💰 How to Make Your First $: Sales Plan for a Startup | Sales Mates Podcast #85

💸 Hey friends!

In Episode 85 of the Sales Mates Podcast, we talk about how a founder can launch the first sales of a startup – even if the product isn’t perfect yet.

Why the founder must be the first sales system, how to find your ICP, test hypotheses, and avoid wasting years on “preparation for launch.”

We break down 7 common founder mistakes that lead to “no sales” – from hiring a sales rep too early to lacking a basic process, proper packaging, and customer feedback loops.

We explain why packaging sells better than the product, how to build a Go-to-Market strategy, and what clients in the EU and US actually expect in terms of support, processes, and stability.

📌 In this episode:

00:00:00 – Intro

00:03:18 – Where to start a startup: first founder steps

00:06:20 – Founder as first sales rep: how to sell personally

00:08:53 – 7 founder mistakes that kill sales

00:10:43 – Why “packaging” solves everything: brand, website, socials, trust

00:16:13 – Customer expectations in the EU & US: support, processes, stability

00:19:00 – Idea ≠ Business: when a startup becomes a real business

00:23:43 – Team Composition: why 23% of startups fail because of team issues

00:26:32 – Key success factors: team, sales, idea, investment

Summary

This podcast discusses the key aspects of a successful startup launch, including the importance of the team, the speed of hypothesis validation, common founder mistakes, building a sales system, and developing a customer communication strategy. The hosts share their experiences and recommendations for startup founders who aim to succeed in the market.

Takeaways

• The team is the most important factor in a startup’s success.

• The speed of hypothesis validation is critically important.

• Founders often make the mistake of hiring salespeople too early.

• A sales system must be built from the very beginning.

• The company’s reputation directly impacts sales success.

• Clients expect a high level of service.

• Startups need a clear sales strategy.

• It’s essential to understand your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP).

• Partnership models can help startups grow.

• An idea without sales makes no sense.

🎙️ Hosts: Anton Fedulov & Oleksii Sinichenko

Get practical insights from two experienced sales managers who reveal their success secrets, share real-life strategies and stories from everyday sales life – watch and listen on our YouTube channel Sales Mates Podcast.

Thank you for being with us – and follow us on social media for more:

Oleksii Sinichenko:

1. LinkedIn

2. Facebook

Anton Fedulov:

1. LinkedIn

2. Facebook

Sales Label Community:

• Telegram

• Instagram

• Threads

• TikTok

• Facebook

• Apple Podcast

• Sales Mates Library