Introduction: The Perils of Chasing New Models
Stop chasing new models and master the one that works. This is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned, and perhaps you have too from first-hand experience. One month, it’s SaaS. The next, it’s a services layer. Then it’s licensing. Maybe even AI for fans. This week, it’s B2B. The next week, it’s “let’s go D2C, just to test.” From the outside, it appears like agility, but on the inside? It’s chaos. I’ve witnessed it countless times.
A startup finally gains some traction, the kind that could be scaled. Instead of doubling down, they pivot. Again. Slowly, painfully, they burn the very momentum they labored so hard to build.
My Experience: Lessons from HYPE
The Search for the Right Model
At HYPE, when we were just beginning, our involvement was extensive. Startups, brands, investors, federations—everyone seemed like potential partners. The question we constantly asked ourselves was: “What’s the right model to focus on?”
It wasn’t just about profitability, but about building something sustainable, meaningful, and long-term. Something that truly matters. It took time, exploration, and debate, but eventually, one truth became clear: Startups were our real customers. The more value we provided them, the more deeply we served them, the stronger everything else became.
Brands wanted in. Investors leaned forward. The entire ecosystem strengthened. Not because we were everywhere, but because we were focused.
This clarity transformed everything—not just our growth, but our peace of mind.
Understanding Your Voice
The Dangers of Innovation for Innovation’s Sake
If you’re a founder, you’ve likely heard this: “This is good… but what else can we try?” “Maybe a new product.” “Maybe a new market.” “Let’s launch something fresh, just in case.”
That voice may sound like innovation, but it’s not. It’s fear, dressed up as strategy. Fear of missing out. Fear of going all-in and being wrong. Fear of standing still while the world seems to be sprinting.
But here’s the brutal truth: Startups don’t die from a lack of ideas. They die from a lack of focus.
The Real Cost of Constant Switching
The Three Hidden Costs
Every time you switch models prematurely, you pay for it, whether you realize it now or later. Here are the three costs I see most frequently:
- You Lose Time: Each pivot resets the clock. You trade six months of compounding for six months of re-learning. That’s not strategy. That’s stall.
- You Burn Out Your Team: When the target keeps moving, no one can build momentum. People lose clarity, lose energy, and eventually, lose faith.
- You Miss the Compounding Curve: Great businesses don’t grow linearly. They compound. Revenue, reputation, retention—all improve over time. But only if you stay long enough in one game to let that happen.
The Power of Mastery
Making Your Model World-Class
What if, instead of asking: “What else can we do?” you started asking: “How do we make this unstoppable?”
This means turning every win into a playbook, measuring every step until it becomes boringly consistent, repeating your pitch until it sells in its sleep, and saying no to distractions—even the attractive ones. Because once you focus on one engine and build it properly, real magic happens.
Margins rise, team clarity sharpens, the story gets tighter, and suddenly, you’re not just surviving; you’re scaling.
Redefining Innovation
Innovation ≠ New
Let’s rewire something in the founder’s mindset: Innovation doesn’t always mean something new. Sometimes it means more—more refined, more efficient, more reputable, and more money in the bank.
The startups that win big don’t chase ten models. They make one model undeniable.
Reflect and Decide
Ask Yourself Right Now
Before you open that new whiteboard, that new tab, that new Notion page, ask yourself: Do I already have something that works, and have I mastered it yet? If the answer is even halfway “yes,” your next move isn’t reinvention. It’s depth.
Conclusion: Commitment is Key
The Power of Going All-In
The founders who win aren’t necessarily the most creative. They’re the most committed—committed to one thing, one market, one value proposition, one model, all the way through. You don’t need a new direction; you need full, fearless execution of the one that already works. So pause. Zoom out. What if your next breakthrough isn’t a pivot? What if it’s finally going all-in?
Quick opportunity: One of the Premier League clubs we’re collaborating with is currently exploring pilot partnerships with a select group of startups. If this sounds like something you want to explore, feel free to apply below: Apply here (in the worst case, you’ll get selected).
With love for sports and innovation,
CEO, HYPE Sports Innovation
