Why your first sales hire won't find product market fit

While the sales team can provide valuable feedback on customer needs and preferences, it is ultimately the CEO's responsibility to find product market fit. The CEO is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the company and ensuring that the company's products meet the needs of the market.

The CEO must work closely with various teams, including product development, marketing, and customer research, to determine the optimal product strategy. They must have a deep understanding of the market landscape and customer needs, which goes beyond the immediate needs of individual customers whom salespeople interact with.

The sales team can certainly provide valuable feedback to the CEO and other teams involved in product development, but their primary focus is on selling the product. Their feedback is limited to the immediate needs of individual customers and may not be representative of broader market needs.

Ultimately, finding product market fit requires a collaborative effort between various teams, but the responsibility for leading this effort falls to the CEO. The CEO must have a clear vision of the company's target market and product strategy, and they must ensure that the company is developing products that meet the needs of that market. While the sales team can provide input, the CEO must make strategic decisions based on a broader perspective that takes into account the entire market and customer landscape.

This is something I struggled with as the first sales hire at Fiddler Labs and gained valuable insights on how to make sure other founders do not repeat the same mistake.

Interested in learning more about how to find your product's market fit and bring in your initial revenue? Come find me :)