World Model · podcast knowledge graph

5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)

2026-01-25 · 106 min · 61 entities

episode page audio

Asserted relationships

  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-3rd-Disruptive-Mainstream/dp/0062292986
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Monetizing-Innovation-Companies-Design-Product/dp/1119240867
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Writing-Well-Classic-Guide-Nonfiction/dp/0060891548
  • → references The Pitt Season 1 book
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/The-Pitt-Season-1/dp/B0DNRR8QWD
  • → references ER Season 1 book
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/ER-Season-1/dp/B0FWK5WJQ4
  • → references Will Smith book
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Will-Smith/dp/1984877925
  • → hosted by Lenny Rachitsky person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Lenny Rachitsky
  • 0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-3rd-Disruptive-Mainstream/dp/0062292986
  • 0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-3rd-Disruptive-Mainstream/dp/0062292986
  • 0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Monetizing-Innovation-Companies-Design-Product/dp/1119240867
  • 0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Monetizing-Innovation-Companies-Design-Product/dp/1119240867
  • 0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Writing-Well-Classic-Guide-Nonfiction/dp/0060891548
  • 0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Writing-Well-Classic-Guide-Nonfiction/dp/0060891548
  • → recommended The Pitt Season 1 book
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/The-Pitt-Season-1/dp/B0DNRR8QWD
  • → recommended The Pitt Season 1 book
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/The-Pitt-Season-1/dp/B0DNRR8QWD
  • → recommended ER Season 1 book
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/ER-Season-1/dp/B0FWK5WJQ4
  • → recommended ER Season 1 book
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/ER-Season-1/dp/B0FWK5WJQ4
  • → recommended Will Smith book
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Will-Smith/dp/1984877925
  • → recommended Will Smith book
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Will-Smith/dp/1984877925
  • → discusses Technology company
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Technology
  • → discusses Business concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Business
  • → discusses Entrepreneurship concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Entrepreneurship
  • → references penname.co website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://penname.co/
  • → references linear.app website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://linear.app/
  • → references Software company
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://atlassian.com/software/jira
  • → references hubspot.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://hubspot.com/
  • → references wisprflow.ai website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://wisprflow.ai/
  • → references tylercowen.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://tylercowen.com/
  • → references buffer.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://buffer.com/
  • → references preorder.hiddenmultipliers.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://preorder.hiddenmultipliers.com/
  • → references longform.asmartbear.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://longform.asmartbear.com/
  • → references wpengine.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://wpengine.com/
  • → references Learn From Customer Churn person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://groovehq.com/blog/learn-from-customer-churn
  • → references Exponential Growth person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://longform.asmartbear.com/exponential-growth
  • → references Adjacency website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://longform.asmartbear.com/adjacency
  • → references anker.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://anker.com/

Entities found in this episode

books 24

  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-3rd-Disruptive-Mainstream/dp/0062292986
  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Monetizing-Innovation-Companies-Design-Product/dp/1119240867
  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Writing-Well-Classic-Guide-Nonfiction/dp/0060891548
  • mentioned The Pitt Season 1 book
    0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/The-Pitt-Season-1/dp/B0DNRR8QWD
  • mentioned ER Season 1 book
    0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/ER-Season-1/dp/B0FWK5WJQ4
  • mentioned Will Smith book
    0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Will-Smith/dp/1984877925
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-3rd-Disruptive-Mainstream/dp/0062292986
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Monetizing-Innovation-Companies-Design-Product/dp/1119240867
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Writing-Well-Classic-Guide-Nonfiction/dp/0060891548
  • references The Pitt Season 1 book
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/The-Pitt-Season-1/dp/B0DNRR8QWD
  • references ER Season 1 book
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/ER-Season-1/dp/B0FWK5WJQ4
  • references Will Smith book
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Will-Smith/dp/1984877925
  • 0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-3rd-Disruptive-Mainstream/dp/0062292986
  • 0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-3rd-Disruptive-Mainstream/dp/0062292986
  • 0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Monetizing-Innovation-Companies-Design-Product/dp/1119240867
  • 0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Monetizing-Innovation-Companies-Design-Product/dp/1119240867
  • 0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Writing-Well-Classic-Guide-Nonfiction/dp/0060891548
  • 0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Writing-Well-Classic-Guide-Nonfiction/dp/0060891548
  • recommended The Pitt Season 1 book
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/The-Pitt-Season-1/dp/B0DNRR8QWD
  • recommended The Pitt Season 1 book
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/The-Pitt-Season-1/dp/B0DNRR8QWD
  • recommended ER Season 1 book
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/ER-Season-1/dp/B0FWK5WJQ4
  • recommended ER Season 1 book
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/ER-Season-1/dp/B0FWK5WJQ4
  • recommended Will Smith book
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Will-Smith/dp/1984877925
  • recommended Will Smith book
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://amazon.com/Will-Smith/dp/1984877925

