Guest: Ryan Hoover - Founder of Product Hunt and full-time investor with the Weekend Fund. Ryan is a well-known figure in the tech community, having founded Product Hunt, a platform that showcases new products, and is an active angel investor. Key Takeaways: Importance of Launches: Launching a product can serve multiple purposes beyond customer acquisition, such as recruiting, fundraising, and partnerships. It also boosts team morale and can improve SEO. Consumer Startups: These are challenging due to monetization difficulties and the need to compete for user attention. Successful consumer startups often require a unique insight or a shift in consumer behavior or technology. Niche Focus: Starting with a narrow target audience allows for a more tailored product and marketing strategy, which can later expand to a broader market. Investment Insights: Never count a portfolio company out until it's over; unexpected pivots or partnerships can turn things around. Angel Investing Pathways: Options include angel investing, scout programs, SPVs, or raising a fund. For those without capital, creating a "fantasy portfolio" and writing investment memos can be a way to demonstrate capability. Topics Covered: Product launches, consumer startup challenges, niche market focus, angel investing strategies, investment surprises, founder resilience.
“Cities are kinda like a product.”
“Building is the most fun, so creating something is whether it's a company ... I don't know what it is.”
“You can always raise venture later. Like it's a one-way door, so I kinda wanna delay that door.”
