Founders

(1/7) Launching a token too early is one of the most common mistakes in web3 – it can be fatal for projects.

So, how do you get ready to launch? 

@jasonr and I wrote about 5 things you can do before taking the leap. 

Here’s a quick guide 🧵

Operating Partner & Head of Crypto Startup School 
@a16zcrypto. 25 years working on frontier tech. 2X CEO, 4 exits & most recently VP Subscriptions at Google.

(1/7) Launching a token too early is one of the most common mistakes in web3 – it can be fatal for projects.

So, how do you get ready to launch? 

@jasonr and I wrote about 5 things you can do before taking the leap. 

Here’s a quick guide 🧵

https://t.co/V2SoOhOliu

2/ 🎯 Product-Market Fit:

PMF is the most important focus for any new project or product.

Tokens don’t fix product issues – they may attract users, but they won’t make them stick around. And fixing product issues post-launch is exceedingly complex.

Here are some PMF strategies:

Trying to solve more problems than I cause @a16zcrypto

https://linktr.ee/milesjennings

3/ 🎇 Plan of Decentralization:

True decentralization is a journey, not a destination. 

Before launching, have a plan that maps out how your project will become more decentralized over time. 

Start here:

4/ 💹 Token Economic Model:

Tokens aren't magic beans. Projects need a sustainable model grounded in unit economics.

While network growth should be a key focus in early innings, there’s a cost to token incentives. Eventually tokens need to accrue value.

5/ 🏛️ Organizational Structure:

Your org structure will have a significant influence over your project’s ultimate success, and define how it operates well into the future. 

There’s no one sized fits all approach, and planning can take months. Get started early.

6/ 🏃‍♀️Operational Readiness:

It’s easy to skip the “how” in the rush to ship a token. Get ahead of operational to-do’s, from funding and custodians to employee incentives to communications strategies.

Putting all of these mechanisms in motion can take longer than you’d expect:

(7/7) To sum it up, while the FOMO of token launches can be alluring, moving too fast is a mistake. 

There are no one-size-fits-all solutions, so take your time and give your token the launch it deserves.

See our post for more ways to get ready:

(7/7) To sum it up, while the FOMO of token launches can be alluring, moving too fast is a mistake. 

There are no one-size-fits-all solutions, so take your time and give your token the launch it deserves.

See our post for more ways to get ready:
https://t.co/V2SoOhOliu

3/ 🎇 Plan of Decentralization:

True decentralization is a journey, not a destination. 

Before launching, have a plan that maps out how your project will become more decentralized over time. 

Start here:
https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/decentralization-factors-web3-protocols-tables/