First Mover Advantage: How to Be Steps Ahead of Your Competition
On Tuesday, 25 February, AwakenHub hosted an insightful online event exploring the power of being a first mover in business. Claire McGee was joined by two pioneering founders, (and AwakenHub members) Emma Meehan and Danielle McCormick, who shared their experiences on identifying gaps, building brand recognition, leveraging data, and staying ahead of competitors.
Below are the key takeaways from the discussion.
1. Spotting Market Gaps & Moving Early
Both Emma and Danielle identified clear gaps in their industries:
🔹 Emma saw the slow adoption of AI-powered motion capture in sports, giving Precision Sports Technology a first-mover advantage.
🔹 Danielle recognised that businesses lacked hands-on sustainability expertise, leading her to establish Triterra.
💡 Lesson: Watch for industry blind spots—where tech, customer needs, or regulatory shifts are creating new opportunities.
2. The Power of Brand Visibility
🔹 Emma leveraged LinkedIn to build credibility, attract investors, and land partnerships with major sports teams, including Liverpool FC and NFL teams.
🔹 Danielle built influence through the All-Ireland Sustainability Professionals Network, which now has 850+ members.
💡 Lesson: Put yourself out there! Share your journey online, connect with key players, and establish yourself as a thought leader.
3. Data, Technology & Customer Insights
🔹 Emma: Uses real-time data analytics to measure customer engagement and product performance.
🔹 Danielle: Tracks engagement trends to refine services and event pricing based on industry demand.
💡 Lesson: Data is your secret weapon. Track what works, spot trends early, and use insights to make informed decisions.
4. Collaboration & Competitive Edge
🔹 Emma: Builds strategic research partnerships with universities and a sports science advisory board to validate her technology.
🔹 Danielle: Balances collaboration with caution, ensuring she protects her unique value proposition.
💡 Lesson: Collaboration can expand your reach—but protect your IP and competitive edge.
5. Navigating Pricing as a First Mover
Setting the right price in a new market can be challenging:
🔹 Emma: Tailored a tiered pricing model to accommodate both small fitness professionals and elite sports teams.
🔹 Danielle: Focused on affordable accessibility while ensuring financial sustainability.
💡 Lesson: Understand your audience. Set pricing that balances profitability, accessibility, and perceived value.
6. Challenges & Lessons Learned
🚀 Biggest Challenges:
🔹 Emma: Proving the credibility of her AI-based solution in a hardware-dominated industry.
🔹 Danielle: Managing a solo business while growing demand for sustainability services.
💡 Lesson: Prioritise execution, trust your vision, and keep refining your strategy.
This event highlighted that being a first mover means embracing both opportunities and risks. The real game-changer is execution—turning an idea into a credible, scalable business.
📺 Missed the event? The full replay is available for members. Not a member yet? Join today.
