Comments on: Let’s Get Vertical http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2007/08/lets-get-vertical.html Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:06:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jason Cormier http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2007/08/lets-get-vertical.html/comment-page-1#comment-5514 Jason Cormier Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:25:30 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=1789#comment-5514 Brad, I couldn't agree with you more about market segmentation being driven by customers ("necessity is the mother of invention"). If you can't customize your technology to address the customer's pain because it's outside of your "core competency," then someone else will. I've found that no matter how thought out my vision for the future, the prospect in front of me today is often what shapes it the most. Brad, I couldn’t agree with you more about market segmentation being driven by customers (“necessity is the mother of invention”). If you can’t customize your technology to address the customer’s pain because it’s outside of your “core competency,” then someone else will. I’ve found that no matter how thought out my vision for the future, the prospect in front of me today is often what shapes it the most.

]]> By: Jon Seeber http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2007/08/lets-get-vertical.html/comment-page-1#comment-5513 Jon Seeber Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:24:39 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=1789#comment-5513 Like Brad I believe that platforms are where the highest magnitude of value creation takes place. But "verticalization" can help put context around the platform, and can help customers and sometimes investors visualize the value prop in the real world in real use cases. So articulating vertical opportunities to investors at an early stage is, IMO, a good thing...picking one and putting all your eggs in one basket without the right evidence isn't... Like Brad I believe that platforms are where the highest magnitude of value creation takes place. But “verticalization” can help put context around the platform, and can help customers and sometimes investors visualize the value prop in the real world in real use cases. So articulating vertical opportunities to investors at an early stage is, IMO, a good thing…picking one and putting all your eggs in one basket without the right evidence isn’t…

]]> By: CScott http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2007/08/lets-get-vertical.html/comment-page-1#comment-5512 CScott Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:46:27 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=1789#comment-5512 A salesperson that says "I can't sell that" is not a salesperson, but rather an Account Manager. There is a difference between hunting and farming. Anymore, the ego of today's sales rep is preventing them from keeping in mind that the customer will buy to solve pain and not because we are nice enough people. A great sales rep will have an idea what that pain is prior to walking through their doors and carefully walk the line between guiding them to the conclusion that their organization should be an early adopter and deciding upfront that the rep knows more about the customer's business than the customer. Just one Sales Monkey's opinon! A salesperson that says “I can’t sell that” is not a salesperson, but rather an Account Manager. There is a difference between hunting and farming. Anymore, the ego of today’s sales rep is preventing them from keeping in mind that the customer will buy to solve pain and not because we are nice enough people. A great sales rep will have an idea what that pain is prior to walking through their doors and carefully walk the line between guiding them to the conclusion that their organization should be an early adopter and deciding upfront that the rep knows more about the customer’s business than the customer. Just one Sales Monkey’s opinon!

]]> By: Entrepreneur http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2007/08/lets-get-vertical.html/comment-page-1#comment-5511 Entrepreneur Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:34:34 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=1789#comment-5511 My question would be... when talking to VCs about the prospects of your "horizontal platform"... should you mention "vertical" opportunities? Would this make your case for funding stronger... or, instead, make you look unsure in the core business model? My question would be… when talking to VCs about the prospects of your “horizontal platform”… should you mention “vertical” opportunities? Would this make your case for funding stronger… or, instead, make you look unsure in the core business model?

]]> By: Josh http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2007/08/lets-get-vertical.html/comment-page-1#comment-5510 Josh Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:05:59 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=1789#comment-5510 I can vouch for this situation. I think the more ways you can find for your horizontal technology to plug into verticals, the better. However, you cannot neglect your core competency. There also has to be a balance in how one manages their long term strategy and decides on current priorities. I can vouch for this situation. I think the more ways you can find for your horizontal technology to plug into verticals, the better.

However, you cannot neglect your core competency. There also has to be a balance in how one manages their long term strategy and decides on current priorities.

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