The NAKED Truth
Been reviewing 100+ early startup pitch decks last week. And I keep seeing the same fake traction everywhere.
While you waste time on:
? Building social media presence
? Getting into startup programs
? Winning pitch competitions
? Chasing TechCrunch features
? Applying for "30 Under 30"
Your competitors are:
? Talking to customers
? Fixing real problems
? Building better products
? Growing real revenue
? Improving unit economics
The Fake Traction Checklist:
1. The Social Proof Trap:
? Startup awards (pure ego)
? Conference talks (zero sales)
? Accelerator badges (from 2 years ago)
? Press features (no customers)
? LinkedIn followers (that never convert)
2. The Partner Badge Trap:
? "Selected for" [Big Tech] program
? Featured in their newsletter
? Access to standard API
? Template email intros
? Basic cloud credits
= Zero real business value
3. The Celebrity Angel Trap:
? Free shares for future promotion
? Zero cash invested
? One promised tweet
? No strategic value
? Pure vanity metric
4. The Recognition Trap:
? "30 Under 30" features
? "Top Innovator" lists
? "Rising Star" awards
? Pitch competition wins
= Great for LinkedIn, useless for business
The Truth:
While you're chasing fake traction,
Someone else is building real business.
Remember:
"If you have to explain
why your traction is impressive,
it's not actually traction."
Drop a ?? if you're done with vanity metrics!
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