MVPs out SLC in, Startup Funding Rounds Explained, lots more – Mattermark Daily

Hurricane Harvey has left Houston, Texas, and surrounding areas in dire need of assistance. The devastation caused by the storm has prompted Mattermark to urge readers to donate to various organizations, such as the Red Cross, or other local and national charities. The New York Times has compiled a list of reputable organizations to support, as well as advice on avoiding scams.

In a separate article, Jason Cohen of WPEngine challenges the common notion of building early products by focusing on simplicity, lovability, and completion. He argues that the term "MVP" (Minimum Viable Product) is often misunderstood and that startups should instead focus on creating products that are "Simple, Lovable, and Complete" (SLC). This approach ensures that the product meets customer needs effectively from the beginning.

Hiten Shah, founder of Crazy Egg, KISSmetrics, and Quick Sprout, delves into the history of product growth and lessons learned by analyzing how Grammarly grew to 6.9 million daily users in just nine years. Shah's article on the Product Habits blog highlights the importance of strategic growth and the factors that contributed to Grammarly's success.

Ryan Law, CMO and co-founder at CoBloom, provides insights into the typical size and traits of startup funding rounds, from pre-seed to series C, in the second part of his nine-part series titled "From Pre-Seed to Series C: Startup Funding Rounds Explained." This comprehensive guide offers valuable information for entrepreneurs and investors alike.

Mattermark Standard, a service that organizes information on more than four million of the world's fastest-growing businesses, is now available for $49 per month. This data can be accessed by job seekers, founders, angel investors, and others, with no annual commitment required. A free trial is also available to start exploring the platform.

Monique Woodard of 500 Startups offers unsolicited advice to aspiring venture capitalists, particularly those from underrepresented groups. Woodard suggests that such individuals should focus on working at firms that write later-stage checks, as it may provide more opportunities for success.

In a series of videos, Roger Lee of Battery Ventures discusses the evolution of his working relationship with Nick Metha, CEO of Gainsight. Lee and Metha share insights into how their partnership developed as Lee helped place Metha's company.

In addition to publishing these articles, Mattermark continues to crawl the public web to organize information on the world's fastest-growing businesses. This data is made available to users through Mattermark Standard, offering valuable insights for those in the startup ecosystem.