B2Gold

Finding people for customer discovery is honestly one of the biggest challenges when taking a product from 0 to 1. I get cold messages all the time. Most are trying to sell me something, but some just ask for 30 minutes to chat. If I have time and fit the profile, I almost always say yes. I've been there, and building from the ground up means I know exactly how tough this process is. But to find the right people faster, you have to stand out. Posting a general request on your feed rarely works anymore. LinkedIn is just too crowded now, and it ends up feeling like another cold pitch. What actually works? Warm intros. Yes, yes, you heard correctly - warm intros are the key. - Start by asking people you know: "Do you know anyone who struggles with this problem?" One warm intro beats 50 cold messages. People almost always say yes to a trusted connection. - And at the end of every single call, always ask: "Who else do you think I should talk to?" Most people are happy to refer someone, and this one question alone keeps your conversations moving. - Go where your users are already talking. Tbh, I've found Reddit to be one of the most useful sources to gather info in general, but you really just need to find wherever your specific audience spends time. For example, when I was working on a discovery project in logistics tech, I found specific groups and channels just for truck drivers and truck owners, and just sat there reading. Find their spaces, read what they write, and reach out personally based on their exact words. - If you are in B2B and have a budget, there are faster ways. You can use platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, just post a "job" looking for specific experts to interview for 30 minutes. Targeted ads on social media also work great to find niche profiles quickly. The easier you make it for someone to say yes, the more conversations you'll have. And in the early days, those conversations are exactly what make or break your product. At the end of the day, remember that discovery is not a one-time step. It’s a process that never really stops. It is slow, detailed work, but it’s the only way to make sure you are building something people actually need. P.S This is exactly what we’ve been discussing lately in the Startup Hub of the She's New To America Pro community! #CustomerDiscovery #Founders #StartupLife #UserResearch

Well done on this achievement Team Otjikoto!

Last week I had the opportunity to moderate a really valuable session with Bret Waters in our She's New To America Pro community. As someone who is still fairly new to America, it felt special to moderate the discussion and ask questions to Bret - a former founder and CEO of multiple software companies in Silicon Valley, Stanford entrepreneurship lecturer, investor, and mentor who has helped founders raise over $750 million. He was so generous with his time and shared very honest, practical advice. Here are some of the things that really stuck with me: - Fall in love with the problem, not your first idea for solving it. The best founders stay open to pivoting. - Stop falling into confirmation bias - test your assumptions early through real customer conversations and discovery. - Don’t wait around for a technical co-founder. With today’s AI tools, you can build so much yourself. (Many iconic founders like Steve Jobs weren’t technical at all) - Early-stage investors are mostly betting on you, the founders, - your passion, persistence, humility, and ability to adapt matter way more than fancy credentials or big market slides. - Sales is actually the most important skill in the beginning. Founder-led sales beats “build it and they will come” almost every time. - AI makes creating a product much easier, but the hard 99% - talking to customers, figuring out distribution, monetization, and just having the grit - is still on the founder. I left the session feeling inspired and much more clear-headed. Huge thank you to She's New To America Pro and our Startup Hub for creating this supportive space where immigrant women can learn, validate ideas, connect, and build their startups together. And thank you Bret Waters for sharing your wisdom so generously! #Startups #Entrepreneurship #ImmigrantWomen #WomenInBusiness #NewInAmerica #ShesNewToAmericaPro