Market and Growth Mistakes

Mistake #13: Premature International Expansion

The Mistake: Expanding internationally before dominating the French market or achieving product-market fit.

Why It Happens: - Investor pressure - Competitor FOMO - Underestimating complexity - Overconfidence - Grass-is-greener thinking

Real Example: An edtech startup expanded to UK and Germany after reaching €1M ARR in France. Spread too thin, they lost focus and competitors took French market share. Retreated after burning €2M.

How to Avoid: - Dominate home market first - Validate expansion thesis - One market at a time - Local team requirement - Patient capital

Expansion Readiness Checklist: - [ ] Market leadership in France - [ ] Repeatable sales process - [ ] Positive unit economics - [ ] Available capital (18+ months) - [ ] Senior team bandwidth

Mistake #14: Ignoring B2G Opportunities

The Mistake: Overlooking government and public sector as potential customers in France.

Missed Opportunity: - Large, stable contracts - Reference customer value - Less competition - Innovation-friendly policies - Predictable revenue

Real Example: A cybersecurity startup focused only on private sector for 3 years. Competitor won €5M government contract, used reference to dominate market.

How to Avoid: - Understand public procurement - Build government relations - Participate in tenders - Get necessary certifications - Patience for sales cycles

B2G Success Factors: 1. Security certifications 2. French language support 3. Local data storage 4. Strong references 5. Procurement expertise

Mistake #15: Building in Isolation

The Mistake: Not engaging with the French startup ecosystem, missing valuable connections and support.

Consequences: - Missed funding opportunities - No peer learning - Weak talent pipeline - Limited partnerships - Reduced visibility

How to Avoid: - Join La French Tech - Attend ecosystem events - Host meetups - Contribute to community - Build relationships

Ecosystem Engagement Plan: - Weekly: One coffee with peer/advisor - Monthly: Attend relevant meetup - Quarterly: Speak at event - Annually: Major conference participation