Stanford Graduate School of Business

2 resources from Stanford Graduate School of Business we point founders to, and the questions each answers.

▶️ Video

✓ Link checked Free Intermediate

The counterweight you should hear. Sequoia's founder argues that you only build a big company by attacking a big market, which forces you to be honest that your small market must actually become huge. Watch it to pressure test whether your fast curve really leads somewhere large, or just stays cozy.

Don Valentine, Sequoia Capital: Target Big Markets

On Stanford Graduate School of Business by Don Valentine 75 min

• Big companies come from big markets, so the endpoint must be large.
• A fast curve only matters if it terminates in real scale.
• Be honest about the ceiling, not just the slope.

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Answers My market is small right now but growing fast. Is that a problem?

📄 Article

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Flynn's research found people underestimate by as much as 50% how often others will say yes to a direct ask, which is useful context for the launches that genuinely deserve a personal push. It doesn't contradict the burnout worry, it sharpens it: the fifty people you keep tapping will say yes almost every time, which is exactly why it's easy to over-tap them without noticing.

Francis Flynn: If You Want Something, Ask For It

From Stanford Graduate School of Business by Marguerite Rigoglioso ~7 min

• People say yes to direct requests far more often than the asker expects
• Because compliance is high, it's easy to keep asking the same people without feeling the cost
• High yes-rates make it your job, not theirs, to ration how often you ask

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Answers Every launch I ask friends to upvote and share. Is leaning on my network for each launch going to burn it out?