The Startup Velocity Question: Positioning Drives Exit

There is a commonly held misconception among operators who do not understand positioning: We don’t want to invest in Positioning. We will be selling the company.

No you won’t. 

Not without Positioning.

Not unless you are looking for a firesale.

Strategic acquirers would need to know where you fit in their portfolio. 

They would need to see a credible TAM model.

They would need to understand Innovator’s Dilemma issues they may face due to cannibalization of their existing products.

They would need to understand up-sell / cross-sell triggers within their existing portfolio.

They would need to rationalize valuation against ROI.

And much, much more.

Key Takeaways:

• Positioning is crucial for startup velocity and often overlooked by technical founders.
• Accurate market segmentation leads to realistic TAM estimates, impacting fundability.
• Repeatable sales processes require unique and consistent positioning 
• Clear positioning is essential for potential acquirers to understand a company’s value.

My Question to You:

Have you developed an Exit Strategy?

If your startup is looking for an Exit and you need help, you can explore 1-on-1 Private Consulting with me. I will assess your Exit prospects in an hour and give you actionable recommendations.

Photo by Thanos Papazoglou on Unsplash

This segment is a part in the series : The Startup Velocity Question