So You Have a Startup…

Things that will help it succeed
– Novel feature(s) that people talk about
– A more useful, faster, cheaper product/service = great retention
– Non-trivial technical innovation
– Network effects (experience gets better as more people use it)

Things that will help it fail
– Bad product
– Failure to launch
– A competitor with an equal or better product launches first
– A terrible name
– No retention
– Running out of $
– Getting hit by a bus

Things that won’t guarantee success
– Good name
– Investment $
– Celebrity endorsements
– Brand name investors
– Media buzz / being on Techcrunch
– Lots of users

Things that won’t guarantee failure
– Mediocre name
– Lack of monetization