Founders love to polish their pitch decks, but sometimes all that shine is just… baffling. In this episode, JDM and Cam dig into the difference between an investment story that gets funded and one that just gets eye-rolls. Your investor narrative isn’t about runway math, vibes, or brand awareness — it’s about evidence, milestones, and a credible path to ROI. To make the point, they play a spicy round of Backable or Baffling , roasting real startup “asks” and debating whether they’d fund, fix, or...
Aug 18, 2025•17 min
It’s our 50th episode — so first, thank you for listening, sharing, and occasionally heckling from the sidelines. To celebrate, we’re tackling one of the most common founder slip-ups: mistaking a shiny pitch deck for a solid business model. Investors rarely pass because of your storytelling — they pass because slide 5 reveals you don’t actually have the goods. In this milestone episode, JDM and Cam roast a selection of bad slides, then show how to “clean them up” by grounding them in evidence in...
Aug 09, 2025•38 min
In this episode, Cam and JDM trade the janitor-closet acoustics for a real-deal recording studio (thanks, Urban Hive !) to talk about one of the most expensive mistakes in startup land: skipping validation and building an entire house of cards on untested assumptions. They dig into how founders unintentionally build traction holes —big craters of activity that look like progress but collapse under scrutiny—and how to avoid falling into one. Using three real-world startup examples, they illustrat...
Aug 02, 2025•27 min
Some founders raise money. Others raise blood pressure. In this episode, JDM and Cam broadcast from a studio so fancy it practically screams “series B energy” — but don’t let the sound panels fool you. This one’s all about pre-seed mistakes. Specifically, the seductive trap of looking busy instead of learning. Think: new logos, onboarding flows, full-blown rebrands, and Product Hunt launches no one asked for. To drive it home, they play a spicy round of Money or Momentum? , analyzing founder upd...
Jul 26, 2025•36 min
If a startup launches in the woods and no one’s around to hear it… did it ever even exist? In this episode, JDM and Cam throw some serious shade at the myth of “build it and they will come” and make the case that nothing — literally nothing — matters if you don’t have a way to get in front of real customers. This isn’t just about launching. It’s about building a repeatable, scalable, and evidence-backed channel strategy — before your runway runs out and you’re left pitching to investors with not...
Jul 19, 2025•24 min
Nothing like fireworks, relighting fountains, and a dressage competition to get you thinking about your startup pipeline! In this episode, JDM and Cam dive into one of the most dangerous founder delusions: a sales pipeline full of polite maybes, false positives, and fantasyland follow-ups. Just because someone said “circle back next quarter” doesn’t mean they’re going to pay you next quarter—or ever. To make it painfully obvious, the crew plays a round of Pipeline Poison , evaluating five pre-PM...
Jul 13, 2025•32 min
This week, JDM and Cam unpack the sneaky trap of building custom solutions for every pilot customer and slapping a UI on top. The result? A startup that looks scalable on the outside but cries into its roadmap every night. To illustrate the difference between scalable platforms and barely-automated service businesses, the guys introduce a new game: Platform or Project? Also known (unofficially) as “SaaS or SaaSquatch,” this game is our attempt to expose founders building “custom-for-every-client...
Jul 05, 2025•33 min
Founders love a good origin story. So do we — until that story ends in, “and then… nothing happened.” In this episode, JDM and Cam play a game where they evaluate startup anecdotes with one simple question: did you actually learn anything? They hosts take three real startup scenarios — full of MVPs, waitlists, Chrome extensions, and warm fuzzies — and rate each one based on whether the founder actually got a usable insight. Along the way, they uncover the hidden traps of vanity learning, founder...
Jun 28, 2025•31 min
Startup founders love to claim they’ve validated their idea — but did they run a real experiment, or just post on Product Hunt and call it proof? In this episode, JDM and Cam play a few rounds of “Validation or Vibes,” rating three common startup claims on a scale from 0 (pure vibes) to 10 (solid validation). Spoiler: nobody makes it past a 5, and one poor pilot gets dunked on so hard we nearly rename the show Churn Theater . In classic Traction Lab fashion, the guys don’t just roast the claims ...
Jun 20, 2025•31 min
Every founder wants to pour fuel on the fire—but what if your startup’s “engine” is actually a leaky bucket duct-taped to a lawnmower? In this episode, JDM and Cameron unpack the seductive myth that early traction equals readiness to scale, and why raising money too soon often leads to burning cash and good will in equal measure. Instead of celebrating vague signs of growth, they roast three startup pitches with solid-sounding topline numbers… and funnel stories that fall apart faster than a no-...
Jun 13, 2025•39 min
Think your early sales rejections are just “objections to overcome”? Yikes! This week, JDM and Cam tackle the most seductive lies founders tell themselves when prospective customers say things like “circle back in six months” or “we already have a tool.” Spoiler: these aren’t sales objections — they’re data points from a universe that doesn’t care about your pitch deck. Instead of smoothing over hesitation with discounts and delusion, the guys explore how to interpret these signals through the l...
Jun 04, 2025•45 min
Will AI fix your startup? Only if your real problem is a lack of buzzwords. In this episode, JDM and Cameron take on the all-too-common delusion that slapping AI on your pitch deck is a business model. Spoiler: it’s not. Join the guys as they roast three very 2025 startup ideas — each wielding AI like a glowstick in a boardroom — and assign each one a “Delusion Score” on a scale from “surprisingly solid” to “should be illegal in several markets.” Plus: * When AI actually creates customer value —...
May 28, 2025•35 min
Pricing isn’t just a number — it’s a strategic weapon. In this episode of Zero to Traction , JDM and Cameron play The Price is Right (or… very wrong), evaluating real startup pricing strategies and founder justifications. Spoiler: some of them are so bad we want to Venmo the founders $20 just to stop. * Why freemium often means “free regret, no revenue” * When your pricing signals value—and when it screams “feature, not a startup” * The dangers of founder insecurity disguised as “price accessibi...
May 21, 2025•34 min
Some startup growth theories are a work of art. Others are a crime scene. This week on Zero to Traction , JDM, Cameron, and Cass put startup expansion plans under the microscope in Scalable, or Sketchy , where growth loops either pass the test — or spiral into oblivion. ✅ What real growth theory looks like (and what investors are actually looking for) ✅ Why “we’ll figure out premium later” is startup Russian roulette ✅ The truth about pirate metrics and how to use them to pressure-test your grow...
May 14, 2025•21 min
Some founders ride the wave. Others scream “surf’s up!” in a parking lot. This week, JDM and Cam play a game of Why Now, or Why Bother? and put a few timing claims on trial. ✅ What makes market timing a legit advantage (and what absolutely doesn’t) ✅ The difference between early and too early ✅ Real timing signals vs. startup astrology ✅ Five real-life startup timing claims—analyzed, roasted, and (occasionally) redeemed ✅ Why Gen Z burnout, Shopify plugins, and blockchain Airbnbs don’t always me...
May 07, 2025•30 min
Not every founder ask is created equal — and in this episode, JDM, Cameron, and Cass go full Judge Dredd on a series of startup scenarios. It’s time to play: Reasonable Ask, or Fantasy Land? ✅ How to tell if your fundraising ask is realistic or just vibes and a dream ✅ Why “more money” is not automatically “better money” ✅ How bad milestone planning sabotages your future funding rounds ✅ Why B2C freemium + no paying users = 🚩🚩🚩 ✅ How to create a realistic friends and family raise that actuall...
Apr 30, 2025•34 min
Founders love to say “MVP,” but too often they mean “Maximally Vague Product.” In this episode of Zero to Traction , JDM, Cameron, and Cass roast some real-ish MVP attempts in a game we’re calling Minimum Viable… Please! , where startups build too much, validate too little, and get gently (okay, not-so-gently) corrected. ✅ Why most MVPs are overbuilt bundles of assumption spaghetti ✅ The key differences between discovery, validation, and creation ✅ What a real MVP looks like (hint: it’s not full...
Apr 23, 2025•22 min
Some go-to-market slides make investors lean in. Others make them fall asleep faster than a warm chamomile tea. In this episode of Zero to Traction , JDM, Cameron, and Cass rip into some fake-but-way-too-realistic GTM slides and play the game: Go-to-Market… or Go-to-Bed? ✅ What makes a go-to-market slide instantly cringe-worthy ✅ The difference between channels and strategy (please, for the love of traction) ✅ How to avoid founder delusion, slide bloat, and the awareness trap ✅ Three real-time b...
Apr 16, 2025•26 min
In this episode of Zero to Traction , JDM, Cameron, and Cass tackle the legendary Pirate Metrics (AARRR!) and turn real-world funnel fails into actionable fixes. ✅ What Pirate Metrics actually are—and why you keep mixing up “activation” and “acquisition” ✅ 4 real funnel fails and how to fix them like a boss ✅ How to diagnose where your funnel is leaking users (and money) ✅ Why a great value prop still fails if your landing page smells like broken dreams ✅ What to do when your freemium users love...
Apr 12, 2025•36 min
Welcome to the startup roast you didn’t know you needed. In this very special episode, JDM, Cameron, and Cass go full Gordon Ramsay on your worst elevator pitches, tagline jargon, and “AI-powered synergistic wellness disruption” nonsense. That’s right: we’re taking your cringe and turning it into clarity. ✅ Why your buzzword salad isn’t fooling anyone (especially investors) ✅ The difference between clarity and curation in your pitch ✅ A live breakdown of 5 gloriously terrible startup taglines ✅ ...
