Platform Developer Opportunities
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A framework for understanding platform inflection points and how to capitalize on new platform opportunities, particularly focused on Snapchat's platform evolution.
What Creates Platform Inflection Points
- New platforms opening their ecosystem to developers
- Established platforms creating new developer tools/APIs
- Platforms seeking growth through third-party innovation
- Competitive pressure forcing platforms to become more open
Why These Opportunities Matter
- Asymmetric betting opportunities
- Small time investment can lead to massive returns
- Early developers can capture significant market share
- Platform distribution can drive rapid user growth
- Historical examples of success:
- Pandora leveraging Apple App Store
- Early Facebook platform developers going viral
- Multiple Snap Kit apps reaching #1 in App Store
Keys to Successfully Building on New Platforms
- Build experiences that stay within the platform
- Don't try to pull users outside to separate apps
- Integrate deeply with platform's core features
- Don't compete with the platform's main offering
- Focus on complementary services
- Leverage platform-specific tools and APIs
- Example: Snapchat's Bitmoji and camera features
Current Opportunity: Snapchat Platform
- Snapchat actively courting developers
- Offering Snap Kit development tools
- More trustworthy than Facebook/Instagram platforms
- Strong motivation to support developers
- Need to compete with Facebook/Instagram
- Can't copy features as easily as competitors
Monetization Ideas for Snap Platform
- Celebrity video messages (Cameo-style service)
- Payment splitting for rent/utilities
- Food delivery integration
- Remote work team building tools
The key is identifying platform inflection points early and moving quickly to build integrated experiences that enhance the core platform.
Sam Parr
Host of MFM and fitness influencer
Sam Parr is a serial entrepreneur and business media pioneer.
In 2016, he founded The Hustle, a business news media company that started in his kitchen with just $12 and grew to eight figures in revenue.
Sam led the charge in making newsletters popular when few believed in their potential.
After four successful years, he sold The Hustle to HubSpot, a publicly traded company. Now operating as HubSpot Media, The Hustle reaches 3 million readers daily, employs a team of nearly 100, and has been the launchpad for dozens of its staff to found their own media companies and newsletters.
Sam remains the host of the popular business podcast, My First Million, and continues to start and sell companies. He also co-founded Hampton, a highly vetted community for entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs, and teaches people to write better through his platform, Copy That.