ENTREPRENEURSHIPMonths to result

Barriers to Entry

Protect your startup

Problem it solves

business growth stalls

Best for

Startups that want to protect their market share

Not ideal for

Startups that are not competitive

Overview

Why this framework exists

The essay discusses the importance of creating barriers to entry to protect a startup's market share. The author argues that small companies can use technology to create barriers to entry, making it difficult for big companies to compete.

Core principles

3 total
  1. Small companies can use technology to create barriers to entry.
  2. Barriers to entry can protect a startup's market share.
  3. Big companies are often slow to adapt to new technologies.

Steps

3 steps
  1. Identify potential competitors
    Find out who your potential competitors are and what they are doing.
    Pro tipLook for companies that are trying to solve the same problem as you.
    WarningBe prepared to adapt to changing circumstances and competitor strategies.
  2. Create a barrier to entry
    Use technology to create a barrier to entry that makes it difficult for competitors to enter your market.
    Pro tipFocus on creating a unique solution that is difficult to replicate.
    WarningBe prepared to iterate and refine your solution.
  3. Protect your market share
    Use the barrier to entry to protect your market share and prevent competitors from entering your market.
    Pro tipFocus on creating value for users and differentiating yourself from competitors.
    WarningBe prepared to adapt to changing circumstances and competitor strategies.

Checklist

Saved in your browser

Examples

1 cases
Viaweb

Viaweb created a barrier to entry by developing a unique software solution that was difficult for competitors to replicate.

OutcomeViaweb was able to protect its market share and prevent competitors from entering its market.

Common mistakes

2 traps
Not creating a barrier to entry
If you're not creating a barrier to entry, you're leaving your market share vulnerable to competitors.
Not protecting your market share
If you're not protecting your market share, you're allowing competitors to enter your market and take away your customers.

Origin story

How this framework came to be

The concept of barriers to entry is rooted in the idea that small companies can use technology to create advantages that big companies cannot easily replicate.

Source

Traced to primary
Source · ESSAY
How to Make Wealth
Paul Graham · 2024
Open source →