Getting paying customers

Getting paying customers

Finally - paying customers

 

If you have reached this page, it means you have already made some very positive steps towards developing your new business. The tougher news is that you have reached what is probably the most difficult phase of an early startups life-cycle - convincing some people to buy your product. Our research shows that this is where the majority of founders end up failing or giving up. As the famous entrepreneur professor (Steve Blank) said: "No business plan survives contact with the first customer!"

Mashauri have developed a programme to help entrepreneurs through this difficult phase with the objective of winning those elusive first customers and really understanding what it is that those users desire and value.

If you would like to apply or find out if you are suited to the programme, please complete the questionnaire below the course announcement. We will respond with a customised report suggesting what is the best way forward for you - and we will also give you some tips on your entrepreneurial readiness.

 

 

 

Paying customers
The Mashauri TRACTION programme will help you find paying customers

Our programme for entrepreneurs who are now seeking paying customers is called: TRACTION

Objective: 

To guide entrepreneurs though the development of a minimum viable product through to obtaining a critical mass of paying customers

Who is it for:

Entrepreneurs who

  • Already have a clear value proposition and wish to develop a basic product to sell to customers
  • Have developed a product but are struggling to find customers to buy it
  • Wish to gain sufficient traction to allow them to seek early-stage funding
  • Would like to rapidly reach breakeven through customer revenue as a platform to scale

Timing:

9 to 16 weeks (will vary depending on the product and market)

Output / deliverable:

A critical mass of paying customers who value the product and are prepared to tell others about it. (Number will depend on the nature of the business e.g B2B versus B2C).

We would be delighted to support you in discovering customers who will pay for your product or service. However, our programmes require a level of resources (time, money, commitment) and are designed to fit a certain profile of entrepreneur in terms of their knowledge and experience; as well as whether the correct "business building basics" are in place. We therefore ask all our potential customers to complete a short questionnaire.

In this short survey, we assess your status in terms of venture development and whether we are able to offer you the support you require in reaching paying customers. Additionally we test your commitment and resolve to be an entrepreneur.

Shortly after you have completed the survey, we will send you a customised report suggesting the best way forward and some comments on your venture's readiness to seek paying customers. Even if you do not subscribe to the programme, you will find this a useful exercise.

The survey should only take bout 5 to 10 minutes maximum.