The Growth Engine

Why Customers Don’t Care (The Seek & Solve Test Every Startup Misses)

Most founders think they have a conversion problem.So they optimise:* pricing* onboarding* landing pages* ads* funnels* featuresBut what if the real issue is deeper?In this episode of The Growth Engine, Mike Parsons breaks down the “Seek & Solve Test” — a simple but powerful framework to determine whether your startup is solving a real, urgent, valuable problem.Because if customers aren’t actively seeking solutions and already trying to solve the problem, no amount of marketing, UX tweaks, or funnel optimisation will create sustainable growth.You’ll learn:* Why customers don’t buy* The difference between interest and urgency* How to validate Problem-Solution Fit* Why spreadsheets and workarounds are powerful market signals* The hidden reason most funnels fail* How great startups identify real demand before scaling* Why “nice-to-have” products struggle to convert* The difference between Problem-Solution Fit, Product-Market Fit, and Business Model FitMike also shares practical ways to test demand using:* customer interviews* surveys* task-based testing* prototypes* behavioural evidence from real usersThis episode is for:* founders* SaaS startups* growth marketers* RevOps leaders* product teams* consultants* B2B growth operatorsKey Frameworks:→ Seek + Solve→ Pay + Stay→ Choose + RenewIf you’re struggling with low conversion, slow sales cycles, weak retention, or unclear positioning, this episode will help you identify whether the real issue is your funnel… or the problem itself.Subscribe for weekly episodes on:* AI-powered growth systems* GTM strategy* product positioning* demand generation* RevOps* startup growth* scalable marketing systemsHosted by Mike Parsons, founder of Apollo Advisors, growth strategist, and advisor to startups and scale-ups globally.🌐 Apollo Advisors#StartupGrowth #ProductMarketFit #B2BSaaS #GrowthMarketing #CustomerResearch #Founders #GTM #RevOps #SaaSGrowth #Entrepreneurship

Why Customers Don’t Buy (And the Simple Test You’re Missing)

Why Customers Don’t Buy (And the Simple Test You’re Missing)Customers aren’t buying.And most founders think it’s because of:– the product– the pricing– the marketingIt’s not.👉 The real reason is simpler — and harder to admit:the problem isn’t strong enough.In this episode of The Growth Engine, Mike Parsons breaks down the critical gate most founders skip:Seek → SolveBefore product–market fit… before scaling… before growth systems…You need to answer two questions:Are customers actively looking for a solution? (Seek)Are they already trying to fix it? (Solve)If the answer is no — you don’t have a buying market.What you’ll learn:Why “that’s interesting” kills startupsThe difference between interest vs urgencyHow to spot real buying behaviour (not opinions)The hidden signals of strong demandThe red flags that mean your product won’t sellA simple validation test you can run this weekThe core insight:If they’re not already trying to solve it…👉 they’re not going to buy it.Where this fits:This episode sits at the foundation of the Growth Engine:Seek → Solve → Pay → Stay → Choose → RenewGet the first step wrong — everything downstream breaks.Who this is for:Founders pre–product market fitGTM and growth leadersRevOps teams building pipeline systemsAnyone tired of guessing what customers want🎯 Final takeaway:No seek → no problemNo solve → no urgencyNo urgency → no salesIf you want to build a predictable growth engine, this is where it starts.

4 Things That Make Your Startup Pitch Fundable (After 400+ Reviews)

After reviewing 400+ startup pitch decks as part of global competitions, one pattern became clear: Most founders are pitching the wrong thing. They talk about product features… But investors are listening for something completely different. In this video, I break down the 4 things that actually make a startup pitch fundable — based on real patterns seen across hundreds of founders. You’ll learn: * Why thinking global from day one changes investor confidence * What “real” technology differentiation actually means (beyond AI buzzwords) * How to show traction without revenue (and still get taken seriously) * Why you must tell a business story — not a product story If you’re raising capital, entering pitch competitions, or refining your deck — this will reset how you think about pitching. Key takeaway: Investors don’t fund features. They fund businesses that can capture value. 👍 Like, subscribe, and share if you’re building a startup 💬 Comment: What’s the hardest part of your pitch right now?

