Juan Jesús Velasco

1 month ago | medium.com | Juan Jesús Velasco

One of the first temptations when we come up with a business idea is to start building: a website, an app, a demo, a MVP… anything to see “if it works.” But building before validating is, more often than not, a mistake that wastes time, resources, and energy. According to CB Insights, 35% of startups fail because there is no real market need. That’s why validating a business idea before developing a product is key — not only to save your own time but also your team’s.

2 months ago | medium.com | Juan Jesús Velasco

“The Winner Takes It All” — beyond being a classic song by Swedish pop group ABBA — is a phrase often used in the business world to describe markets dominated by one or a few players who control the vast majority of market share. In these spaces, a handful of giants leave little room for new competitors to emerge. If we turn to the framework from Blue Ocean Strategy by INSEAD professors W.

2 months ago | medium.com | Juan Jesús Velasco

Product-Market Fit (PMF) has become the Holy Grail for startups. It’s that pivotal moment that shows you’ve truly found a way to solve a real customer problem — and that users are satisfied with the solution you’re providing. To kick things off, let’s take a look at the definition offered by Marc Andreessen, who coined the term back in 2007:Product-market fit means being in a good market with a product that can satisfy that market. Simple enough, right? But what does this actually mean in practice?

Mar 29, 2025 | medium.com | Juan Jesús Velasco

Juan Jesús Velasco·Follow6 min read·--Many startups think they’ve achieved Product-Market Fit, but what they’re actually experiencing is an illusion. A sensation of traction that isn’t backed by real data, retention, or customer advocacy. What’s the result of this false signal? Startups scale too early — and that growth becomes a mirage. It burns cash, damages credibility, and often leads to painful outcomes, including failure or shutdown.

Mar 22, 2025 | medium.com | Juan Jesús Velasco

Juan Jesús Velasco·Follow7 min read·--Starting a business is never easy. I have deep admiration for the founders I’ve met over the past 15 years connected to the startup ecosystem. Through these years — and after mentoring several startups — I’ve come to firmly believe that a good acceleration program and strong mentors or advisors can make a huge difference in a startup’s trajectory. A good mentor can help founders avoid common mistakes, sharpen their strategy, and expand their network.