Topic: product-market fit
-
Mastering Product-Market Fit for AI Startups
AI startups require a new approach to measuring product-market fit due to the rapid pace of AI development, moving beyond traditional tech strategies. Key indicators of success include the transition of AI spending from experimental budgets to core operational funds and strong user engagement met...
Read More » -
Startup Secrets from Chef Robotics, NEA & ICONIQ at Disrupt 2025
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will feature industry leaders Rajat Bhageria, Ann Bordetsky, and Murali Joshi sharing actionable strategies for achieving product-market fit and scaling early traction. The session will cover practical approaches like smart testing frameworks and iterating based on user fe...
Read More » -
How Forethought AI Achieved Product-Market Fit With Build Mode
Forethought AI's success stemmed from prioritizing genuine customer problem-solving and feedback from day one, rather than chasing hype or investor validation. The company employed a "7-Failure Rule," embracing iterative development and learning from user feedback to refine their product until it...
Read More » -
The Real Challenges of Commercializing Brain Technology
The development of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) from lab concept to market faces significant scientific, technical, and market challenges, requiring extensive research and collaboration. Key hurdles include identifying viable applications that meet real human needs and ensuring reliable perfo...
Read More » -
3 Key Traits Veteran Planetary Health Investors Seek in Startups
Raising capital requires proof of execution, as demonstrated by RA Capital's $120 million fund closure after navigating volatile markets with a focus on resilient startups. Speed to revenue generation and product-market fit are critical, with investors prioritizing ventures that can commercialize...
Read More » -
Ex-Tesla President Reveals Key to Scaling a Business Fast
Tesla's rapid growth, especially around the Model 3 launch, transformed it from a luxury brand to a mainstream EV leader, as explained by former Tesla president Jon McNeil. McNeil's scaling framework relies on two measurable benchmarks: product-market fit (40% of customers can't imagine life with...
Read More » -
Why 2026 Will Be 'The Year of the Consumer'
Venture capital is shifting back towards consumer technology, with 2026 predicted as a key year, due to the faster validation cycles and clear user feedback inherent in consumer markets compared to enterprise sales. The rise of generative AI is transforming platforms, positioning tools like ChatG...
Read More » -
Egypt's TradeHub Closes, Returns Investor Funds After Missing Market Fit
TradeHub, an Egyptian B2B startup, has shut down after failing to achieve product-market fit and returned all remaining investor capital, just 18 months after raising $1.4 million in pre-seed funding. The company initially operated as a cross-border marketplace for exports but pivoted to a B2B sa...
Read More » -
Index Ventures’ Jahanvi Sardana: Rethink TAM - What Founders Should Focus On
Index Ventures partner Jahanvi Sardana argues that groundbreaking startups often emerge from markets that didn’t exist before, citing examples like Google and Amazon. Sardana identifies three market types: Known Markets (competing with incumbents), Emerging Markets (early adopters), and Invisible...
Read More » -
The Golden Age of Robotics Startups Is Here (And It's Not Just AI)
Venture capital investment in robotics has surged, with $6 billion deployed in the first seven months of 2025, driven by tangible commercial successes and clearer market applications. The sector's growth was catalyzed by Amazon's 2013 acquisition of Kiva Systems, which inspired new companies and ...
Read More » -
01A Founders Reveal Their Playbook at Disrupt 2025
Three tech veterans, Adam Bain, Dick Costolo, and David Fischer, will share startup scaling strategies at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, offering founders insights from their experiences at Twitter, Meta, and FeedBurner. The event features practical advice for founders on product-market fit, fundraising,...
Read More » -
Disrupt 2025 Builders Stage Agenda Unveiled
The Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 (October 27–29 in San Francisco) features industry leaders like Elad Gil and Ryan Petersen sharing practical insights on fundraising, scaling, and product-market fit for startups. Key sessions include fundraising strategies (VC expectations, alternati...
Read More » -
Hao Sang of OpenAI to Speak at AI Sessions June 5
The AI landscape is full of potential, but startups face challenges in turning AI tools into viable products, as highlighted by Hao Sang from OpenAI at TechCrunch Sessions: AI. Hao Sang will share insights on building sustainable AI businesses, covering traction, cost balance, and avoiding pitfal...
Read More » -
From NFL to Startup Battlefield: How Alltroo Built a Winning Brand
Founder-market fit is a critical but often overlooked advantage, where a founder's personal background, network, and credibility become unique, hard-to-replicate strategic assets for growth. The success of Alltroo demonstrates that while initial access from a founder's platform (like celebrity st...
Read More » -
Stash Co-Founder on $5 to Financial Freedom at TC All Stage 2025
TechCrunch All Stage 2025 connects startup founders with industry leaders like Brandon Krieg of Stash, who will share actionable strategies for growth, including insights on AI-driven financial tools and community-building. The event offers workshops, panels, and networking with top investors, al...
Read More »