The Cold Start Problem

A book about how to start and scale network effects

26 followers

A book about how to start and scale network effects

26 followers

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Based on 100s of interviews with founding teams at Twitch, Tinder, Uber, Airbnb, Pinterest, and many more, Andrew Chen explores how tech’s most successful companies solved the dreaded "cold start problem” using network effects to launch and scale.

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The Cold Start Problem

Maker

I wrote this book because I wanted to collect the wisdom of the most successful tech companies I’ve seen first-hand - Uber, Dropbox, and Tinder - and add interviews with a ton of other great companies. The focus is on network effects, which I think is the driving force for tech’s best products The book is packed with dozens of case studies on getting your product off the ground, then scaling it. I hope every founder finds something valuable in it!

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5yr ago

@andrewchen this is totally like the applied knowledge version of the innovators dilemma but for growth hackers... Love it. Super excited to dig in.

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5yr ago

identi

@andrewchen I'm incredibly helpful to have discovered your book here on PH! 🙏 Got the Audible version which quickly became part of my morning routine: - Going for a walk and listening to a chapter of your book. - Sitting down for a journaling session on how these insights from your book could relate to the platform that we're building.

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4yr ago

HireQuotient

@andrewchen Great compilation of case study! Got so much to learn :))

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4yr ago

Product Hunt

Hunter

I've been following @andrewchen's blog for many years. He's incredibly skilled at drawing patterns and articulating concepts before we have a common vocabulary. This is his first book, a few years in the making. Will you write another, @andrewchen, or stick to blogging?

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5yr ago

Klipfolio

Excited to read the book. I really enjoyed your recent online presentation to the Invest Ottawa community around the problem. Some excellent insights!

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5yr ago

I was fortunate to get a F&F copy of the Cold Start problem and I'm about 1/2 of the way through it and I can say - it is by far and away the most comprehensive, easy to read, and straightforward pieces of content ever written on network effects and overcoming the cold start problem. This book isn't an option, it's mandatory to read, re-read, dog ear, and understand if you are interested in building a significant business. As a serial entrepreneur w/ my hands on a few venture back start-ups I went ahead and bought a copy for everyone - even entry level staff. You should do the same.

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5yr ago

Ordered @andrewchen's book as soon as it was put on sale via his blog. Should arrive any day now. So much to learn from his multi-year experience as entrepreneur and VC investor. Have followed him for god knows how long now. Better not reveal ;) A must read even today if not more so now. Surprising to see how many people still do not realise the wealth of knowledge available on the web before starting out. There is, however, no substitute to actually starting. But maybe reading "The Cold Start Problem" may just contribute to your success... ps. downloaded his Audible version while I wait for the printed copy.

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5yr ago

Started reading this last night and literally couldn’t put it down. Andrew has done an amazing job at writing a book that feels conversational, honest, and actionable. Huge congratulations Andrew.

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5yr ago