🔐 The New Moats Aren’t What You Think

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For decades, startups chased “moats” by building defensible technology—patents, proprietary code, complex infrastructure. But today? That’s not enough. In 2025, the strongest moat isn’t what you build. It’s how you reach people.

TODAY’S TIP

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Why Reach Outranks Features

Distribution has become the differentiator. You can have the slickest product in the world, but if no one knows about it—or worse, no one can access it easily—it won’t matter. On the flip side, creators and founders who understand distribution can win fast, even with simple products.

Think about how many no-code tools, browser extensions, and simple SaaS platforms have taken off purely because they nailed distribution: strong social presence, smart SEO, affiliate loops, or built-in virality. Their strength isn’t just in the product—it’s in getting the product seen.

And it’s not just B2C. Even in enterprise, relationships, niche communities, and smart content funnels can do more for growth than endless product tweaks. A competitor might clone your feature—but they can’t clone the audience you’ve built, or the trust you’ve earned.

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The shift is especially clear in how new products launch. Founders are becoming creators, leaning into Twitter, Substack, LinkedIn, and YouTube to build leverage before shipping. They’re building in public, not just for transparency—but to seed early distribution. That’s the moat.

Yes, tech matters. But tech alone is rarely defensible anymore. If something works, it gets copied—fast. What doesn’t get copied as easily is your brand, your reach, your connection to your users.

So if you're building a product, don’t just ask: "What makes this unique?" Ask: “How will people find it? How will they care?” Distribution answers both. It's your visibility, your voice, your momentum. Build that early.

Because in this landscape, the winners aren’t always the best builders—they’re the best spreaders.

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