Remember my post about how startups need to focus on building a niche and not jump around in their early stages? What I was speaking to was a specific instance at my former startup: a client wanted an on-premise deployment of our SaaS application. I was particularly shocked when our CEO wanted to move forward with this and re-develop a version of our software for this big brand name client who wanted to merely pilot our product. Beyond the fact that this wasn’t even a guaranteed revenue opportunity, I thought it was foolish to launch a new version of our still infant product within just 6 months of launch. A SaaS product is what it is. Customers wanting otherwise should not be part of the sales pipeline. The benefit of having 1 uniform product which is deployed to numerous clients and individuals all at once is especially more important to a new product which has not worked out all of its kinks. It also helps economize costs over a greater base of users, not just one client. I recently came across this deck from Bessemer Venture Partners which echoes the same advice (#7). 
Stick It To ‘Em
