What does it really take to achieve product-market fit? For many founders, this critical milestone feels elusive, shrouded in myths and misconceptions that derail even the most promising startups.
In this episode, Chris Saad and Pablo Srugo, seasoned startup advisors and founders, unravel the mysteries of product-market fit. Pablo, host of The Product-Market Fit Show and a partner at Mistral VC, shares five proven steps founders can take to avoid costly mistakes, navigate pivots, and find true market pull.
In this episode, you will:
- Learn why starting in "research mode" is the secret to uncovering real customer problems.
- Discover the difference between "push" and "pull" in market demand—and why it matters.
- Master the art of doing "things that don’t scale" to kickstart momentum.
- Understand how to prioritize customer value over premature growth metrics.
- Explore the critical role of pivots—and why most founders regret not pivoting sooner.
- Unpack actionable insights from over 100 interviews with successful founders.
- Get practical advice to align your product with your customers’ most urgent needs.
00:00 Intro
00:56 On Today's Show
02:13 The Startup Podcast Pact
02:44 Why do cars have brakes?
06:06 Defining Product Market Fit
09:34 Step 1: Research Mode
17:57 Step 2: Insane Focus and Hustle
24:22 Step 3: Be in the Market to Win the Market
31:59 Step 4: Forget Growth, Find Value
38:32 Step 5: Pivot Harder, Faster
46:20 Recapping the 5 Steps
48:15 Final Story: The Founder Cockroach
51:14 Work with Chris and Pablo
The Pact
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Key links
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The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show
Learn more about Chris and Yaniv
Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/
Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/
Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/
Editor: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur
Content Strategist: Carolina Franco https://www.linkedin.com/in/francocarolina/
Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
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