Ask HN: Does your team spend more time on tech or on competitors?

1•agcat•1mo ago

I always thought tech startups especially in SF was about building the best product and solving hard technical problems with thinking about competitors was just noise.

But in reality, i see mostly discussion about competitive wins, what features competitors have, and positioning, sometimes even in engineering contexts.

Part of me gets it, but its hard to believe if every company does the same.

What's been your experience?

Comments

codingdave•1mo ago

My experience is that different people have different roles. Those focused on the tech are probably focusing in their own space. Those focused on marketing are probably trying to kickstart discussions online. So when you are looking at what discussions you see, which group do you think you are really looking at?

agcat•1mo ago

I agree. i have seen marketing and sales ( mostly just talking about competition). But I think if we care talking more about our product with just a sense of where competition is that should be better.Idk

JohnFen•1mo ago

More time on tech, in every company I've ever owned or worked for.

That said, it's important to pay attention to what your competition is up to, if for no other reason than to to learn lessons from their successes and failures that can inform your own product development.

As the saying goes: "make your own mistakes, not someone else's."

agcat•1mo ago

I agree. But i just feel its easy to lose sight once you are just catching up on features to win deals because x competitor has it

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