Growth Hacking

A mindset of finding fast, often unconventional, data-driven ways to grow, running many cheap experiments across the funnel rather than relying on traditional marketing budgets. Coined by Sean Ellis.

Why it matters

Growth hacking suits startups with more ideas than money: the win comes from testing quickly and doubling down on what works. The danger is chasing tricks over a product people actually want, which no hack can fix.

For example

Early Dropbox offered extra free storage for referrals, a cheap, viral growth hack that beat paid ads.

Go deeper

The Growth Marketing Guide Julian Shapiro · guide A practical, no-nonsense guide to running growth experiments and paid channels, from someone who has done it across many startups. Open julian.com →

How to Get Users and Grow Y Combinator · video Facebook's former VP of Growth gives the clearest lecture there is on how real growth works, beyond the tricks. Watch on YouTube youtube.com →

Related terms

Also in Starting Up

See how founders actually handle this on Growing and marketing, part of the Starting Up hub.

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