My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Permissionless Partnership Strategy
A strategy of launching a business that serves or complements an existing company without their permission, using it as a forcing function to eventually secure official partnership or create standalone value.
How It Works
Works by providing real value to the target company's ecosystem while operating legally (through first sale doctrine or similar protections), creating a win-win that's hard to refuse when discovered.
Components
Identify clear gap in successful company's ecosystem
Research legal protections (first sale doctrine, etc.)
Build minimal viable version of the service
Document everything for potential story value
Reach out to media to create forcing function
Be prepared for both legal action and partnership opportunities
When to Use
When you identify a clear gap in a successful company's offering, have legal protection for your approach, and can create significant value quickly.
When Not to Use
When intellectual property violations are likely, when the target company is known for aggressive legal action, or when you can't operate profitably without their cooperation.
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Example
“Bucky's had no online store despite massive cult following. Launched BeaverSnacks.com as third-party reseller, got media attention, forced conversation with their legal counsel, ended up with their blessing and official FAQ link.”