This past summer, the byob team and I had the incredible opportunity to go through MIT’s delta-v accelerator program in NYC. As I reflect on my time there and the immense progress we’ve made, I wanted to share the top three lessons that have fundamentally shaped our journey:

1. Ship Fast:

If it sort-of works, roll out. Acting swiftly >>> perfection. Getting solutions into the hands of users as quickly as possible drives iterative improvement.

2. Turning Down 'Good' Opportunities:

Learning to say no, despite tempting opportunities, was crucial. We often found ourselves tempted by the shiny object syndrome. Being intentional and focusing on what truly aligns with our vision led to more meaningful growth.

3. Do Things That Don't Scale:

Embracing manual, non-optimized processes early on was a game-changer. Seems counterintuitive, right? This approached allowed for a unique, personalized experience for early users, fast-tracked our thesis validation, deepened market understanding, fostered loyal customer base, and sparked early revenue—even before our final product was ready.

In Conclusion

The highlight of the program was pitching at delta-v’s demo day in Cambridge to 1,500+ attendees, followed by investor showcases in NYC, San Francisco, and Silicon Valley. Each step was vital in expanding our insights and the energy was exhilarating!

A big shoutout to Stephanie MacConnell, my fellow cohort founders in the trenches, and everyone at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship for your unwavering support. It was an unforgettable experience rich in learning, growth, and new friendships. 🌟

🔗 Curious about our journey and what's next for byob? Let's connect! Shoot me an email. 🚀