The Foundational Five

Inputs
Define Your Market
Market Category ⭐ Growth teams at early-stage software startups
Specific Segment ⭐
Total potential customer size ⭐
Willingness to pay (WTP) ⭐
Buyer vs user?
Core Problem ⭐
Motivations ⭐
Values & beliefs
Where do they spend time? ⭐
Who do they trust?
Problem aware? Solution Aware? ⭐
Market shifts or macro trends affecting your space
Timing or seasonal factors
Competitors & alternatives (+ satisfaction)
🚦**MARKET “SCORE”**🚦

Foundational Five: Alignment Check

Alignment Notes
F5 Alignment Pairs
Market-Product
Market-Brand
Market-Model
Product-Brand
Product-Model
Brand-Model
TOP 3 ALIGNMENT RISKS
Highest Priority Risk
Second Priority Risk
Third Priority Risk

Growth Catalysts

Inputs: Catalysts you have today Inputs: Catalysts you could engineer over time How could the catalyst be unlocked?
Growth Catalysts
Market Catalysts
Product Catalysts
Model Catalysts
Channel Catalysts
Brand Catalysts
Company Catalysts

Growth Guardrails

Inputs
Goals
Primary Learning Goal
Primary Financial Goal: Short term
Primary Financial Goal: Long game
Personal Goals
Constraints
Resourcing Constraints
Regulatory + Legal Constraints
Brand Constraints
Timing Constraints
Audience Constraints
Other
Unit Economics
Estimated/Actual ARPU
Margin-adjusted ARPU
Payback Period
Target CAC
Budget

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Growth Motions

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Growth Strategy

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Acquisition Channel Selection