Category: Marketplaces
-
Define the core interaction and protect it from feature sprawl
Platforms win by strengthening one repeatable interaction Platforms do not create value simply by attracting users. They create value by enabling a repeatable interaction that leaves both sides better off and makes the next interaction more likely. In marketplace strategy, that interaction is the atomic unit of advantage. Everything else—brand, traffic, content, AI, payments, reviews,…
-
From pipeline thinking to platform thinking
The winning model in waterfront travel is not control of assets, but coordination of interactions In travel, many companies still operate with a pipeline mindset. They optimize what they control, improve what they own, and measure success by the efficiency with which inventory moves through a funnel. That model works when the business owns the…
-
Solving the Marketplace Cold-Start Problem: A Product Marketing Playbook for Two-Sided Platforms
How Lake.com activated supply through partner-led growth—and what it reveals about breaking the chicken-and-egg cycle The Idea in Brief Every entrepreneur building a two-sided marketplace confronts the same existential dilemma. Travelers won’t book accommodations on a platform with limited inventory. Property owners won’t list their homes on a platform with no traffic. It’s the business…
-
Overcoming Technical Speed Bumps to Reach the Next Stage of Growth
In every entrepreneurial journey, there are familiar stages—ideation, prototype, beta release, product launch, product-market fit, and, if all goes well, scaling toward maturity. Each stage brings its own set of challenges, and each requires a different kind of leadership, decision-making, and adaptability. At Lake, we’ve recently passed a pivotal milestone: product-market fit. We’ve built a…