3 ms·

What a great post. Software is used by people who want to solve a problem. Big, big companies can bring connections, brand recognition, money and other intimid

What a great post. Software is used by people who want to solve a problem. Big, big companies can bring connections, brand recognition, money and other intimidating resources, sure. In the end, though, people use the software, not the brand. No amount of money can replace the value of genuinely understanding and serving the needs of the people who use what you make. In a software matchup between guys who live and die by their ability to make and sell software vs. guys who sell rubber and plastic sewn together in sweatshops, you can call the winner before you even see the fight. My hat is off to Jason for understanding the value of his company's position.

patio11 16y ago
It is even better than that. Nike's core competence isn't shoes, it is marketing an image of sportsmen as an attractive lifestyle. If you make something for that lifestyle, their core competence is marketing you. That is why sales doubled: "serious sportsmen use software" blasted out of their megaphone makes sports software as a category instantly more valuable.
- danilocampos 16y ago
  Entirely true! It's hard to argue with the validation of guys with money.
- cullenking 16y ago
  This is precisely why I enjoyed hearing our main competitor received $5 million in a series A. It instantly validated the market, and it will do nothing but create opportunities for us. Since our software is fitness tracking, that same good news applies to RunKeeper as well! MapMyFitness, no matter how much money they get, won't be able to keepup with small, agile development teams like FitnessKeeper, ridewithgps, CycleMeter etc.
  - eru 16y ago
    At least not in all niches.
- Ras_ 16y ago
  Logistics is often forgotten when core competencies are listed. I'm not sure about Nike, but generally in fashion/retail the key to success seems to be a combination of brand management and strict control of logistics chain. Obvious cases: H&M, Ikea. The author makes a good assumption. Nokia did something similar recently with Nokia Sports Tracker. It was one of the most popular Symbian apps ever but was killed because it was never a priority to them. "After two and a half years of operation, the Nokia Sports Tracker beta service was closed on June 30, 2010" http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts

patio11 16y ago

It is even better than that. Nike's core competence isn't shoes, it is marketing an image of sportsmen as an attractive lifestyle. If you make something for that lifestyle, their core competence is marketing you. That is why sales doubled: "serious sportsmen use software" blasted out of their megaphone makes sports software as a category instantly more valuable.

danilocampos 16y ago
Entirely true! It's hard to argue with the validation of guys with money.
cullenking 16y ago
This is precisely why I enjoyed hearing our main competitor received $5 million in a series A. It instantly validated the market, and it will do nothing but create opportunities for us. Since our software is fitness tracking, that same good news applies to RunKeeper as well! MapMyFitness, no matter how much money they get, won't be able to keepup with small, agile development teams like FitnessKeeper, ridewithgps, CycleMeter etc.
- eru 16y ago
  At least not in all niches.
Ras_ 16y ago
Logistics is often forgotten when core competencies are listed. I'm not sure about Nike, but generally in fashion/retail the key to success seems to be a combination of brand management and strict control of logistics chain. Obvious cases: H&M, Ikea. The author makes a good assumption. Nokia did something similar recently with Nokia Sports Tracker. It was one of the most popular Symbian apps ever but was killed because it was never a priority to them. "After two and a half years of operation, the Nokia Sports Tracker beta service was closed on June 30, 2010" http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts