🎙️ Welcome back to the holiday edition of Zero to Traction. Fresh off a marathon and a bout of illness, Cameron joins JDM to dive deep into the all-important topic of funding, and asks, should venture capital really be at the top item on your Christmas wish list? 🤔 We start by exploring alternative funding methods — there are only eight ways to get money, after all (including some shady ones we definitely don’t recommend), then provide some sneaky tips on utilizing consulting work, pivoting wh...
Dec 24, 2024•23 min
Strap in! In this episode of Zero to Traction , JDM and Cameron get some adult supervision. To help them tiptoe across the perilous tightrope of investor relations, they are joined by Brooke Borseth from Moneta Ventures, who brings wisdom and wit to their torpor and timidity. This week, we’re going to pull back the curtain to reveal why your “groundbreaking” pitch deck is gathering more dust than dollars. We’re breaking down the art (and occasional tragic comedy) of the difference between pitchi...
Dec 18, 2024•48 min
It’s after GEW, it’s Thanksgiving week, and the guys are tired, so instead of taxing their brains trying to come up with a good topic, JDM and Cameron shirk their duties as hosts invite a new co-host into the studio — Anthropic’s Claude AI! In this episode of Zero to Traction, they explore 5 of the most unexpected and least talked about problems that early-stage founders face. With the help of their ‘AI co-host’ Claude, they delve into various challenges: * Momentum Erosion Syndrome * Psychologi...
Nov 27, 2024•46 min
In this episode, JDM and Cameron host a live “ask us anything” recording of the Zero to Traction podcast during Global Entrepreneurship Week. They kick off by reflecting on the intense mentor sprint the room just wrapped up, and dive deep into the role of feedback for entrepreneurs. The duo discusses the importance of connecting founders with resources, building thriving communities, and the significance of innovation accounting for startups. They also touch on how they transitioned and adapted ...
Nov 25, 2024•53 min
In this episode of the Zero to Traction podcast, JDM and Cameron discuss the critical topic of defining milestones in early-stage startups. They explore why milestones are essential, how they guide efforts, impact decisions, and help avoid wandering aimlessly. The guys cover actionable metrics versus vanity metrics, innovation accounting, and how to decide when to pack it up, pivot, or persevere. Also! Cameron gives a sneak peek into the upcoming events for Global Entrepreneurship Week in Sacram...
Nov 12, 2024•39 min
In this episode of Zero to Traction, JDM and Cameron dive deep into the intricacies of business models. They explore the importance of understanding who your customer is and the value you provide, breaking down complex concepts into the four key questions of a business model: Who, What, How, and Why. Featuring a detailed discussion on pricing models and the 'Razors and Blades' business model pattern, the guys provide valuable insight into leveraging established business model patterns to create ...
Nov 05, 2024•34 min
In this episode of Zero to Traction, Cameron and JDM dive into the crucial importance of relationships and the concept of “social capital” for first-time founders. They explore how to navigate the intricate web of resources, mentors, advisors, investors, and other key players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Along the way, they provide valuable insights on building trust, leveraging connections effectively, and making the most out of networking opportunities. As always, the guys conclude with f...
Oct 30, 2024•34 min
In this episode of the Zero to Traction podcast, JDM and Cameron delve into the common ways founders misuse the common tools. They emphasize iterative processes, while discussing the evolution of strategic planning in response to rapid technological changes. The conversation covers the importance of authentic market validation, avoiding unverified assumptions, and focusing on solving critical customer problems. The guys offer practical advice on hypothesis testing, customer feedback, and, of cou...
Oct 22, 2024•35 min
In this episode of the Zero to Traction podcast, we provide a deep dive into the role of dashboards in sales. Dashboards, you say? Yes! There’s a surprising insight in the use of dashboarding in value proposition design, validation, and sales. Get insights into how to communicate your value proposition, address organizational pain points, and align motivations across stakeholders. The episode also highlights the practical benefits of AI-driven dashboards with real-world examples from various sec...
Oct 15, 2024•33 min
In this episode of the Zero to Traction podcast, JDM and Cameron discuss the importance of understanding the competitive landscape for startups — and the biggest competition mistakes founders make during the pitch. They address the common pitfalls founders face, such as not identifying competitors, underestimating competition, and entering non-existent markets. The guys emphasize the need for startups to articulate their differentiators clearly and understand their customers’ pain points. They a...
Oct 08, 2024•34 min
Discover why knowing your audience and intent is crucial, and explore different storytelling techniques — from customer personas to traction milestones — that can make your pitch compelling. Whether you're navigating your first funding round or simply curious about startup narratives, we’re dropping the truth on why stories matter — and how to leverage them in your own pitch. Plus, frivolity! * Cameron shares interesting trivia from the Freedom Trail * JDM digs into some troubling news from a lo...
Sep 17, 2024•38 min
Cameron and JDM have dropped a few mentions over the last few weeks to an upcoming event called the Startup Challenge, a weekend-long competition where participants learn startups by doing startups. JDM wanted to take 5 minutes to tell you about it. Learn more & register→ We’ll be back in your feed later this week for our regularly scheduled episode. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zerototraction.substa...
Sep 16, 2024•4 min
In this episode of the Zero to Traction podcast, JDM and Cameron discuss essential strategies for first-time founders to scale their startups, emphasizing the importance of building a competent team. Recorded live at the Carlson Center at Sacramento State, the guys share insights into the significance of founder-market fit, team dynamics, and advisory boards in attracting investors and gaining traction. And then, plot twist! They move on to explore the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT to fac...
Sep 10, 2024•36 min
In this episode of the Zero to Traction podcast, co-hosts JDM and Cameron discuss the common misconception among first-time founders that a great pitch deck equates to a great business. It's time for hot takes and full-on rants, friends! JDM and Cameron are on the warpath — your pitch doesn't matter as much as you think it does. So let's talk about what actually matters. They emphasize that while a pitch deck is a tool, it should not be the primary focus. Instead, founders should concentrate on ...
Sep 06, 2024•36 min
In this episode of the Zero to Traction podcast, co-hosts Josh David Miller (JDM) and Cameron Law return to discuss a rarely highlighted yet crucial concept in the startup world: cycles. They delve into the philosophy of cycles derived from the build, measure, learn loop, focusing on its application in fostering a continuous process of improvement for startups. Through their experiences running the Startup Challenge, they explain how focusing on cycles can lead to better validation of ideas and ...
Aug 27, 2024•32 min
In this episode, JDM and Cameron are flying solo to talk about a topic too often given short shrift: team. After all, fully 65% of startups fail due to founder conflicts. Fail. Due to founder conflict. But team is about a lot more than just you and your co-founders… On today’s show: * The terrifying stats of how teams kill startups; * How to use team to flip those odds in your favour; * How do you find a cofounder? * How do you distribute equity? * Find a cofounder, or hire an employee? * What m...
May 11, 2023•1 hr 12 min
On this week’s show, JDM and Cameron are joined by guest co-host Spencer Bardsley, serial entrepreneur and founder of Shared Vision , for a deep dive into the why, what, and how of testing and experimentation — and Spencer shares a vulnerable story of nearly losing it all, and how testing could have prevented it. Shared Vision is a software tool that helps content creators and influencers manage the products they recommend in order to maximise their affiliate revenue. Find Spencer on LinkedIn: h...
Apr 26, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Join regular co-hosts JDM and Cameron Law, and guest co-hosts Pava LaPere and Sherrod Davis, the co-founders of EcoMap , for a riveting discussion of finding who your customer is. EcoMap is a Baltimore-based SaaS startup that makes it possible for people to navigate all of the invisible ecosystems that we live and work in every day — e.g. startup ecosystems! On today’s show: * The importance of falling in love with problems, rather than solutions; * How EcoMap’s broad target market is as much of...
Apr 12, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Hey friends — JDM here 👋 Well, it’s finally arrived! This is the first episode of Zero to Traction , so we’re going to take a few minutes to walk through the ins and outs of startups at the 30k-ft level. Stay tuned for the next episode, where we dive deep into customers and customer discovery with the co-founders of a Baltimore-based startup called EcoMap . Thank you so much for being part of our journey here, and letting us be a smart part of yours. On today’s show: * Who are we and why are we...
Mar 29, 2023•39 min
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zerototraction.substack.com
Mar 27, 2023•1 min
