the cold start problem

The Cold Start Problem: Using Network Effects to Scale Your Product

From Airbnb to Uber, a revelatory exploration of how hidden networks can turbo-charge businesses - from one of Silicon Valley's best-respected investors

'A true Silicon Valley insider' Wired

Why do some products take off? And what can we learn from them?

The hardest part of launching a product is getting started. When you have just an idea and a handful of customers, growth can feel impossible. This is the cold start problem.

Now, one of Silicon Valley's most esteemed investors uncovers how any product can surmount the cold start problem - by harnessing the hidden power of network effects. Drawing on interviews with the founders of Uber, LinkedIn, Airbnb and Zoom, Andrew Chen reveals how any start-up can launch, scale and thrive.