Pivots are Positive: The Remix

Most successful startups have pivoted, from Youtube to Paypal to Flickr to Heroku.

So why are so many people afraid of pivots?

1. Hi. • John Manoogian III • @jm3
2. Hi. An unusual background Code leadership design CTO * * *
3. The Awesome Truth About Pivots! @JM3
4. Confession: I have pivoted more than anyone I know in my career and in my startup.
5. Show of hands... Who here *wants* their startup to fail? “But… but!”
6. My condolences in advance.
7. ? $ $ $how of Hand$ #2 Who here wants to build a billion dollar company?
8. STARTUPS ARE A RACE AGAINST BROKE Since most startups who succeed undergo pivots, an unhealthy aversion to pivots can reduce your chances.
9. Most Successful Startups pivot Let’s play, “name their original business model…”
10. Flickr Heroku Instagram Paypal Twitter Youtube Awe$ome companies pivot chat w photos in-browser coding location-based checkins beam money to Palm Pilots podcast directory video dating site
11. 140 Proof!
12. Different pivots unlock different weapons and abilities, like power-ups.
13. analytics ➤ recommendations long-tail ➤ mad.ave self-serve ➤ full-serve 140 Proof’s pivot evolution:
14. Pivoting is tough Admitting we’re wrong is painful. Doing field surgery on our babies is terrifying.
15. We pivoted to an investor free zone Pivoting our company’s revenue mechanism from self-serve to full- serve coated us in kryptonite. (luckily, it all worked out in the end ;)
16. A taxonomy of pivot types. 4. customer need 5. zoom in / zoom out 6. growth lever 3. revenue model 2. market 1. technology stack
17. (winding down)
18. how do you know when you have made a great pivot?
19. • Pivots are positive. Great companies pivot. You can pivot anything. Pivot one thing at a time. Get them beating down your door. (Get those iPhones out.) @JM3
20. Billion dollar founders are no different from you. They pivoted.
21. Thanks! @jm3