Welcome to the 11th edition of GrowthDeck! If you enjoy reading deep dives like this, please share it with your friends or colleagues who would appreciate it. Now, let's dive in!

When we observe the success story of startups closely, there is one thing that is common in all of them steadfast perseverance, unwavering constancy, and absolute commitment.

In this article we will dive deep into the story of Andrew Gazdecki and some amazing Growth Drivers he used to Scale Acquire.

Andrew's journey started during his time in college when he created Bizness Apps (as a side project). It's a super simple tool that helps people make their own mobile apps, even if they don't know anything about technical stuff. Imagine a business owner creating an app for their business in just a few minutes – that's what Bizness Apps allows. And guess what? This idea became a big hit!

It worked so well that at times, they earned a whopping $70,000 in just one day, all without needing a special person to handle sales. In just three years, they managed to earn a total of $3 million from their idea.

Then, in 2018, something even bigger happened. Another company called ESW Capital liked Bizness Apps so much that they decided to buy it. By that time, Bizness Apps was making around $10 million every year.

Following Bizness Apps’ exit, Andrew started Altcoin.io - A decentralized crypto exchange that was later acquired by bnktothefuture.com.

After that, In July 2020, He started Acquire.com an online marketplace to buy and sell startups. Until today, Acquire has facilitated more than $500m worth of startup acquisitions. And the number of these deals on Acquire is growing really fast like it's zooming up without any brakes!

Now let’s look at some of the growth drivers that Andrew leveraged to grow all these businesses and how you as a founder can use them.

Acquire’s Growth Drivers

1. Identifying Unique Value in a Competitive Market

Andrew Gazdecki recognized a gap in the market for a platform that specifically catered to smaller software and e-commerce startups looking to exit their businesses. While there were existing options for larger acquisitions, there was a lack of platforms tailored to startups in the early stages, especially those with limited funding and resources.

While some platforms charged high commissions, Andrew decided to offer sellers a commission-free model initially. This approach immediately distinguished them and drew the attention of founders seeking to maximize their exit returns. Having a unique insight goes a long way.

Andrew identified a market gap in which many startups, particularly smaller ones, were having difficulty finding suitable buyers or sellers due to the dominance of larger players. He recognized the need for a platform that was tailored specifically to the needs of these startups, providing a personalized and streamlined experience.

By tailoring his platform to this specific niche, Andrew was able to attract a community of startups that saw Acquire (fka Microacquire) as a valuable resource that understood their unique needs which brings us to our second growth driver.

2. Building in Public and Community Building

The tweet above sums up the entire growth driver, building in public and fostering a strong community has been instrumental in Andrew's startup journey with MicroAcquire. Andrew's ability to build in public, sharing his experiences, challenges, and successes transparently with his audience, has played a significant role in creating an engaging and relatable brand.

Andrew's success in building a relatable persona has translated into MicroAcquire's brand positioning as well. By making the business more human and approachable, he has made the platform appealing to startups and solopreneurs who may have felt intimidated by the acquisition space.

Andrew was highly accessible to the community through platforms like Twitter and email. This personal engagement not only fostered trust but also demonstrated his commitment to the community's success. Founders and buyers knew that they could reach out to him directly for advice, support, and guidance.

By showcasing and celebrating success stories, Andrew celebrated the achievements of community members. Highlighting individuals who successfully sold their businesses through MicroAcquire not only inspired others but also created a sense of achievement and belonging within the community.

A vibrant community can act as a Growth Engine. Andrew's approach of fostering a community around MicroAcquire has not only created a supportive environment but has also attracted more users to the platform.

Last but not least, Andrew’s willingness to share his failures with the public, whether through podcasts, books, or other platforms has only helped him. By openly discussing failures and the lessons learned from them, entrepreneurs not only demonstrate authenticity but also provide valuable insights that can guide others on their own journeys. It attracts an audience that values transparency and authenticity.

When you have such a great community this helps not only in marketing but also in our next growth driver which is all about Customer-Centric Product Development: Understanding the pain points of the target audience is vital. Andrew's focus on favoring founders and addressing their needs within MicroAcquire has set the platform apart and led to its success.

3. Iterative Product Development Based on User Feedback

Acquire's success can be attributed to Andrew's approach to iterative product development based on user feedback. This growth driver emphasizes the importance of constantly improving the product based on user insights and needs, which has been critical to MicroAcquire's growth trajectory. This could be another boring growth driver that every company in the world follows, but Andrew did two things here.

1 - Rapid Prototyping and Testing:

Rather than spending too much time perfecting features before releasing them, Andrew used a rapid prototyping and testing strategy. This enabled him to quickly test new ideas, gather user feedback, and make improvements as needed. Acquire remained adaptable and responsive to changing user preferences by iterating on the product.

2 - User-Centric Approach: 

Andrew solicited user feedback and incorporated their suggestions into the platform's development. Acquire's features were aligned with the actual needs of its target audience thanks to this user-centric approach.

The emphasis on iterative development complements the collection of continuous user feedback. Gazdecki understands the value of actively engaging users throughout the development process. He values their perspectives, pain points, and enhancement suggestions.

This method creates a feedback loop that informs product development strategy. Engaging users fosters a sense of ownership and loyalty by making them feel appreciated for their contributions to the product's growth. This user-centric approach not only results in product improvements but also in the development of a strong community around the product.

Actionable Insights: For startup enthusiasts and founders, the success of Acquire underlines the importance of differentiation in a competitive landscape. To replicate this approach:

1. Market Analysis: Thoroughly analyze the market to identify gaps and areas of unmet need.

2. Unique Value: Craft a value proposition that stands out from existing solutions, addressing pain points directly.

3. Community Building: Create a platform that fosters a sense of community and trust among users.

4. Customer-Centric Approach: Prioritize understanding your target audience's needs and challenges to tailor your solution.

5. Iterative Improvement: Continuously iterate and enhance your platform based on user feedback and changing market trends.

That’s all for today. This edition took us about 18 hours of effort. If you think your friends or colleagues would like this, please share this link with them. Thanks for reading and don’t be shy to leave a comment if you have any. Also, please consider following us on Twitter (Keval Jagani, Meet Shukla) and sharing this blog post.