websites 22

  • mentioned penname.co website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://penname.co/
  • mentioned linear.app website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://linear.app/
  • mentioned hubspot.com website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://hubspot.com/
  • mentioned wisprflow.ai website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://wisprflow.ai/
  • mentioned tylercowen.com website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://tylercowen.com/
  • mentioned buffer.com website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://buffer.com/
  • mentioned preorder.hiddenmultipliers.com website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://preorder.hiddenmultipliers.com/
  • mentioned longform.asmartbear.com website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://longform.asmartbear.com/
  • mentioned wpengine.com website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://wpengine.com/
  • mentioned Adjacency website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://longform.asmartbear.com/adjacency
  • mentioned anker.com website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://anker.com/
  • references penname.co website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://penname.co/
  • references linear.app website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://linear.app/
  • references hubspot.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://hubspot.com/
  • references wisprflow.ai website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://wisprflow.ai/
  • references tylercowen.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://tylercowen.com/
  • references buffer.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://buffer.com/
  • references preorder.hiddenmultipliers.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://preorder.hiddenmultipliers.com/
  • references longform.asmartbear.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://longform.asmartbear.com/
  • references wpengine.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://wpengine.com/
  • references Adjacency website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://longform.asmartbear.com/adjacency
  • references anker.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://anker.com/

persons 6

  • mentioned Lenny Rachitsky person
    0.70
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Lenny Rachitsky
  • hosted by Lenny Rachitsky person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Lenny Rachitsky
  • mentioned Learn From Customer Churn person
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://groovehq.com/blog/learn-from-customer-churn
  • mentioned Exponential Growth person
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://longform.asmartbear.com/exponential-growth
  • references Learn From Customer Churn person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://groovehq.com/blog/learn-from-customer-churn
  • references Exponential Growth person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://longform.asmartbear.com/exponential-growth

concepts 5

  • mentioned Business concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Business
  • mentioned Entrepreneurship concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Entrepreneurship
  • 0.42
    evidence rules-v4
    5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)
  • discusses Business concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Business
  • discusses Entrepreneurship concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Entrepreneurship

companys 4

  • mentioned Technology company
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Technology
  • mentioned Software company
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://atlassian.com/software/jira
  • discusses Technology company
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Technology
  • references Software company
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "5 questions to ask when your product stops growing | Jason Cohen (2x unicorn founder)": https://atlassian.com/software/jira
Episode description as stored
Jason Cohen is a four-time founder (including two unicorns, one being WP Engine) and an investor in over 60 startups, and has been sharing his lessons on company building at A Smart Bear for nearly 20 years. In this episode, Jason shares his methodical five-step framework for diagnosing stalled growth—a problem that faces almost every team. We discuss: 1. Jason’s five-step framework: logo retention, pricing, NRR, marketing channels, target market 2. A small tweak that’ll double response rates on your cancellation surveys 3. Why “it’s too expensive” is almost never the real reason customers cancel 4. The “elephant curve” of growth 5. How repositioning the same product can increase revenue 8x 6. When to reconsider if growth is even the right goal for your business — Brought to you by: 10Web —Vibe coding platform as an API Strella —The AI-powered customer research platform Brex —The banking solution for startups — Episode transcript: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/why-your-product-stopped-growing — Archive of all Lenny's Podcast transcripts: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/yxi4s2w998p1gvtpu4193/AMdNPR8AOw0lMklwtnC0TrQ?rlkey=j06x0nipoti519e0xgm23zsn9&st=ahz0fj11&dl=0 — Where to find Jason Cohen: • Preorder Jason’s book: https://preorder.hiddenmultipliers.com/ • X: https://x.com/asmartbear • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncohen • Blog: https://longform.asmartbear.com • Website: https://wpengine.com — Where to find Lenny: • Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com • X: https://twitter.com/lennysan • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/ — In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Introduction to Jason Cohen (05:19) Jason’s writing journey (08:25) Questions to ask when your product stops growing (18:17) Getting real customer feedback (20:27) Analyzing cancellation reasons (26:54) Onboarding and activation (29:35) Quick summary (35:46) Revisiting pricing strategies (41:46) Positioning strategies (47:52) Why pricing is inseparable from your strategy (52:06) The importance of net revenue retention (NRR) (01:00:25) Asking whether or not this is good for the customer (01:04:34) Leveraging existing customers (01:06:42) Are your acquisition channels saturated? The “elephant curve” (1:09:41) Why all marketing channels eventually decline (01:12:04) Direct vs. indirect marketing channels (1:13:36) Getting creative with new channels (01:19:04) Do you actually need to grow? (01:25:57) Deciding when to quit (01:29:27) Book announcement (01:33:21) AI corner (01:34:35) Contrarian corner (01:37:43) Lightning round and final thoughts — Referenced: • Tyler Cowen’s website: https://tylercowen.com • How to Perform a Customer Churn Analysis (and Why You Should): https://www.groovehq.com/blog/learn-from-customer-churn • Linear: https://linear.app • Jira: https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira • Patrick Campbell’s post on X about pricing: https://x.com/Patticus/status/1702313260547006942 • The art and science of pricing | Madhavan Ramanujam (Monetizing Innovation, Simon-Kucher): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-art-and-science-of-pricing-madhavan • Pricing your AI product: Lessons from 400+ companies and 50 unicorns | Madhavan Ramanujam: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/pricing-and-scaling-your-ai-product-madhavan-ramanujam • Pricing your SaaS product: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/saas-pricing-strategy • M&A, competition, pricing, and investing | Julia Schottenstein (dbt Labs): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/m-and-a-competition-pricing-and-investing • “Sell the alpha, not the feature”: The enterprise sales playbook for $1M to $10M ARR | Jen Abel: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-enterprise-sales-playbook-1m-to-10m-arr • Buffer: https://buffer.com • AG1: https://drinkag1.com • How to find hidden growth opportunities in your product | Albert Cheng (Duolingo, Grammarly, Chess.com ): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-find-hidden-growth-opportunities-albert-cheng • How Duolingo reignited user growth: