Let’s pretend…
You’re working in big finance.
And you’re starting to apply for VC gigs.
You know you need to present yourself as an expert in something tech/startup-y.
So you pick FinTech.
Heck, you’ve been working in it for the last few years and…
well, stop there.
Cuz guess what?
You got caught in a trap :/
It’s the “Too Little” trap.
What’s that?
Well, if a VC is getting 200 resumes from finance folks for a gig, you can be pretty sure:
- 100 of ’em said they’re “FinTech” experts.
- The other 100 of ’em said they’re “Blockchain” gurus.
So if you said either of those things:
You’re not exactly jumping out of the resume pile.
Because you’re saying the same things as those 200 other finance peeps.
So here’s what you can do.
Take it down from the 30,000 foot view…
…to the 10,000 foot view.
Let’s use Blockchain as an example.
What sub-sectors of it have multi-billion dollar potential?
I’m no blockchain expert, but here are a few ideas:
- Distributed protocols and infrastructure
- Virtual goods/art/collectibles
- Smart contracts
I call this “just right” positioning since you’re able to separate yourself from the pack:
Just by getting a bit more specific than everyone else who glommed on to a hot macro sector.
I don’t want you to overreact, though.
Positioning yourself as an expert on super small niches like:
- blockchain based smart contracts for coffee sellers in Africa who own their own homes
- mobile payments for kids in Europe who like to also rock climb
- blockchain based mobile payments for kids in Europe who like to rock climb and who are vegan
- US based eCommerce platforms that only sell perishable goods to senior citizens
- (this is kind of fun but I’d better stop now 😉
are great examples of “Too Much” (detail).
Your chances of getting an investor excited about that weird niche market that you love are slim.
But to get them to fall in love with your ideas on a sub-sector that rides a macro trend — much easier.
So remember: 1 sub-sector below the big sector may be “Just right.”
