Commerce Today

Episode 143: From Startup to Scale: The Playbook for Your First $10M

September 30th, 2025  |  20 mins 20 secs

critical hires, customer obsession, early-stage growth, ecommerce growth, ecommerce growth playbook, founders, high-growth small businesses, leadership, product-market fit, scalable engine, scaling to 10 million, startup to mid-market, sustainable success, tech debt

Many ecommerce leaders feel like they're drowning in the chaos of early-stage growth, juggling everything from marketing to fulfillment. But the journey from zero to your first $10 million isn't about doing more; it's about doing the right things. This episode adapts the core principles from The Ecommerce Growth Playbook for founders and leaders of high-growth small businesses. Discover how to apply the three levers of breakout growth—Customer Obsession, a Scalable Engine, and Leadership—to build a foundation that won't crack as you scale. Learn how to find product-market fit, avoid crippling tech debt early on, and make your first critical hires. This is your playbook for turning startup hustle into sustainable, mid-market success.