What should sophomore scaleups do when early adopter growth dries up

DOUG: Freshman scaleups were trying to master distribution. So sophomore scaleups must have reached a scalable sales process.
ROLAND: Yes, sophomore scaleups have figured out distribution. They are
adding much sales capacity, funded by a healthy gross margin on their product.
New customers have a higher projected lifetime value than it cost to sign them
up. But moving their product into mainstream markets is not proving as easy.
DOUG: What customer type are sophomore scaleups selling to?
ROLAND: This is a key challenge. Sophomore scaleups are running out of early
adopters to sell to. Even across all the verticals or segments they have been
targeting. They are having trouble breaking into the mainstream market.
DOUG: What milestone have sophomore scaleups reached?
ROLAND: Sophomore scaleups have reached market-channel-fit. They have found
at least one channel to sell to their market cost-effectively. They have a
working distribution model.
DOUG: And how much money have they raised?
ROLAND: Sophomore scaleups have raised a Series B round from venture
capitalists. This allows them to ramp up scaling distribution before incumbents
can move in.
DOUG: How far have sophomore scaleups’ products penetrated into the
marketplace?
ROLAND: People recognize sophomore scaleups’ products as a real solution for
a market problem. Anecdotal case studies make place for rankings in analyst
reports and market shares.
DOUG: What challenge do sophomore scaleups have to master?
ROLAND: Sophomore scaleups are trying to break into the mainstream of
pragmatic, non-visionary customers. They do this by “deepening” their serving of
a well-targeted mainstream beachhead market. With better understanding, market
customization and a 100% product solution.
DOUG: How big are sophomore scaleups’ work forces and revenues?
ROLAND: Sophomore scaleups have scaled their revenue to between $5M–$25M per
year. They are growing their workforce fast, from 25 to 80 employees. Functional
departments are growing into their own. We start seeing several management
layers below the CEO.
Roland Siebelink regularly speaks and writes about leadership in fast-growing
tech startups. You can find more of his insights, including free chapters of his
book “Scaling Silicon Valley Style.”