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Ian Bednowitz

Imagine how much more successful you could be growing your startup if you could learn from the successes and mistakes of hundreds of entrepreneurs who came before you - that is what this course will do for you

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Imagine how much more successful you could be growing your startup if you could learn from the successes and mistakes of hundreds of entrepreneurs who came before you - that is what this course will do for you

While I was at eBay I spent over $1B investing in and buying startups, so I evaluated hundreds of startups and saw what they did well and the most common pitfalls. I've been coaching entrepreneurs the past few years since I left eBay using what I've learned to help them become more successful, and now this knowledge is available to you in this course.

You will learn how to take your startup to the next level by avoiding the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make:

  • How to avoid the endless hole of direct marketing spending and still acquire loads of valuable customers
  • Why so many startups fail because they have dreams that are too broad and too big
  • How much it pays to focus your startup in areas where you or your team have deep expertise and skills - just picking an area you are passionate about or is a big opportunity is a huge risk if you don't have relevant experience
  • Not all customers are created equal - if you treat them all the same you will lose your best customers

Teaching method:

To illustrate the principles of this course, we’ll look at different mistakes entrepreneurs made and how other entrepreneurs employed the strategies in this course to overtake them. These are all going to be pragmatic case studies, taught in the same way top business schools teach and how top management consulting firms like Bain train their employees. I’m not going to teach you any theory, nothing academic, this is a practical course. I am going to teach you the same materials that I use to coach dozens of entrepreneurs like you each year.

If this course is not for you then you can get 100% of your money back with thepress of a button - no questions asked. There is no risk to you - only upsidebenefit.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Identify attractive niches for your business to focus on that will allow you to grow much faster than trying to be everything to everyone
  • Acquire large numbers of new customers without spending a dollar on b2c marketing - but you have to hustle and put in legwork
  • Ensure you have the right set of skills and capabilities to make your business successful - experience matters!
  • Grow as fast as possible by tailoring your startup to your most profitable customers
  • Avoid all the common mistakes i saw hundreds of entrepreneurs make

Syllabus

Provide an overview of the instructor and the course
Roadmap of this course
Learn how you can make your business successful by choosing a segment of the market to focus on rather than going after the entire market. I illustrate the lesson through many examples .
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What focusing on a niche means and different types of niches
How to choose a niche for your business
Facebook started with a niche strategy focusing on college campuses
Now Facebook is the leader and many competitors are winning in its market niches
Google+, a cautionary tale of the mistake most entrepreneurs make
eBay was once the king of ecommerce and Amazon beat eBay with a niche strategy
Etsy and Zappos won their niches by blowing their customers away and you can too
How StubHub won their niche by getting their target customers to trust them
Amazon Fire Phone – another attack-the core disaster by a huge company
Choose a niche for your startup
Get new customers without falling into the bottomless pit of direct marketing
The problems with a direct B2C marketing approach to customer acquisition
How a piggyback ride can change your business
Find your customers in the marketplace
Colleges and Universities
Bloggers and podcasters
Even more potential organizations where you can find customers
Exercise: Finding low cost ways for your business to acquire new customers
Understand the critical importance of industry and operational experience in becoming a successful entrepreneur and how to ensure you have it or can find it
Why experience is so important in entrepreneurship
The importance of experience – the story of Farecast and Decide
Data on the value of experience in successful entrepreneurship
If you're really smart, you don't need experience right?
How to get experience if you don't have it
Exercise: Ensuring your startup has the right experience
Don’t waste resources on your least valuable customers – focus on the top 20%
20% of your customers generate 80% of your profit
Shedding light on your most profitable customers - allocate revenue
Shedding light on your most profitable customers - calculate cost of goods sold
Shedding light on your most profitable customers - allocating other costs
Now comes the fun part: learn more about your most profitable customers
Learn from the major airlines: how to wow your most profitable customers
Exercise: Find your most profitable customers

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Instructed by a former eBay exec who invested over \$1B and bought startups, this instruction draws on real-world experience
Teaches how to avoid pitfalls and seek growth through case studies from the instructor's work and experience
Emphasizes avoiding common mistakes such as limitless marketing spend and setting unrealistic goals
Instructs how to choose niches, leverage partnerships, and focus on high-value customers to maximize resources and outcomes
Offers a full money-back guarantee, with no questions asked
This course is ideal for entrepreneurs and startups seeking guidance and insights from an experienced investor and advisor

