Al helping companies scale without increasing headcount?

It's like having a bunch of tiny elves doing all the work while you sleep. 'Who got this done?' 'The Al elves, obviously!'

Use AI to Get More Growth from Less 

• Why Read:

  • Understand how AI is enabling small businesses to scale without increasing headcount, and to explore new opportunities in STBB (Small Team, Big Business).

• Featuring:

  • Scott Belsky (@scottbelsky), Chief Strategy Officer, Executive Vice President of Design & Emerging Products at Adobe

• Link: 

  • “The Era of Scaling Without Growing & The Meaning Economy”

Key Concepts and Tactics:

• Embracing the Era of Scaling Without Growing:

  • Point: Leverage AI-powered tools to scale your small business without increasing headcount.

  • "As smaller companies modernize using a new AI-native stack of technology, they no longer need to grow their team to scale their ambition. What a wild concept, but it will be increasingly true. Small teams will gain superpowers once limited to the world's largest organizations — from how marketing is conducted and inventory is managed, to transcending the constraints of geography and language."

• Adopting an Intent-Driven AI Tech Stack:

  • Point: Shift from a function-driven to an intent-driven AI tech stack to automate processes and workflows.

  • "A modern 'intent-driven' AI tech stack will replace the classic functional-driven stack of tools. Rather than hire out teams of specialists for every function, companies will have the opportunity to purchase AI capabilities — often in the form of agent-based tools or 'AI teammates' — that (or is it who?) automate parts of a process or entire workflows within individual functions."

• Capitalizing on the STBB (Small Team, Big Business) Wave:

  • Point: Prepare for the growth of small businesses with high revenues and margins enabled by AI tools.

  • "No doubt, we should expect massive growth in the number of small businesses started or refactored with revenues in the millions and healthy margins. Some of these businesses will sell software, and this great post by Anu Atluru on the rise of the Silicon Valley small business covers what we might expect."

• Meeting Consumer Demand for Human-Crafted Experiences:

  • Point: Focus on creating unique, artisanal experiences to meet growing consumer demand in an AI-dominated world.

  • "We are going to crave artisanal and story-driven sources and experiences. Why? As every big company floods the zone of our attention with increasingly enticing marketing and cheaper and more personalized versions of everything, we — as consumers — will crave more scarce and authentically human experiences, often provided by a small business run by passionate people."

• Exploring New Business Opportunities in the "Scaling Without Growing" Era:

  • Point: Consider developing new tools and services tailored for the emerging STBB market.

  • "This new world we imagine will require new tools tailor made for STBBs, new ways of stitching these tools together, new ways of hiring and incentivizing top talent, and even new ways of incorporating or acquiring a small business. I am seeing a fascinating array of startups emerge, like: Modern marketplaces for small businesses to be bought and sold — facilitating the transition of these businesses from non-tech-savvy founders to digital-native owners."

The Power of Streaks in Product Design

Why Read: 

• Understand how implementing streaks in your app can significantly boost user engagement, retention, and value, providing a powerful tool for growth.

Featuring:

• Fred Wilson (@fredwilson), Partner at Union Square Ventures, Managing Partner at Flatiron Partners

Link: 

• “Streaks”

Key Concepts and Tactics:

• Understanding the Power of Streaks:

  • Point: Recognize that streaks are a powerful mechanism for increasing user engagement and retention.

  • "Streaks are a powerful mechanism to bring users back every day. Duolingo and Snap have been very successful using streaks to increase frequency and retention and user value."

• Establishing Goals and Reminders:

  • Point: Use streaks to set clear goals and provide daily reminders for users.

  • "Well first and foremost, they establish a goal, to do something every day, and remind you to do it. This technique has been used very effectively in fitness, weight loss, education, and many other sectors long before technology became part of every day life."

• Recognizing the Increasing Value of Streaks:

  • Point: Understand that the longer a streak continues, the more powerful it becomes.

  • "But also, the streak becomes more powerful the longer they go on. A streak of a few days can easily be tossed aside. A streak of sixteen years? Not so easily."

• Reprogramming User Behavior:

  • Point: Utilize streaks to create a sense of necessity and completion in users' daily routines.

  • "Streaks reprogram the brain to need to do something every day to feel complete."

• Implementing Streaks in App Development:

  • Point: Incorporate streak features into your app to boost user engagement and value.

  • "So when you build your app, build streaks, streak notifications, and streak recognition into it. It will help bring users back, increase frequency, retention, and user value."

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