Every great idea starts rough and unpolished—full of promise, sure, but far from perfect. When I launched my learning and development business three years ago, I had a passion for helping leaders navigate their challenges but no fully defined playbook for structuring my workshops.
What I did have, however, were early adopters: Starttech Ventures was willing to take a chance on my approach. Their belief in the value of investing in both startups and people development led them to provide me with a room of seasoned CEOs and professionals eager to test my offering. However, what made this opportunity transformative was the feedback from these early adopters. It was their insights that helped me turn a rough idea into a structured, repeatable offering that provides excellent value to participants.
Early adopters are far more than first customers; they are co-creators. They’re the people who engage with your unpolished product or service, not because it’s perfect but because they see its potential. In my case, those early workshop participants weren’t passive attendees but active collaborators. Their questions, candid observations, and constructive feedback didn’t just improve my workshops; they were instrumental in shaping my product. Their insights sharpened my understanding of what leaders truly need to succeed.
In the world of startups, early adopters play a similar role. They’re the ones who take a chance on your MVP, who are willing to provide honest feedback, and who push you to refine your product until it solves a real problem. They don’t just help you iterate; they validate your vision and set the foundation for broader market adoption. Without early adopters, a promising idea can remain just that—an idea. With them, it becomes a tested, validated solution with a clear path forward.
Thinking back about those early days, I realise how pivotal that chance was. These early adopters shaped my business. Their feedback illuminated blind spots and inspired me to create a workshop framework that could resonate across industries and themes. That’s the true power of early adopters: they invest in your potential, not just your offering, and in doing so, they define your success.
My advice for founders, SaaS CEOs, and entrepreneurs is simple: seek out your early adopters. Look for the people willing to test and challenge your ideas, even before you’ve reached perfection. Their feedback is essential. They’re more than just your first customers. They’re your partners in growth.
