Custom Audiences

The talk advises founders to focus on customers and building a better product instead of letting competitors’ fundraising, press, or apparent momentum cause panic. Competitors often face serious problems too, and many markets can support multiple winners. Founders should understand what customers use today and take competitive threats seriously when a rival has a real product or structural advantage. Even then, a strong product can overcome distribution or platform advantages, as examples involving Instacart, Slack, and Cruise illustrate.