91. How to launch a platform when you've got no users

How do you launch a dating app, if you have no men and no women on it? Or, how do you launch a market place with niether buyers nor sellers?

This is the chicken and egg problem that all platforms have to solve to succeed.

In this week's episode, you'll learn 6 methods for how to launch a platform when you have no users. Some are sneaky, some are fun and all are very clever.

Sophia's favourite book on how to build & grow platforms is Platform Revolution: How Networked Markets Are Transforming the Economy - And How to Make Them Work for You.

1. Pipeline to Platform conversion, e.g. Amazon to Amazon marketplace

2. Using a company that has the user base you want, e.g. Airbnb & Craigslist 

3. Seeding content, e.g. dating apps & Quora

4. Bringing influencers to your platform for an incentive, e.g. Joe Rogan

5. Producer Evangelism: e.g. Kickstarter, Indigogo, Partyslate

Listen to Sophia's interview with Partyslate CEO & Co-Founder Julie Novack, where she talks about how she used this method to grow her tech venture:  How I built a party platform

6. Micromarket strategy, e.g. Facebook 

To attend Tech for Non-Technical Founders in London on May 10 2022 in London, book your ticket here and use PODCAST to get £5 off the price.

Listen here on Apple Podcasts. 

Listen here on Spotify.

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There are 2 ways to apply this work to your unique challenges:

For companies:

• If your company is going through digital transformation and you want your non-techie teams to be active participants
• If you want to grow revenue via innovation

Then get in touch with us about bespoke training & consulting on [email protected]

For individuals, if you want any of the following results:

• Build tech ventures as non-technical innovators
• Become smart tech investors as VCs or angels
• Succeed in a company going through digital transformation
• Transition career from a tired old business to a fast-growing tech company

Then Tech For Non-Techies membership is for you.

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Photo by Tengyart on Unsplash