Apr 08, 2025•26 min
You’ve got metrics. Shiny ones. Impressive ones. But are they actually telling you anything… real ? In this episode of Zero to Traction , JDM, Cameron, and your favorite digital co-host Cass step in front of the proverbial mirror to judge whether your startup metrics are reflecting actual progress — or just flattering delusions dressed up in glitter glue. ✅ When is a waitlist a sign of traction—and when is it just 3,000 email addresses and a dream? ✅ Why a Product Hunt launch might be less tract...
Mar 26, 2025•22 min
Hype is fun, but hypotheses get results. In this episode, Zero to Traction tackles the crucial difference between startup optimism and actual, testable assumptions. Hosts Josh David Miller (JDM) and Cameron Law break down how to turn your assumptions into actionable hypotheses, run meaningful experiments, and avoid the trap of just “seeing what happens.” ✅ Why hype alone won’t get you funded (or customers) ✅ The three must-have elements of a real hypothesis ✅ Why testing too many things at once ...
Mar 19, 2025•19 min
Traction—it’s the holy grail of startups, but what is it, really? More importantly, what isn’t it? In this episode, Josh David Miller (JDM) and Cameron Law dive into the nitty-gritty of what traction actually means for startups. They break down why founders often mistake distractions for traction, how traction evolves through the startup lifecycle, and what investors are really looking for when they ask, “So… do you have traction?” You’ll hear: ✅ Why sales alone aren’t the ultimate proof of trac...
Mar 12, 2025•36 min
In this unusually snarky episode of Zero to Traction, Cam and JDM dive into five signs that your startup idea… might be garbage. They address common pitfalls such as overestimating the market size, the dangers of comparing your idea to ‘Uber for X,’ and why verbal confirmations of interest aren’t enough. The episode also explores the importance of understanding your target market and ensuring genuine customer traction. As always, the guys end with some frivolous thoughts. Cameron becomes an NBA ...
Mar 06, 2025•34 min
This week, JDM and Cam are exploring the concepts of high-value versus low-value work, focusing on the importance of ‘doing reps’ — that is, running meaningful experiments and gathering data to drive real progress. They also delve into how startup founders can avoid simply ‘posing’ by making sure their actions are grounded in solid evidence. The episode includes insightful analogies from fitness and sports, emphasizing the importance of building a solid foundation before attempting to scale. And...
Feb 21, 2025•33 min
In this episode of Zero to Traction, JDM and Cam dive into the whimsical world of Chanchitos (three-legged pigs from Chile believed to bring good luck) and traction. This week, the guys tackle the crucial topic of moving meaningfully towards success, rather than aimlessly “hustling”. They emphasize the importance of being intentional, understanding customer needs, and avoiding the pitfalls of focusing excessively on the product. If you’re a founder wanting to balance speed with purpose, this epi...
Feb 12, 2025•23 min
Apologies for the late release! This is actually last week’s episode, which didn’t drop due to technical difficulties. But, hey — bonus! — you get two episodes this week, you lucky dogs… This week, JDM and Cam record live and in person from their podcasting studio (Cameron’s office), cracking wise as they discuss transforming a startup from founder-only to founder-led and eventually to founder-less. Learn about the intricacies of starting to scale a startup, from fundraising and sales strategies...
Feb 11, 2025•35 min
Ever panic while waiting to be introduced on stage? Of course not, and neither have we! (You’ll laugh later) In this episode of Zero to Traction, JDM and Cam dive headfirst into the art of handling Q&A. But don’t turn away just yet because it’s a lot trickier than it sounds. Join us as we discuss how first-time founders can navigate the tricky waters of investor questions, pitch competitions, and more. We’ll share three critical strategies: understanding questions, keeping answers calm yet c...
Jan 29, 2025•22 min
Zero to Traction is BACK, baby! JDM and Cameron Law are kicking off 2025 with a sassy bang (maybe that’s not the best phrase…). After a two-week hiatus, they’re diving headfirst into the gladiator pit of startup fundraising with the golden pyramid of pitching. (And a geeky reference to American psychologist Abraham Maslow) The goal of the hierarchy? Help you align your pitch with what investors actually care about (spoiler alert: it’s not just hockey-stick charts and buzzwords). They break down ...
Jan 22, 2025•32 min
This week on Zero to Traction, JDM and Cameron are diving deep into the startup trenches with their latest program, the Traction Lab. If you’ve ever felt like the seed-stage support scene is more “sink or swim” than “here’s a life raft,” this episode is for you. They unpack how the Traction Lab isn’t just another program but a partnership-driven journey to get startups across that elusive investment-readiness finish line. With milestone-based progression, iterative validation (translation: test,...
Jan 01, 2025•41 min
