So when Michael Sauter invited me to share real pivot stories with 12 startups during the NZZ Growth Academy program, I didn’t hold back.
We broke down what it *really* takes to turn a stuck company around + how business model shifts did not only reshape my own ventures, but others I’ve advised up close.
Turns out, the stories hit a nerve. Or how Michael has put it during a review session:
“Founders actually *want* to talk about pivots. Not because they don’t know about them. But because no one declares that pivoting is a key part of an entrepreneurial journey. Thanks again for your excellent fireside chat. It was rated very well with an average of 4.6 stars out of a maximum of 5 stars. That’s great!”
Given the numbers, the facts are pretty clear:
𝟵𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀.
So being capable to pivot has to be seen as a core capability a founding team has to come up with – or it has to develop that skill set.
I’ve watched founders take this mindset seriously and walk out the other side with companies that couldn’t have become breakout winners otherwise.
P.S. Want the full breakdown of what we covered at NZZ Growth Academy? Drop a 🔥 or DM me “Pivot” and I’ll send it over for free.