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Reviews summary

Generally well-received growth strategies course

learners say this course offers simple and effective approaches to growing a business. Students remark that the lectures are engaging, providing them with useful insights. However, some learners have expressed uncertainty about how to expand their business internationally.
Students find the course's strategies helpful.
"yeah, it is good and what I expected for growing business."
Learners appreciate the engaging nature of the lectures.
Some learners wish there was more coverage on international expansion.
"still haveing doubts how to expand internationally"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Startup Growth Strategies: Simple Approaches for Fast Growth with these activities:
Review key concepts of starting a business
Reviewing key business concepts will help refresh your memory and ensure you have a strong foundation before starting the course.
Browse courses on Starting a Business
Show steps
  • Read through your notes or textbooks from previous business courses.
  • Take practice quizzes or answer review questions to test your understanding.
Read: Zero to One by Peter Thiel
This book challenges conventional wisdom and encourages entrepreneurs to think differently about innovation and value creation.
Show steps
  • Read the book attentively and reflect on the author's perspectives.
  • Consider how the ideas presented in the book can be applied to your own startup.
Read: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
This book provides a practical approach to building and testing a successful startup.
Show steps
  • Read the book thoroughly and take notes.
  • Identify key concepts and ideas that resonate with your business goals.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Seek guidance from experienced entrepreneurs
Finding experienced entrepreneurs to mentor you will provide you with valuable insights and support as you navigate the challenges of starting a business.
Browse courses on Mentorship
Show steps
  • Identify potential mentors through your network or online resources.
  • Reach out to your potential mentors and request their guidance.
  • Regularly schedule meetings or calls to discuss your progress and challenges.
Identify potential business opportunities
Completing practice drills will help you develop your skills in identifying and evaluating potential business opportunities.
Show steps
  • Brainstorm a list of potential business ideas.
  • Conduct market research to validate your ideas.
  • Analyze the competition and identify your target market.
Develop a business plan
Following guided tutorials on business plan development will provide you with a structured approach to creating a comprehensive plan for your business.
Browse courses on Business Plan Development
Show steps
  • Review sample business plans and templates.
  • Follow a step-by-step guide to write each section of your business plan.
  • Seek feedback from mentors or other entrepreneurs.
Mentor aspiring entrepreneurs
Mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs will reinforce your understanding of the course material and allow you to share your knowledge with others.
Browse courses on Mentoring
Show steps
  • Identify opportunities to mentor through local organizations or online platforms.
  • Prepare materials and resources to support your mentees.
  • Provide guidance and feedback to help your mentees succeed.
Launch a small-scale business project
Starting a small-scale business project will give you practical experience in applying the concepts learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Choose a feasible business idea and develop a plan.
  • Secure funding and necessary resources.
  • Implement your plan and monitor your progress.

Career center

Learners who complete Startup Growth Strategies: Simple Approaches for Fast Growth will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs launch and operate their own businesses, often facing challenges related to customer acquisition, market positioning, and resource allocation. The course's practical strategies and case studies provide valuable insights for aspiring and established Entrepreneurs, helping them navigate these challenges and increase their chances of success.
Founder
A Founder is an individual who establishes and leads a business, often from the ground up. The course content on market segmentation, customer acquisition, and growth strategies can equip aspiring and early-stage Founders with the knowledge and skills necessary to build and scale successful enterprises.
Startup Advisor
Startup Advisors provide guidance and support to early-stage businesses. The course's practical lessons on market positioning, customer acquisition, and growth strategies can equip Startup Advisors with in-depth knowledge to assist startups in navigating the challenges of rapid growth and building successful ventures.
Growth Hacker
Growth Hackers are responsible for implementing creative and data-driven strategies to drive business growth. The course's focus on low-cost customer acquisition techniques, market research, and data analysis can provide Growth Hackers with valuable tools and insights to effectively acquire and retain customers, ultimately contributing to rapid company growth.
Venture Capitalist
Venture Capitalists invest in and provide guidance to promising startups. By understanding how startups achieve growth and profitability, Venture Capitalists can make informed investment decisions and support the success of innovative businesses. The course's insights on market segmentation, customer acquisition, and financial analysis can enhance their ability to identify and nurture high-potential investments.
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for developing and managing products that meet customer needs. The course's focus on market segmentation and tailoring products to specific niches can provide Product Managers with valuable insights into understanding customer requirements and delivering successful products.
Market Analyst
Market Analysts conduct research and provide insights on market trends and customer behavior. The course's lessons on market segmentation, customer profiling, and data analysis can enhance their ability to understand market dynamics and provide valuable recommendations for business decision-making.
Investment Analyst
Investment Analysts evaluate and recommend investments for individuals or institutions. By understanding how startups achieve growth and profitability, Investment Analysts can make informed decisions about investment opportunities. The course's lessons on market segmentation, customer acquisition, and financial analysis can enhance their ability to identify promising investments.
Corporate Strategy Manager
Corporate Strategy Managers are responsible for developing and implementing long-term plans for organizations. The course's focus on identifying attractive market niches and tailoring products or services to specific customer segments aligns well with the skills required for this role. Corporate Strategy Managers can benefit from the insights provided in the course to drive growth and competitive advantage for their organizations.
Sales Manager
Sales Managers lead and motivate sales teams to achieve revenue targets. The course's insights on market segmentation, customer acquisition, and customer relationship management can empower Sales Managers with effective strategies to drive sales growth and build strong customer relationships.
Business Consultant
Business Consultants analyze an organization's operations and provide recommendations for improvement. By gaining insights from this course on how startups successfully position themselves for growth, Business Consultants can enhance their understanding of business strategy and customer acquisition techniques. This knowledge can help them develop effective recommendations for clients seeking to scale their businesses.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers plan and execute marketing campaigns to promote products or services. The course's emphasis on low-cost customer acquisition techniques and customer segmentation can provide Marketing Managers with innovative strategies to reach target audiences effectively and drive growth.
Project Manager
Project Managers oversee the planning, execution, and completion of projects. The course's emphasis on managing resources, optimizing processes, and meeting deadlines can provide Project Managers with valuable tools and techniques to enhance their project execution capabilities.
Management Consultant
Management Consultants provide advice and support to organizations on various aspects of their operations. By gaining insights from this course on how startups successfully navigate growth challenges, Management Consultants can enhance their understanding of business strategy and market positioning. This knowledge can help them provide valuable recommendations to clients seeking to scale their businesses.

Reading list

We've selected 16 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Startup Growth Strategies: Simple Approaches for Fast Growth.
The Lean Startup process for building a successful startup by testing your ideas quickly and cheaply, and then iterating based on the results.
Good Strategy/Bad Strategy book about how to develop a good strategy for your business.
The Innovator's Dilemma book about how large companies often fail to innovate because they are too focused on protecting their existing businesses.
The Art of War classic book on military strategy that can be applied to business.
Rich Dad Poor Dad book about how to become financially independent.

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