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Ask HN: How Did You Validate/Devalidate Your B2B Startup?

Tell me about the type of venture it was, and how you validate(d)/devalidate(d) it. Thanks

verdverm 8y ago
I talked to potential customers, built a POC, showed some end users, had a meeting with an investor, built the MVP, deployed last night, now looking for beta users. Low code for developers
- a_lifters_life 8y ago
  Can you elaborate on the talking to potential customers? Is there any book suggestions you might have?
  - verdverm 8y ago
    Sales books are good, especially "the Challenger Sale" for b2b complex sales. Meetups, networking/startup events, about to try some online methods. Need to go to where your users are, I'm still figuring that out.
tixocloud 8y ago
Developing a SaaS platform and have been speaking with potential customers from various segments. Spent time to understand what potential customers are looking for, networked with other entrepreneurs and folks within the same domain and am looking to secure our first sale. Sales has mostly been about high touch conversations given my product is complex.
- a_lifters_life 8y ago
  What kinds of questions did you ask? Any recommendations on where to find solid questions? Thx
  - tixocloud 8y ago
    Effectively, you're looking to do customer discovery. What you want to do is ask questions to learn more about the problem your customers have - save your solution in the back of your mind but understand what they are trying to accomplish. Justin Wilcox's 5 simple questions helped a lot but practice makes perfect: https://customerdevlabs.com/2013/11/05/how-i-interview-customers/ https://customerdevlabs.com/2013/11/05/how-i-interview-custo... Here's a link to additional resources: https://medium.com/lean-startup-circle/all-the-resources-you-need-to-master-customer-interviews-ea7af5dc59c6 https://medium.com/lean-startup-circle/all-the-resources-you...
ishjoh 8y ago
Take a look at the close.io blog, they helped me figure out how to write some cold emails and helped me make some of my first sales. You should definitely talk to people you know and trust, but take the plunge and reach out to some folks you think would benefit from your product. Also don't be discouraged if you don't get much of a response, I sent 30 emails, had 40% open rate, and only one person respond. Today it's easier as my skills have improved, but be patient and you can do it.
- a_lifters_life 8y ago
  This is prior to any product dev, correct?
  - ishjoh 8y ago
    The sooner the better but it helps to have something to point people to as well. Even if it's just some landing pages with some nice images of the product that can be a good place to start a conversation at least.

Tell me about the type of venture it was, and how you validate(d)/devalidate(d) it. Thanks

I talked to potential customers, built a POC, showed some end users, had a meeting with an investor, built the MVP, deployed last night, now looking for beta users. Low code for developers

a_lifters_life 8y ago
Can you elaborate on the talking to potential customers? Is there any book suggestions you might have?
- verdverm 8y ago
  Sales books are good, especially "the Challenger Sale" for b2b complex sales. Meetups, networking/startup events, about to try some online methods. Need to go to where your users are, I'm still figuring that out.

tixocloud 8y ago

Developing a SaaS platform and have been speaking with potential customers from various segments. Spent time to understand what potential customers are looking for, networked with other entrepreneurs and folks within the same domain and am looking to secure our first sale. Sales has mostly been about high touch conversations given my product is complex.

a_lifters_life 8y ago
What kinds of questions did you ask? Any recommendations on where to find solid questions? Thx
- tixocloud 8y ago
  Effectively, you're looking to do customer discovery. What you want to do is ask questions to learn more about the problem your customers have - save your solution in the back of your mind but understand what they are trying to accomplish. Justin Wilcox's 5 simple questions helped a lot but practice makes perfect: https://customerdevlabs.com/2013/11/05/how-i-interview-customers/ https://customerdevlabs.com/2013/11/05/how-i-interview-custo... Here's a link to additional resources: https://medium.com/lean-startup-circle/all-the-resources-you-need-to-master-customer-interviews-ea7af5dc59c6 https://medium.com/lean-startup-circle/all-the-resources-you...

ishjoh 8y ago

Take a look at the close.io blog, they helped me figure out how to write some cold emails and helped me make some of my first sales. You should definitely talk to people you know and trust, but take the plunge and reach out to some folks you think would benefit from your product. Also don't be discouraged if you don't get much of a response, I sent 30 emails, had 40% open rate, and only one person respond. Today it's easier as my skills have improved, but be patient and you can do it.

a_lifters_life 8y ago
This is prior to any product dev, correct?
- ishjoh 8y ago
  The sooner the better but it helps to have something to point people to as well. Even if it's just some landing pages with some nice images of the product that can be a good place to start a conversation at least.