The Startup Ideas Podcast
The best businesses are built at the intersection of emerging technology, community, and real human needs.
“First time founders focus on product. Second time founders focus on distribution.”
What It Means
Experienced entrepreneurs prioritize how to sell and distribute over what to build
Why It Matters
Distribution often determines success more than product quality in consumer markets
When It's True
For consumer products, especially those competing on convenience or viral appeal
When It's Risky
For highly technical products or regulated industries where product quality is paramount
How to Apply
Evaluate distribution channels before building
Invest more in marketing than R&D for simple products
Test distribution before perfecting product
Example Scenario
“Choose building simple viral product with clear distribution path over complex innovative product with unclear market access”
Related Knowledge
AI Search Strategy
Optimizing content and pages specifically to rank highly in AI search results from ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude rathe
focus on one channel with three formats per week
Effective app marketing requires deep focus on single platform with consistent content variety rather than spreading acr
SEO not dead still generating billions dollars commerce
Search engine optimization remains a viable distribution channel despite AI search tools and claims of SEO's death
Distribution is the new moat
The ability to reach and engage audiences has become more valuable than traditional competitive advantages like product
People use Tik Tok like a search engine
TikTok has evolved beyond entertainment to become a primary discovery mechanism for solutions to specific problems
impact times confidence over effort put it into score
Prioritize product features using quantified impact, confidence, and effort scores rather than subjective preference