Great diagnostic. One additional dimension I’d consider is value realization. Who is realizing the strongest ROI, and for which use cases/JTBDs? That often provides the clearest signal of what your ideal customer actually looks like.
Sharp addition, Suzanne. I'd layer this into the deal assessment step. When you're pulling 20-25 closed deals, adding "who's getting the strongest ROI and on what JTBD" would surface the real signal faster than buyer/trigger data alone. It's the difference between who bought and who's actually valuing and winning with it.
I read these articles but I think Angel investors are looking for a certain personality not a brilliant idea. I think the psychology is that somebody that's driven will not really understand what they are getting into but if they are practical minded they will overcome anything and therefore our good investment. With that thinking in mind because I really don't want to go through the difficulties of setting up a business I have been talking about them hoping to find partnerships. I was amazed at what AI had to say after I explained my micro airplane that I think will be an easy billion dollar business. I also explained how to revolutionize affordable housing and green pollution free far cheaper piston engine. There's something funny about businesses in which they start out small and the ambition is what makes them into something like Amazon. I suppose they do still sell used books?
the internal consistency test is the one I'd run first, before touching CAC or conversion numbers. most orgs think they're aligned because everyone nods along in the same roadmap review... ask three leaders separately what the ideal customer looks like and you'll usually get three different answers ..
Rini, exactly right, and "nodding along in the roadmap review" is the tell. Agreement in the room isn't the same as a shared definition, it just means nobody's asked each leader to state the nature of their agreement/understanding out loud. I've seen this almost exactly as you describe: three capable leaders, three answers, nobody notices the gap until an active deal forces it open.
I'm curious, from your fractional seat: is this usually a blind spot founders can't see, or one you catch faster because you're not in the day to day?
Great diagnostic. One additional dimension I’d consider is value realization. Who is realizing the strongest ROI, and for which use cases/JTBDs? That often provides the clearest signal of what your ideal customer actually looks like.
Sharp addition, Suzanne. I'd layer this into the deal assessment step. When you're pulling 20-25 closed deals, adding "who's getting the strongest ROI and on what JTBD" would surface the real signal faster than buyer/trigger data alone. It's the difference between who bought and who's actually valuing and winning with it.
I read these articles but I think Angel investors are looking for a certain personality not a brilliant idea. I think the psychology is that somebody that's driven will not really understand what they are getting into but if they are practical minded they will overcome anything and therefore our good investment. With that thinking in mind because I really don't want to go through the difficulties of setting up a business I have been talking about them hoping to find partnerships. I was amazed at what AI had to say after I explained my micro airplane that I think will be an easy billion dollar business. I also explained how to revolutionize affordable housing and green pollution free far cheaper piston engine. There's something funny about businesses in which they start out small and the ambition is what makes them into something like Amazon. I suppose they do still sell used books?
the internal consistency test is the one I'd run first, before touching CAC or conversion numbers. most orgs think they're aligned because everyone nods along in the same roadmap review... ask three leaders separately what the ideal customer looks like and you'll usually get three different answers ..
Rini, exactly right, and "nodding along in the roadmap review" is the tell. Agreement in the room isn't the same as a shared definition, it just means nobody's asked each leader to state the nature of their agreement/understanding out loud. I've seen this almost exactly as you describe: three capable leaders, three answers, nobody notices the gap until an active deal forces it open.
I'm curious, from your fractional seat: is this usually a blind spot founders can't see, or one you catch faster because you're not in the day to day?