If your product demo feels like a TED Talk for engineers but your prospects are nodding off, you’ve got a problem. Too many B2B tech startups fall into the trap of showcasing their technology’s brilliance while forgetting the cardinal rule: customers don’t buy tools – they buy outcomes. The Misery-Miracle Gap Every great demo should […]
Author Archives: Ken Klapproth
Brand, Execution, Go-to-Market Strategy, Marketing Strategy
Marketing Is Not a Last Mile Problem. It Is the Business.
27
May
May
Let’s get one thing straight: if you think marketing is something you “add later,” you’re not building a business – you’re building a science fair project. The world doesn’t reward innovation. It rewards traction. And traction requires marketing baked in from day one – not bolted on after you’ve burned through your seed round. If […]
Go-to-Market Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Messaging, Sales, Uncategorized
Technical Superiority Is a Lie You Tell Yourself
20
May
May
You’ve built a marvel of engineering – a product that’s faster, smarter, and more elegant than anything else out there. But here’s the brutal truth: technical superiority alone won’t close deals. In the B2B world, especially for tech startups, success hinges not just on what your product does, but on how well you communicate its […]
Content Marketing, Execution, Go-to-Market Strategy, Messaging, Positioning, Value Proposition
Your Customers Don’t Want a Platform. They Want a Solution to a $10M Problem
14
May
May
First things first: stop calling it a platform. No one cares. Look, I get it. You didn’t spend three years in a lab, on a whiteboard, or buried in code just to slap a few features into a single-purpose tool. You built a platform. Something elegant. Modular. Future-proof. Your baby can do anything. But here’s […]
Channel Strategy, Execution, Go-to-Market Strategy, Partner Strategy
Partner Ecosystems – The Secret Sauce for B2B Tech Startup Growth
07
May
May
If you could double, triple, or even quintuple your sales team at no cost and have them bring along a rolodex of existing customers, would you? For technology companies who’ve proven they have a marketable – and salable product – collaboration through a partner ecosystem can be gasoline on the fire. Enter the partner ecosystem: […]
Customer Support, Execution, Go-to-Market Strategy, Onboarding
Your ARR Is Leaking – Plug It with a Bulletproof Customer Success Strategy
30
Apr
Apr
A word to the wise, if you want to keep the recurring in your Annual Recurring Revenue, you’d better stop treating customer success like an afterthought and start treating it like the revenue-preserving juggernaut it is. Enterprise clients don’t renew because they “liked your vibe” – they stick around because your product solves a real […]
Execution, Marketing Strategy, Onboarding, Sales, Sales Enablement
Your First Big Deal Isn’t a Lottery Ticket — It’s a Landmine (Step Carefully)
23
Apr
Apr
Oh, SNAP – they actually asked for a proposal – now what? Securing your first enterprise client is a monumental milestone for any B2B technology startup. It’s not just about the revenue; it’s about validation, credibility, and the gateway to scaling your business. However, navigating this journey requires strategic planning, keen negotiation, and meticulous onboarding. […]
Execution, Go-to-Market Strategy, Positioning, Sales, Sales Enablement
Fanboys Alone Can’t Keep the Lights On – Here’s How to Woo the Risk-Averse
16
Apr
Apr
VIEWER WARNING – Be careful not to let the ease of selling to early adopters lull you into a false sense of security. For B2B tech startups, early adopters are the low-hanging fruit – enthusiastic, experimental, and eager to embrace innovation – they instantly “get it”. However, the real challenge lies in captivating the attention […]
Execution, Go-to-Market Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Pricing Strategy, Sales, Sales Enablement
Your Product is Great, It’s Just Not Worth Buying
09
Apr
Apr
Congratulations! You’ve developed a groundbreaking B2B technology product that could revolutionize the industry. But there’s a hitch—your sales are as flat as a pancake. The culprit? Your pricing strategy. Let’s dive into the art and science of setting, testing, and refining your pricing to ensure your product isn’t just great, but also irresistibly purchasable. The […]
Awareness, Content Strategy, Execution, Go-to-Market Strategy, Marketing Strategy
Avoiding Becoming a Punchline When Expanding Worldwide
02
Apr
Apr
Going global with a technically complex product is like playing chess against a grandmaster – you can’t wing it and expect to win. Yet, many B2B tech startups make the same blunders: ignoring cultural nuances, fumbling translations, and underestimating regulatory hurdles. The result? A well-intentioned expansion that turns into an international punchline. But it doesn’t […]