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Stage 1: Build ($0–$1M ARR)

Overview​

What This Stage Is About​

  • Finding product-market fit
  • Getting market feedback
  • Validating that customers will pay for the solution
  • Design partners and early customers willing to take a flyer
  • Doing things that don't scale to get deep market feedback

Typical Firmographics​

  • Revenue: $0–$1M ARR
  • Headcount: 1–10
  • Fundraising: Pre-seed / Seed
  • GTM Complexity: Very low — founder-led, opportunistic
  • Product Complexity: Single product, fast iteration, high change

Main Goal​

Build a core set of paying customers who love the product enough to evangelize — get enough revenue to justify a fundraise or invest back into the business.