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I've heard alot from this forum about traction. I tried to look at the meaning in dictionary, but I somehow can not relate it with startup. So what does it mean by traction and how does that relate with how you can get funding?

edited Nov 2 at 10:17

asked Oct 30 at 6:07

jpartogi
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Hendro Wijaya · Accepted Answer · 2009-10-30 07:26:05Z UTC

It depends on the nature of your business. Generally, it begins with asking yourself 'what is the fundamental assumptions of my business?' If that fundamental assumption is wrong, then, everything else become irrelevant.

Example: if your business is an expense-tracking software, then, the traction might be how much expenses are being tracked. How many users are using it on regular basis etc.

If there are 2000 users visiting the site, but, no one is recording their expenses, then, i wouldn't count it as a useful traction. That doesn't prove the fundamental of your business.

YouTube might be tracking how many videos are being uploaded and played per users. Facebook might be tracking how long each user spend on the site. how many activities are being done.

It doesn't have to be huge number initially. It just good enough to prove that you have something genuinely valuable and people want it.

Hope that helps.

Neil Davidson · Answer 2 · 2009-10-30 07:36:31Z UTC

It just means when what you're doing starts to have effect. For example, "getting traction in the market" or "your product gaining traction" means "your customers getting aware / buying your product"

I guess the metaphor is about when your wheels stop spinning uselessly, connect with whatever they're meant to connect with and start doing real work.

ArVee · Answer 3 · 2009-10-30 07:39:46Z UTC

To "get traction" means to gain some momentum in a way that is meaningful to your business model. It is a very generic term, but it means you are beginning to see some success from your efforts. Important to note that once you have some momentum, the term is less applicable.

Winfield · Answer 4 · 2009-11-03 00:11:28Z UTC

"Traction" usually means proving the business.

Startups are a scientific endeavor to find both a viable market and product, with many experiments to be done before you can do the real work of building something concrete.

Traction usually means having enough successful experiments to prove the business and the product idea. Now the work you are doing is actively advancing you toward success, not establishing general direction.

Lonnie Sciambi · Answer 5 · 2009-11-03 14:56:47Z UTC

Everybody uses that term. What it really means is that the business has gotten out of its early building phase and is now in its early operational phase. Short and sweet - traction is ongoing revenue generation. That is, multiple customers buying your product with some consistency over some short period of time (say, six months). Then you have traction in the market. Once you have traction, the next thing you need to prove is sustainability, which is extending your traction over a longer period of time.

Hope this helps.

Lonnie Sciambi http://theentrepreneursyoda.blogspot.com

What does traction really mean ?

5 Answers