FiredUp! - The Startup Marketing Podcast

How to Create a Category with Kashif Mahbub

December 21, 2023 Firebrand Episode 15
How to Create a Category with Kashif Mahbub
FiredUp! - The Startup Marketing Podcast
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FiredUp! - The Startup Marketing Podcast
How to Create a Category with Kashif Mahbub
Dec 21, 2023 Episode 15
Firebrand

So many startups share the common dream of starting their own category and it's not hard to see why. It sounds so much more appealing to strike out on your own and define a new space instead of fighting for attention in a crowded field. But, is category creation all it's cracked up to be? Today’s guest, Kashif Mahbub has experience in creating multiple categories for different startups and is here to share some insight on creating a new category vs. slotting into an existing one. This week, episode 15 of the FiredUp! podcast is about how to create a category.  


Download the Multiplier Marketing Megapack today. Exclusive offer for all our listeners — get all our Startup Guides in one go! Over 50 pages of advanced tips and advice that dive deep into content marketing, search advertising, and marketing attribution.


In this episode of the FiredUp! podcast, Kashif Mahbub shares what is (and alternatively, is not) category creation and why it might be worth it for certain startups to go through the expensive and sometimes painful process of creating a category of their own. 


Kashif Mahbub is the CMO at the customer experience automation company, Ushur. He has been instrumental in creating 3 categories for startups. Kashif is an award-winning marketer, most recently ranked in the top 30 most influential CMO in B2B by Finite. In a career spanning 20 years, Kashif has brought industry-defining products to a global market, built product and marketing teams, as well as functions from the ground up. He is also an advisor, helping tech startups establish brands that punch above their weight. 


Kashif, Morgan, and Chris discuss:

  • Why startups are willing to take the time and effort necessary to create a category.
  • The first steps essential in category creation. 
  • Sticking to your company’s principles and values in the face of competition, keeping the focus on the solution for your customer. 
  • Offering unique value in an existing category vs. creating a category of your own. 

Category creation is not a campaign, but rather the DNA of a company. 


Thank you for listening! Tune in to all the episodes for practical tips on crushing your startup marketing goals. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways!


CONNECT WITH KASHIF MAHBUB:

LinkedIn 

Ushur


CONNECT WITH FIREBRAND:

Firebrand is a startup marketing agency. We help tech startups secure outsized marketing outcomes on their path to growth.

Facebook

LinkedIn

X (Formerly Twitter)

Work with Firebrand



LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Send us a Text Message.

Show Notes Chapter Markers

So many startups share the common dream of starting their own category and it's not hard to see why. It sounds so much more appealing to strike out on your own and define a new space instead of fighting for attention in a crowded field. But, is category creation all it's cracked up to be? Today’s guest, Kashif Mahbub has experience in creating multiple categories for different startups and is here to share some insight on creating a new category vs. slotting into an existing one. This week, episode 15 of the FiredUp! podcast is about how to create a category.  


Download the Multiplier Marketing Megapack today. Exclusive offer for all our listeners — get all our Startup Guides in one go! Over 50 pages of advanced tips and advice that dive deep into content marketing, search advertising, and marketing attribution.


In this episode of the FiredUp! podcast, Kashif Mahbub shares what is (and alternatively, is not) category creation and why it might be worth it for certain startups to go through the expensive and sometimes painful process of creating a category of their own. 


Kashif Mahbub is the CMO at the customer experience automation company, Ushur. He has been instrumental in creating 3 categories for startups. Kashif is an award-winning marketer, most recently ranked in the top 30 most influential CMO in B2B by Finite. In a career spanning 20 years, Kashif has brought industry-defining products to a global market, built product and marketing teams, as well as functions from the ground up. He is also an advisor, helping tech startups establish brands that punch above their weight. 


Kashif, Morgan, and Chris discuss:

  • Why startups are willing to take the time and effort necessary to create a category.
  • The first steps essential in category creation. 
  • Sticking to your company’s principles and values in the face of competition, keeping the focus on the solution for your customer. 
  • Offering unique value in an existing category vs. creating a category of your own. 

Category creation is not a campaign, but rather the DNA of a company. 


Thank you for listening! Tune in to all the episodes for practical tips on crushing your startup marketing goals. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways!


CONNECT WITH KASHIF MAHBUB:

LinkedIn 

Ushur


CONNECT WITH FIREBRAND:

Firebrand is a startup marketing agency. We help tech startups secure outsized marketing outcomes on their path to growth.

Facebook

LinkedIn

X (Formerly Twitter)

Work with Firebrand



LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Send us a Text Message.

How to Create a Category with Kashif Mahbub
Category creation requirements to be successful
Examples of successful category creation
Conflict is inevitable when introducing a new category
Making category creation a part of a company's DNA
Overcoming the challenges of being a new player in a crowded field
Focusing on leveraging existing strengths and values
The importance of staying ahead of new technologies
Smart People, Dumb Questions Segment
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