Potential expert source: Dalton Caldwell, Y Combinator, whose public lecture explores reasons to change direction and reasons not to; Gustaf Alströmer, whose YC Startup School teaching deals with user research. All about pivoting — Y Combinator How To Talk To Users — Y Combinator
Q1. Which signals say a seed CEO is learning rather than merely enduring?
Why buyers care: Persistence can look like discipline even after the evidence weakens. Good answer covers: cohorts versus anecdotes, observed customer commitment, rate of learning, a dated threshold, and distinct criteria by sector. Follow-up: “Which observation would change your own view?” Expert quote: [Pending interview — do not publish as a quote].
Q2. How do you separate poor distribution from a business model that is fundamentally wrong?
Why buyers care: A new marketing channel may be cheaper than a pivot. Good answer covers: consistent target segment, price sensitivity, activation and repeat usage, founder-led selling, and an experiment that separates channel from product. Expert quote: [Pending interview].
Q3. What customer-interview answers should a founder actively distrust?
Why buyers care: Politeness can be confused with payment intent. Good answer covers: behavioural questions, recent actual buying decisions, reference alternatives, the limits of self-report, negative sampling and not leading interviewees. Expert quote: [Pending interview].