Vaibhav Sharma's Linkedin Analytics

The best startups don’t just chase trends. They solve problems that others missed. So how do you actually spot and own a market gap before someone else does? Here’s a practical framework founders can use: 1. Start with friction, not features    - What are people complaining about in forums, reviews, or Reddit threads?    - Look for repeated pain points—especially in fast-growing but underserved spaces.     2. Study the “non-customers”    - Who’s actively avoiding existing solutions?    - Sometimes the biggest opportunity lies not in competing with the top players—but in serving those they’ve ignored.     3. Look for outdated industries    - Old-school industries often have tech blind spots.    - If something still runs on spreadsheets, there’s likely a SaaS opportunity waiting to be built.     4. Explore adjacent categories    - Startups often find whitespace by zooming out. Example: a D2C brand starts with skincare, but finds a gap in content or community.    - That’s a signal, not a distraction.     5. Watch how customers hack solutions    - Anytime people duct-tape tools together, they’re telling you what the market *wants* but hasn’t been given yet.     6. Validate fast, not forever    - Once you spot a potential gap, test it—quick landing pages, pre-orders, waitlists.    - Don’t build blindly. Let data guide you before you scale.     7. Position yourself as the only option    - Once you find the gap, own it with messaging that speaks directly to your target customer’s unmet need.    - The best positioning makes your competition irrelevant. Market gaps aren’t found—they’re revealed through pattern recognition and customer obsession. What’s one market gap you’ve spotted that others missed? #StartupStrategy #MarketGaps #FounderInsights #Innovation #ProblemSolving #FounderFragments *** Enjoy this? Share it with your network and follow me Vaibhav Sharma for more in future! Join my inner circle of Founders and Entrepreneurs here: https://lnkd.in/gZKZ_Zdb

Hiring your first employee is a milestone and a risk. One wrong hire early on can slow you down. But the right one? It can accelerate everything. Here are 10 questions to ask yourself before making that first move: 1. What exactly do I need help with?     - Clarify the problem you're solving, not just the title you're hiring for.    2. Is this a recurring need or a short-term task?     - If it’s temporary, consider contractors or freelancers.     3. Can I afford to pay a salary consistently for the next 12 months?     - Don’t assume future revenue will cover it—budget conservatively.     4. Do I need a generalist or a specialist?     - Early-stage hires need to wear multiple hats. Choose accordingly.     5. Is now the right time, or can I automate/outsource this for now?     - Sometimes, tools > team—especially when cash is tight.     6. Do I have the time to onboard and manage them well?     - Hiring is just the beginning. Success depends on training and leadership.     7. What culture do I want to build, and does this person align with it?     - Your first hire sets the tone. Skills matter, but mindset matters more.     8. Can I clearly articulate the company’s mission and vision?     - People don’t just join jobs—they join journeys.     9. Am I looking for a co-builder or an executor?     - Know whether you need someone who takes initiative or follows directions.     10. Would I rehire this person 10 times over?     - Gut check: if they helped build your next 10 hires, would you be proud?    Hiring is not just about adding hands. It’s about extending your mindset, values, and ambition. Think long-term—even for hire #1. #EarlyStageFounders #StartupHiring #FirstHire #FounderTips #BuildingTeams #FounderFragments *** Enjoy this? Share it with your network and follow me Vaibhav Sharma for more in future! Join my inner circle of Founders and Entrepreneurs here: https://lnkd.in/gZKZ_Zdb

Building without big funding isn’t a weakness. It’s a superpower—if you know how to wield it. Bootstrapping teaches you how to do more with less. It forces discipline, sharpens focus, and builds real businesses. Here’s how to master the art: 1. Start with revenue, not burn.     - Every rupee counts—so design your business model to make money early.    2. Prioritize profitability over vanity.     - Don’t chase headlines. Chase margins. A profitable company will always have options.    3. Outsource and automate smartly.     - You don’t need to hire full-time for every task. Use tools and freelancers where possible.    4. Build a lean MVP.     - You don’t need bells and whistles. Solve a core problem well—and get paid for it.    5. Negotiate like your life depends on it.     - Because in a bootstrapped business, it often does. Get creative with deals, partnerships, and payments.    6. Focus on customers, not investors.     - Your customer is your best source of capital. Deliver value, and they’ll fund your growth.    7. Keep fixed costs low.     - Work from home. Avoid big commitments. Flexibility is your friend when cash is tight.    8. Reinvest every rupee.     - Avoid unnecessary withdrawals in the early phase. Growth compounds faster than lifestyle.    Bootstrapping isn’t about being cheap—it’s about being intentional. You’re not building with limitations. You’re building with control, clarity, and grit. #Bootstrapping #StartupTips #Founders #LeanStartups #Entrepreneurship #FounderFragments *** Enjoy this? Share it with your network and follow me Vaibhav Sharma for more in future! Join my inner circle of Founders and Entrepreneurs here: https://lnkd.in/gZKZ_Zdb

