From the cutting-edge world of code to the unpredictable battlefield of sales—it's a journey every technical founder faces. I’m Vincent Berk, and I've walked this path. 🛤️
Remember my early days at Flowtrack? I was neck-deep in machine learning and AI. 🧠 Crafting solutions that tackled cyber threats head-on. But then came the real challenge: selling these innovations. Was I prepared? Absolutely not. Did I learn? Oh, you bet!
So here's the kicker for all those tech-driven founders out there grappling with sales:
👩💻 Balance is Key: Dive into technical discussions to validate your claims, but always bring it back to business outcomes. It's not just about what your product does; it's about what it does for them.
🎯 Focus on a Vertical Market: Early success comes from zooming in on a specific vertical. Become the go-to expert for their unique challenges and watch as word-of-mouth propels your growth.
🚀 Be Confident: Don’t shy away from sharing your expertise. Thought leadership draws in the right crowd, paving the way for larger sales efforts later.
🌍 Visibility Tools Matter: Invest in visibility and forensic record-keeping to preempt threats. Knowing what's happening in your network is key to staying a step ahead.
And here's a pearl of wisdom: Your product won't eliminate all risks, but it should maximize defense while mitigating potential threats.
In the comments: What's one unexpected lesson you've learned while transitioning from tech to sales?