What are some examples of successful atomic networks?

Some examples of successful atomic networks include Facebook and Uber. Facebook started as a small network at Harvard University and then expanded over time to eventually become a global platform. Similarly, Uber's early atomic networks were not entire cities like San Francisco, but specific locations and times, such as '5pm at the Caltrain Station at 5th and King Street'. These examples show how businesses can start with a small, focused network and gradually expand to larger networks.

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To overcome the Cold Start Problem, businesses tend to start with a single network—what Chen calls an 'atomic network'. This is perhaps the most crucial idea in the book. Networked products tend to start small, in a single city, college campus, or in small beta tests at individual companies—like when Facebook launched at Harvard University. "Only once they nail it in a smaller network do they build up over time to eventually conquer the world," Chen writes. Moreover, appropriate atomic networks are often smaller than entrepreneurs think. Uber's early atomic networks were not cities like San Francisco; '5pm at the Caltrain Station at 5th and King Street' is more accurate.

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The Cold Start Problem

When a networked product launches, it faces a chicken-and-egg problem: people need to use it for it to be worth anything. So how do you start the very...

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