Startups don’t get funded on spreadsheets alone. What gets investors to lean in—what gets customers to care—is the story. Because behind every great pitch is a narrative that moves people. It explains the why, not just the what. Here are 4 key elements every founder should master when using storytelling in a pitch: 1. The Problem: Set the Stage with Emotion    - Start with the pain. Make it real.    - Frame the problem in a way that your audience *feels* it—whether it’s inefficiency, frustration, loss, or opportunity left on the table.    - If there’s no pain, there’s no urgency.     2. The Spark: Why You’re the One to Solve It    - Every story needs a turning point.    - What insight, moment, or experience led you to start this company?    - Investors back people, not just ideas. Your "why" makes it personal—and powerful.     3. The Journey: Where You’re Going and How    - This is your solution. But instead of listing features, describe the transformation.    - How will your product change someone’s life, business, or workflow?    - Show what success looks like with you in the picture.     4. The Stakes: What Happens if You Win (or Don’t)    - End by raising the stakes.    - What’s the opportunity if this works?   -  What happens to the market, the customer, the world if it doesn’t?     A compelling pitch doesn’t just inform. It inspires belief. Because facts tell. But stories sell. What’s the most powerful story you’ve ever heard in a pitch? #Pitching #Storytelling #FounderTips #StartupStrategy #InvestorPitch #FounderFragments *** Enjoy this? Share it with your network and follow me Vaibhav Sharma for more in future! Join my inner circle of Founders and Entrepreneurs here: https://lnkd.in/gZKZ_Zdb

Building a startup is more than just strategy. It’s about the kind of person you become along the way. After studying top founders like Elon Musk, Melanie Perkins, Brian Chesky, and Jeff Bezos, Here are 5 traits that consistently stand out: 1. Clarity of Vision       Great founders know exactly what problem they’re solving and why it matters.       They use this clarity to align teams, attract customers, and drive relentless focus.    2. Adaptability       Startups rarely go as planned.       Founders who succeed are those who can pivot, learn, and evolve with changing markets.    3. Execution Obsession       Ideas are everywhere—execution wins.       Successful founders are operators first: focused on doing the work, building fast, and iterating constantly.    4. Resilience Under Pressure       Every founder hits walls—funding rejections, product failures, slow growth.       Those who win are the ones who show up the next day anyway.    5. Empathy and Communication       Whether it’s leading a team, understanding users, or pitching investors—       founders who listen well and communicate clearly build lasting relationships and better products.    Your idea matters. But who you are while building it often matters more. #StartupLessons #FounderTraits #EntrepreneurMindset #Leadership #BuildingInPublic #FounderFragments *** Enjoy this? Share it with your network and follow me Vaibhav Sharma for more in future! Join my inner circle of Founders and Entrepreneurs here: https://lnkd.in/gZKZ_Zdb

The first year of a startup feels like a blur—equal parts adrenaline and uncertainty. But what you do in year one sets the foundation for everything that follows. Here are 9 common mistakes founders make early on—and how to avoid them: 1. Building Before Validating     - Too many founders go heads-down on product before talking to real customers.     - Start with the problem. Validate it. Then build.    2. Trying to Serve Everyone     - When your startup tries to appeal to everyone, it resonates with no one.     - Niche down. Dominate a small segment first, then expand.     3. Ignoring Cash Flow     - Revenue is vanity. Cash is reality.     - Track burn, forecast monthly, and know your runway at all times.     4. Overhiring Too Soon     - Early-stage startups don’t need headcount—they need momentum.     - Hire only when it hurts. Until then, stay lean.     5. Not Setting Co-founder Roles and Expectations     - Ambiguity breeds friction.     - Agree early on who owns what—and revisit it regularly.     6. Avoiding Sales and Distribution     - A great product won’t sell itself.     - Founders must get comfortable with selling. If you don’t, your startup won’t survive.     7. Waiting Too Long to Launch     - Perfect is the enemy of progress.     - Ship early. Get feedback. Iterate fast. It’s how great products are shaped.     8. Not Saying No Enough     - Distraction is expensive.     - Every yes to a meeting, feature, or opportunity is a no to something more important.     9. Not Taking Care of Themselves     - Burnout isn’t a badge of honor.     - You can’t lead well if you’re constantly drained.     - Founders need boundaries, too.    Mistakes are part of the journey. But the sooner you spot them, the easier they are to correct. Which of these lessons did you learn the hard way? #StartupMistakes #FirstYearFounders #Entrepreneurship #FounderAdvice #StartupLessons #FounderFragments *** Enjoy this? Share it with your network and follow me Vaibhav Sharma for more in future! Join my inner circle of Founders and Entrepreneurs here: https://lnkd.in/gZKZ_Zdb

