Customer development has been a big topic in the Jungle with startups switching focus from ideation to product development & customer validation in the last two weeks. Some JFDI Startups have been taking advantage of Singapore’s location to do this, sending members to meet with customers face to face in other countries in the region, including Thailand, Philippines, India and Indonesia.
Startups received great advice from mentors on how to go about customer development and why it is so important to building a great product. Here are some highlights:
Say no to surveys
“I don’t like surveys….if they actually push the buy now button, you know these people are really going to buy…If you guys aren’t asking people for money yet, you should be.”
– Melissa Clark-Reynolds
Customer development is like going to the gym
“Doing customer development is a little bit like going to the gym. Before you go to the gym, you dread it, worry it’s going to be annoying or a waste of time…then if you summon enough energy to go, well I don’t think i’ve met anyone who has regretted going to the gym. After doing customer development, not only do you get the immediate effect of feeling happy but it can change your outlook on your company dramatically. ”
– Ben Joffe
Know your customer
“The startups that will succeed are the ones who know their demographic, because then it’s easy to find your customers.”
– Melissa Clark-Reynolds
“Be as specific as possible.”
– Rowan Simpson
Release often
“We release weekly. If we put something up on Friday, we know if it’s working by Monday and what changes to make depending on the customer response over the weekend.”
– Melissa Clark-Reynolds
Background research is still important
“Customer discovery is not a replacement for background research and everyone treats it like it is”
– Scott Rafer