Jason M. Lemkin argues that large customers at startups should have direct access to the CEO to influence product roadmaps. This access is rare with big vendors like SAP and represents a core advantage of buying from early-stage companies.
Sometimes startups will squirm a little bit. They want you to think they're bigger than they are. But it's a good question. That's a good thing for both sides. And if you're one of their 10 largest customers or 20, you should be able to get the CEO on Zoom, on email whenever you want. Not just to have your questions answered, not just to complain about feature gaps. Right. But actually to be part of that roadmap, that journey. And that's the special part is getting the access to the CEO. It's so special and it's special for the founders and that's how you can get things built, done, achieved for your own organization. You could never get from a large vendor. I think that's part of the social contract that's missed is getting to that CEO. You can never get the CEO of SAP or anyone on the phone unless you're a huge customer. But you should get that with the startup.
That's an important aspect, is direct access to the CEO.