You don’t need a massive budget to grow fast. You need smart execution, fast feedback loops, and the willingness to test what others won’t. Here are some of the best growth hacking strategies that early-stage startups are using to get traction without burning cash: 1. Leverage Your First 100 Users       Turn early adopters into evangelists.       Offer VIP access, referral perks, or ask for feedback that shapes the product.       Your first 100 users should help bring the next 1,000.    2. Reverse Engineer Distribution       Where does your target audience already hang out—online or offline?       Don’t build an audience from scratch. Piggyback on communities, influencers, or tools they already trust.    3. Use Scarcity & Exclusivity       Dropbox’s waitlist and Clubhouse’s invite-only launch weren’t accidents.       A controlled release builds FOMO and keeps acquisition manageable as you scale infrastructure.    4. Launch on the Right Platforms       Your product might not go viral—but your *launch* can.       Use platforms like Product Hunt, Reddit, Hacker News, or even LinkedIn to spike attention and validate demand.    5. Automate Outreach & Follow-Up       Cold DMs and emails still work—if they’re targeted, helpful, and persistent.       Use tools to personalize at scale, and build top-of-funnel conversations while you sleep.    6. Create Shareable Moments Inside the Product       Build in features that naturally lead users to share—whether it's a referral reward, social badge, or onboarding milestone.       Word of mouth is still the most powerful growth lever.    7. Build in Public       Take people behind the scenes.       Share what you're building, what you’re testing, and how it's going.       It creates trust, builds audience, and attracts early supporters.    Growth hacking isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about experimenting with intent—and doubling down on what works. What’s one unconventional growth strategy you’ve seen work well? #GrowthHacking #StartupGrowth #FounderPlaybook #GoToMarket #Bootstrapping #FounderFragments *** Enjoy this? Share it with your network and follow me Vaibhav Sharma for more in future! Join my inner circle of Founders and Entrepreneurs here: https://lnkd.in/gZKZ_Zdb

Founder’s Syndrome can quietly sabotage a startup’s growth. It happens when the founder holds too much control, struggles to delegate, or resists change—even when the company needs it most. Here’s how to overcome it and evolve with your startup: 1. Shift from Operator to Leader     - In the early days, you’re in the trenches. But as your company grows, your job shifts.     - Focus less on doing and more on empowering others to do.    2. Build Systems, Not Dependence     - If every decision still flows through you, you’ve built a bottleneck.     - Design processes and culture that let others lead with clarity.     3. Hire People Smarter Than You     - You don’t need to be the smartest person in the room—you need to be the one who puts the right people in the room.     - Hire experts and trust them.     4. Invite Dissent and Feedback     - Growth starts with honest feedback.     - Encourage your team to challenge ideas—even yours.     5. Step Back to See the Bigger Picture     - The founder’s job is to keep the vision clear.     - Don’t lose sight of the future because you’re stuck firefighting the present.     6. Let Go of Ego-Based Decisions     - Ask yourself: is this best for the company or just for me?     - Sometimes, stepping aside from a role you’ve outgrown is the boldest move you can make.    The best founders reinvent themselves at every stage. Surviving year one is hard. Scaling beyond it means evolving your mindset. What helped you overcome this shift? #FoundersSyndrome #StartupGrowth #LeadershipEvolution #FounderAdvice #ScalingStartups #FounderFragments *** Enjoy this? Share it with your network and follow me Vaibhav Sharma for more in future! Join my inner circle of Founders and Entrepreneurs here: https://lnkd.in/gZKZ_Zdb