Jared Fliesler, Matrix VC & growth guru (Square, Google), leads master class on product growth | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Jared Fleischer shares his experiences and insights on growth and startups, emphasizing the importance of a core product, understanding user behavior, and the role of a growth team.

Key Insights

• 🏛️ Growth requires building an amazing product, effectively messaging it, and marketing it to reach a wider audience.
• 💯 A core product is essential for growth, and it should be simplified, optimized, and differentiated to attract and retain users.
• 🤩 Paid marketing is not a failure, but rather a strategic move to attract users and build the brand. The key is to find effective channels that deliver results.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What are the key elements in growing a startup?

The key elements in growing a startup include building an amazing product, effectively messaging and explaining the product to users, and marketing it to reach a wider audience.

Q: How important is a core product in achieving growth?

A core product is essential for growth as it serves as the foundation and heart of the business. Without a strong core product, all efforts in growth will be in vain.

Q: Is paid marketing a failure or a desperate move?

Paid marketing is not a failure or a desperate move. It can be an effective strategy to attract users and build the brand. The key is to find channels that truly move the needle and deliver results.

Q: How can startups learn from other brands and industries?

Startups can learn from other brands and industries by studying their tactics and strategies. There are often valuable insights to be gained from successful companies, even if they are not direct competitors.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Jared Fleischer worked in growth at Slide and Square before becoming a venture capitalist at Matrix. He shares his experiences and lessons learned from these roles.

• A core product is essential for growth, and it needs to be simplified, optimized, and differentiated to attract and retain users.

• Growth is not just about one team or channel, but it involves all parts of the organization, including product, marketing, and engineering. Collaboration and cross-functionality are key.