Skip to content
Artwork for Idea to Startup
Idea to Startup · Nov 13, 2025 · 32 min

How to Pick Your First Customer

Today, we'll help you pick your startup's first customer segment. This decision dooms a huge percentage of first time entrepreneurs - if you don't understand what the job of your first customer segment is, you'll likely pick a customer incapable of doing it. Your first customer has a unique responsibility that no other customer will have - you need to choose them carefully. Conversely, if you choose the right first customer, you'll set yourself up for serious growth. We go through the five characteristics your first customer needs, give a preview of what your successful startup will look like, and help a listener find the first customer for their Myers Briggs startup. Tacklebox Getting Real (museum curator reference) Everyman Espresso (☕️ 🐐) Timestamps 00:27 First Time Entrepreneurs vs. Second Time Entrepreneurs 03:20 The Idea: Personality-Based Management 06:29 Why You, Why At All, Why Now 08:55 Byldd 09:55 The Story of Your Successful Startup 15:35 The Five Necessary First Customer Characteristics 16:41 Characteristic One: Pain 21:51 Characteristic Two: The Knowledge Spectrum 25:43 Characteristic Three: Measurement 28:24 Characteristic Four: Influence 29:48 Characteristic Five: Frequency 31:45 The End

0:00-32:50

transcript

No transcript — this publisher did not publish one.

show notes

Today, we'll help you pick your startup's first customer segment. This decision dooms a huge percentage of first time entrepreneurs - if you don't understand what the job of your first customer segment is, you'll likely pick a customer incapable of doing it. Your first customer has a unique responsibility that no other customer will have - you need to choose them carefully.

Conversely, if you choose the right first customer, you'll set yourself up for serious growth. 

We go through the five characteristics your first customer needs, give a preview of what your successful startup will look like, and help a listener find the first customer for their Myers Briggs startup. 

Timestamps

00:27 First Time Entrepreneurs vs. Second Time Entrepreneurs
03:20 The Idea: Personality-Based Management
06:29 Why You, Why At All, Why Now
08:55 Byldd
09:55 The Story of Your Successful Startup
15:35 The Five Necessary First Customer Characteristics
16:41 Characteristic One: Pain
21:51 Characteristic Two: The Knowledge Spectrum
25:43 Characteristic Three: Measurement
28:24 Characteristic Four: Influence
29:48 Characteristic Five: Frequency
31:45 The End

links4