WKI Advice & Insights

Customer Conversation Starters

Customer Conversation Starters

Customer Conversation Starters In the early stages of customer discovery, it's vital to ask a series of probing questions to allow potential customers to open up and give you feedback.  Good questions open the door for true customer discovery.  In this video, I...

Investment Guidance

Investment Guidance

Investment Guidance Not all ideas are candidates for investment and in fact, for all early stage founders, the first source of funding should be paying customers.  But if you are in the market for funding, look for non-dilutive funding first.  

Craft a Compelling Pitch

Craft a Compelling Pitch

Craft a Compelling Pitch I follow the one-third rule when building my pitch decks.  Maybe this can work for you.  

Start Narrow, Then Expand

Start Narrow, Then Expand

Start Narrow, Then Expand I was lucky to begin my tech startup career when Geoff Moore introduced the bowling pin analogy to enter markets.  This provided a beacon for founding teams to focus and come together on what was important - winning customers and revenue. So,...

What’s Your Business Model?

What’s Your Business Model?

What's Your Business Model? When founders are asked this question, it can often lead to a discussion about distribution channels, financial forecasts and beyond.  This question needs to be answered with clarity and confidence.  

The Power of Role Models

The Power of Role Models

The Power of Role Models Throughout my career I've been lucky to have great role models - both personally and for my company. This is one of those things that makes a marked difference when the path forward gets fuzzy and uncertain......

The Problem with Customer Discovery

The Problem with Customer Discovery

The Problem with Customer Discovery Don't get me wrong....customer discovery is a valuable process for founders....but only if it's done right.  

Seeing is Believing!

Seeing is Believing!

Seeing is Believing! For innovators, researchers, scientists and tech entrepreneurs, getting people to see the value of their ideas in the early days isn't easy. That's why I love a napkin drawing - a simple, clear drawing of how the idea works in a user setting. ...

Chance Encounters

Chance Encounters

Chance Encounters Never leave chance encounters to chance - be ready to present a compelling value proposition at every opportunity.