Simple Solutions Win

Moiz Ali shares his perspective on building successful businesses by focusing on simple, obvious solutions rather than complex innovations. Through his experience with Native deodorant (which sold to P&G for $100M after raising only $500K) and other ventures, he emphasizes the power of straightforward business approaches.

Key Points:

• Simple Business Plans Work Best:

  • Don't need magical or genius solutions
  • Common sense approaches often yield better results
  • Example: "We're gonna create a digital first brand that looks better"

• Successful Business Models Can Be Basic:

  • Creating better packaging for existing products
  • Improving user interface and aesthetics
  • Making products look better on bathroom shelves
  • Focus on execution rather than innovation

• Real Examples of Simple Success:

  • Nature Box: Simply repackaging Whole Foods trail mix and shipping it to homes
  • Instacart: Starting with just emailing grocery lists
  • Native: Making aluminum-free deodorant with better branding

• Avoid Overcomplicated Strategies:

  • Don't rely on partnerships or collaborations
  • Stay away from plans requiring others' participation
  • Focus on what you can control directly

• Evolution Over Innovation:

  • Start with basic differentiation
  • Allow the business model to evolve naturally
  • Example: Native evolved from simple aluminum-free deodorant to multiple product categories

• Operational Focus:

  • Execute well on basic business functions
  • Don't wait for perfect answers before starting
  • Learn and adapt as you go
  • Keep the initial plan straightforward and achievable

• Warning Signs of Bad Plans:

  • Requiring magical solutions
  • Needing to jump through multiple complex hoops
  • Depending on viral success
  • Betting on partnerships or external factors