Startup Resources

Startup Marketing Basics

Whether you're an entrepreneur leading a disruptive startup or marketing your third business, simple reminders and basic tools help you focus your pitching and develop a clear brand story and strategy.

Here are some essential resources: 

  • Marketing Questions for Your Startup Brand

  • Startup Pitch Basics

  • Startup Buyer/User Persona

Marketing Questions
for Your Startup Brand

You will need to answer questions from investors, partners, customers, and the media about who you are and what you do that makes a profound difference in the world—and why they should care.

With this Marketing Q&A guide, create brief answers to basic questions about your business, teams, operations, sales, financials, and legal matters.

Memorize them enough so you are comfortable to talk about your startup with conviction and clarity no matter who’s asking. Your confidence will be memorable. You’ll stand out. Start Here…

Startup Pitch Basics

You’re going to need to pitch — a lot! The one-minute elevator pitch for anytime anywhere. The two-, three-, or five-minute competition pitch. The 20-minute one-to-one investor pitch. The online pitch, the in-person pitch.

You can be ready to share your mission and value by having a full, adaptable set of pitch deck slides to mix and match as needed AND a clear, compelling story to tell whenever you see an opportunity.

The startup pitch should be just enough to intrigue your audience so they ask you questions — about your company’s deep value, about how you’re a game-changer. Then you can convert them into a buyer or investor. Start Here…

Startup Buyer/User
Persona

As you develop and refine your product or service, it’s critical to envision who your customer is.

What are their needs and challenges?

Is the buyer and the user the same person or is the buyer one person (a company executive or a school administrator) and the user another (a company employee or teacher)?

Knowing your customers helps you create a dedicated product and market to their needs. Start Here…