The Obsession with Growth

The Tensions and Trade-offs of Prioritizing Growth at Different Inflection Points

In the world of tech and startups, the word “growth” is often thrown around as a buzzword. Companies are obsessed with achieving exponential growth and becoming the next unicorn, and investors are constantly looking for the next big thing that will skyrocket in value. While I think that this won’t ever completely go away, I do think companies and investors are being a little bit more pragmatic these days about the future. In 2023, growth will be more about sustainably increasing revenue rather than quick immediate growth without any long term plan. While the focus on growth can sometimes be overemphasized, it is still an essential factor in determining a company’s success.

First, it’s important to understand what we mean by “growth.” In business, growth can refer to a variety of things, such as revenue growth, user growth, market share growth, or even employee growth. Essentially, growth is any kind of expansion or improvement in a company’s performance or reach. It’s not just about getting bigger for the sake of it, but about achieving sustainable and meaningful progress. In Product Growth, it is important not only to grow by increasing users and subsequent revenue, but to grow predictably and incrementally.