ANOTHER DAY
ANOTHER STARTUP STRATEGY
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A dedicated feature/spotlight in our newsletter, including a compelling write-up of your startup’s story and mission, and a link to your website or landing page. Let's us tell your story!Yesterday I went down the rabbit hole of Internet University (aka YouTube) and stumbled on a video that hit me hard.
The guy broke down how he sold $500K worth of product before the product even existed.
He dropped a dead-simple hack for getting your first 10 customers in days — not months.
By the end, he even showed how those first 10 customers can unlock your next 100.
I couldn’t stop thinking: “Man, I wish I knew this in my first startup.”
It wasn’t some manipulative sales hustle.
It was simple, structured, and honestly… refreshing.
This is literally a steal for every founder.
So today, I want to pass it along to you…
The detail breakdown of 5-step playbook (with scripts and templates)👇
Step 1: Pick the right early customers
Not every paying customer is a good first customer.
When you’re just starting out, saying “yes” to the wrong kind of customer can actually sink you.
Big corporates?
→ They’ll drag you through endless approvals and demand features you don’t have the resources to build.
High-maintenance complainers?
→ They’ll eat up your energy without giving you much back.
Here’s what I learned:
Your first customers should feel like partners, not just buyers.
So what does that look like?
They love being early — These are the folks who enjoy testing new stuff, bragging that they were “first” to use something before it blew up.
They treat it like a partnership — They’ll hop on calls, give honest feedback, and don’t vanish after one chat.
They’re small-to-mid size, not huge behemoths — Startups, family businesses, new divisions inside bigger companies; they can say “yes” fast, without a 6-month procurement process.
They’re often the “new blood” — Think of the son/daughter taking over a family business, or the young VP who wants to make their mark because they’re hungry to try new solutions and don’t have “we’ve always done it this way” stuck in their head.
If you start with customers like this, you’re not just getting revenue.
You’re building a feedback loop, getting case studies, and setting yourself up to grow the right way.
Step 2: Don’t pitch, invite
The moment you “pitch,” people throw up walls.
But if you invite them into a conversation, it will be a whole different energy.
Use one of these two Jedi tricks:
📌 1. The Feedback Method (script you can steal):
“Hey, we are a new company in market and we’re building [your product].
We’re not done yet, but we really want to make sure we build something that actually matters for businesses like yours.
Would you be open to hopping on a call sometime to give us feedback and help steer us in the right direction?”
📌 2. The Flattery Method (script you can steal):
“Hi [Name], I’m a big fan of your work. I saw your podcast / award / article — really impressive.
We’re a new company and I’d love to get to meet someone as innovative as you, just to understand how you think about the business.
Would you be open to a quick call?”
See the difference?
You’re not pushing a sale.
You’re pulling them in as a collaborator.
Both approaches open real conversations instead of triggering sales resistance, which makes people lean in instead of tune out.
Step 3: Turn the convo into an “Advisory Board” invite
Once the call goes well, don’t ask them to “be a customer.”
Here’s where most founders blow it because they jump straight to “so… wanna buy?”
Instead — flip it.
Invite them to join your “Customer Advisory Board.”
📌 Here’s a script you can steal:
“I’ve really enjoyed this conversation. You’ve shared so many good insights — thank you for that. We’re building something small right now, but I think it could be really interesting for you.
By the way, we’re putting together a Customer Advisory Board of innovators and thought leaders in this space to help us build the best product possible. I know we’re just getting to know each other, but I can already tell you’d be a great fit. Would you be open to hearing a couple minutes about it?”
If they say yes (and they usually do), here’s the 3-part to close the deal on spot: