Every project must target 70%+ gross margins, or else be treated as a free/community play. Cash burn is capped at $2k before revenue shows up.
02
60-Day Proof
Every new build has 60 days to prove traction with paying customers, subscribers, or a growing list. If it fails, archive it as content. Nothing is wasted.
03
Start Small, Serve Subcultures
Launch the smallest viable version and design it for a specific overlooked group. Never build for "everyone."
04
Build + Teach Together
Every product ships with a guide, survival manual, or write-up explaining how it works and how to replicate it. Documentation is part of the product.
05
People Over Titles
Don't hire until there's customer revenue. When you do, choose diverse, nontraditional builders who can ship something solo in 30 days. Pay with profit-sharing, not just salary.
06
Content Is a Core Product
At least 20% of everyone's time goes into publishing. Quantify it: two pieces per person per week, repurposed across formats. Content must teach, provoke, or entertain, and raw beats polished.
07
AI Fluency Required
Everyone must be able to use AI tools to build, test, and write. AI is a collaborator, not a crutch—human checkpoints review final outputs. Shared prompt libraries and workflows make AI leverage scaleable.
08
Own Your Distribution
Never rely on rented channels like social ads. Build direct lists, communities, and IRL networks. Social clips are only amplifiers, never the core.
09
Scale With Pull, Not Push
Don't scale until demand forces bottlenecks. Automate last, not first. Replicate success in a second niche before expanding wider. Keep teams modular, like small bands.
10
Profit Fuels Experiments
Growth comes from reinvesting profits, not endless fundraising. Treat Punk Ventures like a label: every successful "album" funds the next set of experiments.