In my recent talk on The Growth Equation, I shared the story of Marta, a founder archetype whose journey reveals a common but often overlooked challenge in early-stage startups. Marta stands out because she excels where many founders struggle—at customer acquisition.
One of the most common—and deceptively simple—questions founders ask is: “How can I grow my business faster?” It feels like the kind of question that should have a straightforward answer. Yet, as many CEOs discover, growth is rarely straightforward. It’s a balancing act between multiple forces, each pulling in different directions.
In my recent talk on The Growth Equation, I introduced Barry, an archetypal founder whose story might sound all too familiar. Barry is a product person at heart. He loves nothing more than dreaming up new features and turning ideas into reality. For Barry, the belief is simple: the best products win.