incredibly articulated. deeply resonates as we've been learning a ton from running concurrent growth tests with real TikTok creators vs AI-generated creators
Great post! And then there's the Business Model Maze. Modern AI tools allow founders to accelerate through each of these three mazes -- providing the opportunity to run experiments more effectively and efficiently. I break this opportunity down further in my new book -- The Experimentation Machine: Finding Product-Market Fit in the Age of AI (www.jeffbussgang.com).
great post! more relevant than ever. AI makes ideas cheaper and easier to test, but growth is what separates winners. the startups that crack distribution are the ones shaping markets.
if defensibility is shifting from tech to distribution, growth should shape product much earlier. maybe the real edge now isn’t just growth expertise, but combining growth with taste.
it's interesting coz It touches my pain points now - 1 with ai tool and the growth maze challenge (good product), 2 with more idea maze coz the distribution is there and just needs to be activated. 🙏
Great breakdown of the Idea Maze and Growth Maze. I love the framework. The future is more multidimensional and less linear.
What if the real challenge isn’t just about choosing the right path, but shifting how people see the maze itself? AI products are as much about perception as they are about execution. Some ideas take off because they feel inevitable, while others stall because they don’t fit the story people expect. Curious how others are thinking about this.
I resonate with this. I do think the challenge lies with growth - but it is not new and has been fundamental. Great ideas has not worked and Not so great companies thrived with distribution.
The novelty of AI can bring a perspective shift to how people see the maze. In my view, that's due to the diverse lens we take when it comes to what we deem as ethical, reasonable, and acceptable invasion of our space by AI - from generational differences to cultural variations (just look at Japan's acceptance of humanoids versus Western skepticism). In my view, while Trust has also been critical, the trust-building timeline of AI products will be key to gaining unfair advantage and outsize growth.
The cultural lens is fascinating. Feels like AI companies are not just navigating a Growth Maze but also a Trust Maze. And if we think of this as more than just a linear path, what other dimensions do you see shaping AI adoption?
If the last decade of tech belonged to builders, the next decade belongs to orchestrators.
AI won’t just accelerate the Growth Maze...it can make parts of it obsolete.
The winners of the AI era won’t just build products—they’ll architect ecosystems that scale themselves.
solid comment
incredibly articulated. deeply resonates as we've been learning a ton from running concurrent growth tests with real TikTok creators vs AI-generated creators
Great post! And then there's the Business Model Maze. Modern AI tools allow founders to accelerate through each of these three mazes -- providing the opportunity to run experiments more effectively and efficiently. I break this opportunity down further in my new book -- The Experimentation Machine: Finding Product-Market Fit in the Age of AI (www.jeffbussgang.com).
great post! more relevant than ever. AI makes ideas cheaper and easier to test, but growth is what separates winners. the startups that crack distribution are the ones shaping markets.
if defensibility is shifting from tech to distribution, growth should shape product much earlier. maybe the real edge now isn’t just growth expertise, but combining growth with taste.
@Andrew Chen fyi..
love this.
GTM consultants rebranding as Growth Maze consultants in 3... 2... 1...
it's interesting coz It touches my pain points now - 1 with ai tool and the growth maze challenge (good product), 2 with more idea maze coz the distribution is there and just needs to be activated. 🙏
When i read anything you write, I don’t feel so alone as an entrepreneur.
One thing I’ll add is that, naivety can be a mega superpower for founders.
Great breakdown of the Idea Maze and Growth Maze. I love the framework. The future is more multidimensional and less linear.
What if the real challenge isn’t just about choosing the right path, but shifting how people see the maze itself? AI products are as much about perception as they are about execution. Some ideas take off because they feel inevitable, while others stall because they don’t fit the story people expect. Curious how others are thinking about this.
I resonate with this. I do think the challenge lies with growth - but it is not new and has been fundamental. Great ideas has not worked and Not so great companies thrived with distribution.
The novelty of AI can bring a perspective shift to how people see the maze. In my view, that's due to the diverse lens we take when it comes to what we deem as ethical, reasonable, and acceptable invasion of our space by AI - from generational differences to cultural variations (just look at Japan's acceptance of humanoids versus Western skepticism). In my view, while Trust has also been critical, the trust-building timeline of AI products will be key to gaining unfair advantage and outsize growth.
The cultural lens is fascinating. Feels like AI companies are not just navigating a Growth Maze but also a Trust Maze. And if we think of this as more than just a linear path, what other dimensions do you see shaping AI adoption?
This is truly an awesome read, thanks for sharing
Chopper view a must. If you can't have a good overview of the maze you are DOA.
Thanks for the info! Great Stuff!
Loved the distinction between the Growth Maze and the Idea Maze! Navigating both is key to building something great. Really insightful read!