Rapid Growth

“Not Invented Here” (NIH) syndrome is that voice in your head that says, “we can build that ourselves,” every time someone suggests using an external solution. It's the organizational equivalent of refusing to ask for directions because you're pretty sure you can figure out the route—even though your phone has GPS and traffic data that would get you there faster. For decades, this syndrome has led engineering teams down expensive rabbit holes: rebuilding open-source libraries, creating internal project management tools instead of using Jira or Linear, building custom authentication systems instead of integrating with Auth0. The drivers are always the same: technical pride, desire for control, and the belief that your requirements are uniquely special.

When building software, you’ll often need to include "table stakes" features—basic, expected functionality that are bare minimum business requirements or which users assume will be there. Think user authentication, payment processing, search functionality, or data export capabilities. Some table stakes features aren’t industry-specific, but there are usually some features that are common (or required) for your industry but which don't differentiate your offering and may not be important to your users. These "standard" features demand thoughtful execution and this post discusses some of those considerations.

It's a huge milestone to complete and launch version 1 of your app. But is it time to pop the champagne? For most startups, the real challenge begins once their product is out in the world. Some founders assume that if you build it, they will come—but the truth is, without proper planning and budget allocated for post-launch activities, growth can stall. Let's look at 9 key steps you can take to set up your product (and company) for growth, investability, and success.