What's a good way to test how focused your product's target market should be? If we have customers from different markets asking to use our product, but we're currently only focusing on one, is it worth investigating these other markets in the early stages?

I would suggest getting to product / market fit with one market first. If you’re doing something right – many other people will want to have you solve their problems but in a slightly different way. That distraction can cause you to create a product that’s bloated and doesn’t really solve anyone problem real well. Do one thing real well first and create a must have solution.

you type:	you see:
italics	italics
* item 1 * item 2 * item 3	item 1 item 2 item 3
1. item 1 2. item 2 3. item 3	item 1 item 2 item 3
Paragraphs are separated by one or more blank lines: The first paragraph. Another paragraph.	The first paragraph. Another paragraph

What is your opinion on hiring Graduate students in the early stages of a startup?

Answered by Anita Campbell – Founder of SmallBizTrends.

As long as you have a clear idea of exactly what tasks you expect to be done in your startup, then hiring Graduate students is a great way to get smart affordable help. Gi... (more)

Once you have a business concept , what is the best way to share it with influencers/ potential partners? How do you avoid having it stolen? Or is this not a priority in th...

Answered by Michael Garrity – Founder, CommunityLend

My suggestion would be that if you have a business concept that you think it great - then start working on it and tell as many folks as possible that you think can help you... (more)

Hi April, thanks for taking the time to do this. I am struggling to asses the value of adwords or facebook/tiwtter ads to get people to your site in order to validate your ...

Answered by April Dunford – Product Marketing Expert.

It really depends on your business but I think there is a danger in the early stages of just using advertising to test a hypothesis. Nothing beats sitting down with people... (more)

Hi April. I'm about (emd of Sept) to launch a startup to help connect indepedent lifestyle service providers (think personl trainers, stylists, executive coaches, music ins...

Answered by April Dunford – Product Marketing Expert. Posted in Marketing Lessons

Agencies are not cheap which is why most startups don't work with one. At the beginning I think it's important for the founder to own marketing because you are going to be ... (more)

Hey Brad... I asked you a question while you were on stage at AccelerateMTL last week. This is a follow-up... If the vetting chain goes: 1) market, 2) team and 3) product ...

Answered by Brad Feld – Investor and entrepreneur.

If the investor knows the market, they will probably be more comfortable with this and express an opinion. If the investor doesn't really know the market very well, this wi... (more)

Sign up for Sprouter