hiring
00:47:29 - The CEO's Ability to Make Bold Moves
00:48:40 - Encouraging Open Discussion and Feedback
00:49:50 - The CEO's Unique Power to Drive Change
00:51:37 - The Book's Pitch: A Tactical Startup Handbook
00:53:14 - Key Lessons from the Book
00:54:10 - The Power of the CEO and Making Bold Decisions
00:55:50 - Final Thoughts and Book Recommendation
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