Why Most Startup GTMs Fail (And the 5 Things to Fix It)

Most startup go-to-markets don’t fail because of bad products.They fail because founders try to do too much, too early — with no system.In this episode of The Growth Engine, Mike Parsons breaks down why GTMs fall apart — and how to fix it with a simple, repeatable framework.After working with early-stage founders across Adelaide, Sydney, and globally, one pattern keeps showing up:➡️ Build in isolation➡️ Launch in chaos➡️ Learn nothingThis is the black hole → explosion → no signal problem.And it’s killing your growth.The fix: The Rule of OneInstead of doing everything, do this:• One market• One segment• One persona• One value proposition• One funnelThis is how you turn your GTM from a one-off launch into a predictable growth engine.In this video, you’ll learn:• Why most startup GTMs fail (and why nobody talks about it)• The biggest mistake founders make after building their product• How to focus your GTM without limiting your growth• How to create signal instead of noise• How to build a system that improves every sprintIf your GTM feels messy, inconsistent, or unpredictable — this will reset how you think about growth.👍 Like, subscribe, and share if you’re building a startup💬 Drop a comment: What’s been your biggest GTM challenge?#startup #gtm #growth #b2b #founders #marketing #saas #revops #entrepreneurship

Before You Raise Funding: 10 Legal & Financial Fixes Every Startup Needs

Before You Raise Funding: 10 Legal & Financial Fixes Every Startup NeedsRaising startup funding isn’t just about traction or pitch decks. Investors, acquirers, and enterprise customers will look deep into your legal structure and financial records. If those documents don’t align, confidence in the business quickly disappears.In this episode, Mike from Apollo walks through the 10 legal and financial foundations every startup should have before raising funding. These are the documents that help founders avoid disputes, pass investor due diligence, and build businesses that are truly ready to scale.This isn’t legal or accounting advice. It’s a founder’s perspective after 30 years of building startups, raising capital, and working through real transactions across the US, Europe, and Asia.You’ll learn:• The 5 trigger events that expose weaknesses in startups• The 5 legal documents every founder should have• The 5 financial foundations investors expect• How to think about due diligence before investors arrive• Why legal and financial documents must align with each other• How to move your company from 0% to 100% funding readinessThe 5 Events That Trigger Startup ProblemsThese moments force investors, partners, or acquirers to inspect your company closely:Raising venture fundingA founder leaving the companyHiring early employees and issuing equityLanding large enterprise customersReceiving an acquisition or merger offerIf your legal and financial documents aren’t clear when these events happen, problems surface quickly.The 5 Legal Documents Startups Need• Founders Agreement• Shareholders Agreement• Company Constitution / Bylaws• IP Assignment Agreements• Cap Table RecordsThese documents protect ownership, clarify control, and ensure the company actually owns the intellectual property it claims.The 5 Financial Foundations Startups Need• Monthly Financial Statements• Revenue Documentation• Expense Policy• Burn & Runway Analysis• Financial ModelThese create financial clarity so founders, investors, and partners can trust the numbers behind the business.Why This MattersMost startups fail investor due diligence not because the product is weak, but because legal ownership and financial records don’t match the story founders are telling.When legal agreements, financial statements, and bank transactions align, investors see a company that is well-run, disciplined, and investable.ResourcesExplore founder tools and startup frameworks:https://apolloadvisor.comTimestamps0:00 Introduction1:40 The 5 trigger events startups face7:20 Legal documents founders need16:00 Financial foundations investors expect26:30 Burn rate, runway and financial clarity31:10 Financial modeling and unit economics36:20 Reaching 100% startup funding readiness