The 7 Growth Hacks That Will Take Your Startup to the Next Level

Most startup advice is recycled fluff.

You’ve probably read countless articles promising “game-changing” growth strategies, only to find the same tired suggestions about social media marketing and SEO optimization.

After analyzing hundreds of successful startups and interviewing dozens of founders, here are the seven unconventional but proven growth hacks that separate thriving startups from those that fade into obscurity.

1. The “Inverted Funnel” Approach

Traditional marketing funnels start wide and narrow down. Smart startups are flipping this model on its head. Instead of casting a wide net, they’re starting with a highly specific niche and expanding outward only after dominating that space.

Consider how Spotify initially targeted college students in Sweden before expanding globally.

They didn’t try to be everything to everyone — they became invaluable to a select few first.

2. The “Borrowed Authority” Strategy

Here’s what most founders miss: you don’t need to build credibility from scratch. The fastest-growing startups are piggybacking on established platforms’ authority.