I ve seen founders spend weeks (sometimes months) polishing logos, color palettes, and taglines before they ve written a single line of code or spoken to a customer.
On the other hand, I ve also seen startups whose brand presence got them credibility, early press, and investor meetings even before launch.
It s practically gospel, especially if you want to raise money.
But I ve met plenty of founders who started solo and stayed that way. Some thrived. Some flamed out. Some figured out how to build a support system around them without giving away half the company.
SaaS founders talk about moats: network effects, tech IP, etc. But what about service businesses? How do you build a moat when anyone can claim they do what you do?
If you're running a studio, agency, or consulting firm, what makes your offer defensible long-term?
