Scaling in startups is about more than just architecture. How does the product scale to new customers, implementations, or use-cases? Here are some quick tips from my experiences:
1. Solidify Your Vision:
Establish early (and refine as necessary) a clear vision for how your technology and product differentiate your business. Align with partners and clients to refine your product for the market. Clarify what is turn-key and configurable enhancements versus professional services work to maintain focus on what actually moves the product forward.
2. Focus on Product Scalability:
Always ask, "How does this [request, feature, change] scale our product?" Startups often begin with customized services to achieve quick business wins. Design solutions that can be launched quickly and repeatedly, and differentiate between turn-key solutions and custom services. Recognize that customizations which are architecturally scaleable are not equivalent to building a scaleable product.
3. Prioritize Extensibility:
Avoid overly tailored solutions for individual clients. Design systems that are easy to adapt for new use cases to prevent complexity and ensure scalability.