Intelligems’ Post

The Art and Science of Cloning Business Models - A Cautionary Tale In the dynamic startup landscape, copying or adapting successful business models can seem like an attractive shortcut to success. However, the road to sustainable growth and profitability isn't always paved with imitations. Take, for example, Rocket Internet, known for replicating successful business models in new markets. While some ventures like Lazada and Zalando thrived, others like Easy Taxi found it challenging to compete with well-established competitors like Uber. Then there was Homejoy, a platform-based cleaning service, which faced issues with quality control, customer retention, and legal challenges. Despite its promising start, Homejoy ceased operations within a few years. Quibi, though not a direct copy, sought to capture the market of short-form content but with a high-budget, mobile-first approach. Despite massive funding, it couldn't gain sufficient traction and had to shut down within six months of its launch. And who can forget Theranos? Posing as an innovative company, it promised a revolutionary approach to blood testing. However, the execution was based on fraudulent claims, leading to a notorious downfall. Copying a successful business model is not a guarantee of success. It's the deep understanding of local markets, effective execution, adapting to customer needs, and most importantly, operating within legal and ethical boundaries that drive a startup's success. Remember, innovation isn't just about unique ideas; it's equally about unique implementation and delivering real value. The key lies in striking a balance between learning from others' successes and forging your own path. #StartupStrategy #BusinessModel #Innovation #Entrepreneurship

#TCDisrupt2023 just revealed the ultimate operational advice from Airbnb and Instacart at the Builders Stage! Don't miss out on these game-changing insights! #Airbnb #Instacart #OperationalAdvice #BuildersStage #TechConference #TechNews #Innovation #businessnews #innovation #success #business #entrepreneur #TrendingNow #MakeMoney #creativity #technology #personaldevelopment #motivation #selfhelp #management #leadership #marketing #economy #future #businessintelligence #startups #investing

Uber has a complicated history, to say the least, being one of the most disruptive #technology companies in recent memory, but also the poster child of unprofitable tech #startups and a firm known for its scandals. In this article, we explore #Uber’s path to profitability and analyse its current #valuation.

Let’s name your next big startup! 👀 Keep reading. 1 - The 'Something-O' Magic Think Monzo, Juro, Pento... It's the classic charm that never fades. Simple yet sophisticated, with a dash of Latin elegance. Always in vogue. 2 - Double the 'O', Double the Impact Welcome to Deliveroo, Cazoo, Taxdoo... It's the single 'o' with an extra sparkle, giving it that 'wow' vibe. Let's call them the double-O marvels! 3 - The '-ify' Revolution Enter Shopify, Spotify, Lodgify... In this digital age, verbs are evolving with '-ify,' marking a futuristic trend. Startups are flocking to this naming style, setting a 'future verb' trend. 4 - First Name Basis Simple as Kevin, Alan, Stuart... Because sometimes, keeping it personal is key. 5 - Almost an Adverb, But Not Quite See Grammarly, Learnerbly, Recurly... When '-ly' takes over, creating a unique twist. 6 - The Desk Phenomenon Meet Spendesk, Reachdesk, Capdesk... Because breakthroughs happen at your desk. Which name style resonates with you for your startup? 👀 #Startups #Naming #Business

🙌 "In 2015, during my tenure at a large e-commerce company as a principal product manager, I found myself spearheading an ambitious project: expanding the company to more than 100 countries lacking a local e-commerce presence." - Puneet Yamparala: Chief Product Officer with 13+ years at Amazon and startups; co-founder of Bizeev Brands; eCommerce strategist. Keep reading here: ⤵️ https://bit.ly/487m9mY #CommandResults #ScaledAgile #AgileFramework #LeanAgile #AgileProjectManagement #DisciplinedAgile #ScaledAgile #ScaledAgileFramework

The push to start Shippo didn’t initially come from some remarkable founder insight or groundbreaking technological breakthrough. Instead, Laura Behrens Wu and her co-founder Simon Kreuz were desperate to stay in SF after a summer interning for startups during their MBA program. Not the typical startup origin story you’d expect from a future unicorn — but Shippo turned out to be not your ordinary startup. Now the trusted shipping platform for 100,000+ brands worldwide, Shippo started with humble beginnings, as just an online storefront to sell handbags. “Initially, we were just trying to ship better ourselves. But through some early conversations, we realized that other people were having similar challenges, and that's how the idea for Shippo was born,” says Laura. So how did two industry outsiders and first-time founders crack the code on the complex world of shipping logistics? By leaning into their outsider status — not trying to mask it. “When the two of us would take phone calls or respond to customer requests, we’d be very upfront about being an SMB ourselves. We weren't pretending to be a big company full of customer support people or product people. That made a difference in those conversations because people were willing to give us their time,” she says. Tons of lessons for founders and startup builders in our latest Paths to Product-Market Fit article!

From dreaming of driving buses 🚌 in childhood to pioneering the digital commerce realm! Rytis Lauris 🇺🇦, CEO of Omnisend, hasn’t just crafted an extraordinary story; under his leadership, Omnisend has seen a staggering 280% growth in the past two years, cementing its position as a global e-commerce powerhouse. With an 87% customer satisfaction rate and serving over 50,000 businesses worldwide, there's no questioning the force of his vision. 🌍 In a recent deep dive, Rytis spills the beans on his unprecedented journey, highlighting the indispensable value of freedom in entrepreneurship. Did you know startups launched in volatile times are 70% more likely to outlast the competition? Now’s the golden window! 🚀 Dive into the enlightening Unicorns Lithuania's article (kudos to the team) and get fueled with insights and stats that can reshape your business thinking. Click the link to read more: https://lnkd.in/ek7JmWi5

Build your first product for the few, not the many. When talking to early-stage startups, I often notice a common challenge: they struggle to pinpoint their target customer. Responses like "We do B2B," "We sell to supermarkets," or "We aim to sell to advertisers" reveal underlying uncertainties or choice overload. Here's a crucial insight: most successful startups initially build a product for the few. They focus on a small, dedicated segment of the main market with specific needs and a strong belief in the startup’s vision. In the early days you simply can't afford the engineering effort or time to create a product with every feature a mainstream customer might want. It would take years to launch and the risk to become obsolete by the time it’s ready. Instead, build your product incrementally and iteratively with a very small group of early customers. Yes, these early adopters will have different needs than the mainstream market, and you'll ultimately have to tweak your product to reach a critical mass, but their feedback will help you refine and improve your product rapidly. Remember, building a product for everyone pleases no one. Find the people who are passionate about your product. The hardcore customers. As Greg Isenberg says, "10 people who yell make more noise than 10,000 people who are silent." Hope this helps :)