Do You Have an Unfair Advantage?

Probably not, but that's OK. Start with a competitive advantage and go from there. (#31)

Midjourney prompt: “an unfair advantage”

Most early stage startups don’t have an unfair advantage.

That doesn’t stop investors from asking, “Hey founder, what’s your unfair advantage?”

Founders attempt to answer, usually citing their amazing team and the speed with which they’re going to execute.

Shrugs.

Those are important, but they’re not really unfair advantages, especially when everyone claims them. At best they’re competitive advantages, which could evolve into unfair advantages.

I often look for what I describe as the “makings of an unfair advantage…” — something that puts you on a different path from competition and gives you a right to play, with a potential right to win in the future.

Unfair Advantages Versus Competitive Advantages

Jason Cohen defines an unfair advantage as, “Something that cannot be easily copied or bought.” (You should read his full post: Real Unfair Advantages.)

A competitive advantage according to Ash Maurya is, “Something that allows a company to deliver a bette…