Users Before Money

Sam Rattner shares his perspective on building successful businesses by focusing on consumer experience first, rather than immediate monetization. His approach emphasizes understanding market dynamics and finding unique opportunities where others aren't looking.

Key Points:

• Consumer-First Philosophy:

  • "Focus on the consumer, forget everything else"
  • If consumers want the product, everything else is "noise" that can be pushed through
  • The best opportunities come from creating products that are "100 times better" than existing experiences

• Market Analysis Strategy:

  • Look for pieces of market evolution that others avoid due to complexity
  • Find opportunities that are "headaches" or capital intensive, as they often have less competition
  • Value exists in things that are difficult or that "no one wants to touch"

• Business Model Approach:

  • Focus on businesses where transactions are inherent to the journey
  • Avoid pure social or entertainment platforms where monetization is harder
  • "No one minds paying fees on things they were already buying"

• Finding Unique Opportunities:

  • "The value is in the duck calls" - look for niche, unknown markets with dedicated communities
  • Search for businesses that are "too complicated to find" or are regional/niche
  • Look for opportunities where "99% of people don't look"

• Growth Philosophy:

  • Won't pursue opportunities unless they can reach $1B valuation in 5 years
  • Prefers to take calculated risks with clear paths to scale
  • Focuses on markets where existing solutions are outdated or inefficient

• Decision Making:

  • Evaluates opportunities based on their ability to scale significantly
  • Willing to walk away from profitable ventures if they don't meet growth criteria
  • Looks for businesses that can be transformed through better technology or approach

This perspective emphasizes long-term value creation through superior user experience, rather than short-term monetization strategies.