Introduction

This article shares real growth ideas from 130 teams. It shows what actually worked in 2025 and why simple plays still win.

What's the problem it solves?

Many teams chase shiny new growth hacks and AI tools but miss what really drives results. This article cuts through the noise and shows which tactics delivered real pipeline, users, and revenue.

Quick Summary

Kyle Poyar asked 130 growth leaders to name their best growth experiment of 2025. He grouped the answers and picked the most useful ones. The biggest wins did not come from wild hacks. They came from doing proven things very well.

The top three categories were outbound and ABM, partners and ecosystems, and events and community. Together, they made up more than half of all wins. Content and AI discovery also grew fast as buyers started using ChatGPT to find tools.

The main lesson is clear. AI helps, but strategy and execution matter more. Teams that focused on intent, trust, and real relationships won more than teams chasing automation alone.

Key Takeaways

• Outbound is not dead when it uses strong intent signals.
• ABM works best when it is focused and personal.
• Partners and ecosystems scale faster than building an audience alone.
• Events are back, especially small and targeted ones.
• Buyers now discover tools through AI, not just Google.
• Product-led growth wins come from faster time to value.
• Big product launches still work if they are well coordinated.
• Paid ads can work, but cutting bad spend can work even better.
• Most wins came from doing basics better, not new tricks.

What to do

• Add intent signals to your outbound instead of blasting cold lists.
• Build a short ABM list and go deep, not wide.
• Partner with people or companies that already have your audience.
• Run small dinners, webinars, or meetups instead of only big events.
• Optimize content for AI answers, not just SEO.
• Cut onboarding time so users see value faster.
• Treat launches like campaigns, not announcements.
• Audit paid ads and kill what does not work.
• Pick one proven tactic and execute it extremely well.

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