🔥 Customer Acquisition, Supercharged...

Hi there,

From data-driven culture to global brand identities, powerful cultures to using ecosystems to drive your innovation – we’re here to add value at every stage of your innovation journey:

1. Startup Phase

2. Growth Phase

3. Scale/Sale Phase

Customer Acquisition Strategies That Won't Break the Bank

To grow without spending a fortune, focus on real human connection. In this case study of a pet food supplier’s rise to a $4B company, growth strategist Marshall Hargrave shows how: 1) simple, thoughtful gestures like handwritten notes help customers feel seen, 2) support teams who solve problems creatively can turn service into a sales channel, and 3) small surprises spark loyalty and word-of-mouth. The best customer acquisition strategies aren’t always costly — they’re personal.

Identify and Track Your North Star Metric

A good North Star Metric shows how your product delivers real value, not just how many users sign up. Former HubSpot VP Brian Balfour advises here: 1) start by pinpointing the moment users experience your product’s value, 2) focus on what users get (output), not just what they do (input), and 3) make sure your metric tracks engagement over time, not just one-time actions. This helps you build for long-term growth, not just early hype.

Building a Data-Driven Culture From Day One

Big numbers might look good on a slide, but only real data drives growth. Marketing leaders Adrianna Hosford and Lauren Burke suggest in this video: 1) track what actually leads to revenue, not just busywork, 2) use tools that show how customers really find and buy from you, and 3) give everyone on the team access to the same data and language, so decisions are aligned. A shared understanding of the numbers builds a stronger company.

Are you in the start phase? Have questions? Hit reply and let us know how we can help.

Software Localisation For International Growth

Going global isn’t just about translating your app. It’s about making users feel at home. As experts from Zendesk and AppsFlyer explain here, great localisation means: 1) building translation into your dev process from the start, not treating it like a final step, 2) adjusting your product to local customs, like date formats, color meanings, and how people use software, and 3) tracking how each market responds so you can improve over time. Winning international products don’t just change the language; they rebuild the experience for each country.

Stand Out in a Crowded Market (Without Lowering Price)

You don’t need to drop your prices to stand out. As Hinge Marketing’s framework shows, you can rise above the noise by: 1) owning a niche your competitors can’t easily copy, 2) sharing a strong point of view that challenges the status quo and builds authority, and 3) making sure every message, across all channels, reinforces your unique value. When your positioning is clear and compelling, price becomes a secondary concern; buyers focus on how fast they can get started.

Building a Brand Identity That Scales Across Borders

To build a brand that works everywhere, you need to balance consistency with local relevance. E-commerce expert Mike Begg recommends here: 1) following the 60/40 rule: keep 60% of your brand the same globally, adapt 40% for local markets, 2) research what parts of your brand connect with different cultures, and 3) create flexible brand guidelines that allow local teams to tailor the message without losing the core identity. The best global brands don’t copy-paste; they flex smartly to stay both global and local.

Need help growing faster? Maybe it's augmenting your team, or perhaps coffee with one of our growth experts — either way, hit reply and let’s find your solution.

Strategic Approach to Building a 100-Year Brand

To build a brand that lasts generations, you need to think in decades, not quarters. In this vision-focused interview, Gymshark founder Ben Francis shares how to create long-term brand strength by: 1) defining a mission that goes beyond making money, so your brand stays relevant even as products change, 2) making decisions that protect your brand’s future, even if it means slower short-term wins, and 3) preserving your founding story and values in a way that new leaders can carry forward. Companies that last 100 years think differently about time.

Leveraging External Ecosystems to Accelerate R&D

The fastest innovators don’t build everything themselves, they open up. As Henry Chesbrough, creator of the “Open Innovation” model, explains here: 1) invite outside ideas into your R&D process by breaking down barriers, 2) run programs like innovation contests, venture arms, and developer platforms to access external talent, and 3) build IP systems that encourage collaboration without losing control. The best companies don’t just invent, they create ecosystems where innovation can thrive.

Turning Your Founder's Vision into Long-Term Culture

As your team grows, culture has to move from instinct to intent. In this case study, scale-stage culture work included: 1) collecting input through company-wide surveys and sessions to find out what values really matter, 2) shaping the culture statement with both execs and employees so it reflects the company’s future, not just the founder’s past, and 3) embedding those values into hiring, reviews, and day-to-day ops. A strong culture isn’t just felt, it’s designed, defined and reinforced.

Want to scale faster? We have people who are comfortable with the discomfort of the scale phase. Hit reply and let us know how we can augment your team.

Have your say…

What Happened at Innovator’s Den

The verdict? SA’s not just ready for AI — we’re coming for it.

If you weren’t at Innovators Den, it was absolutely electric.

A room full of builders and big thinkers, and zero time for buzzwords. Our panel came in swinging — challenging the hype, unpacking what AI really means for SA, and laying down the gauntlet: we can’t just consume AI — we need to build with it.

The breakouts got practical. The ideas got loud. The energy? Unreal.

From Drum Cafe to liquid nitrogen ice cream, the vibe was undeniable.

Missed it? No worries. We’re coming to JHB next.

More details coming soon.

Hit reply if you think we’ve hit or missed the mark, tell us what you’d like to see or hear more of, and, just in general, what would really add value to your journey…

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