It’s tough being a female entrepreneur. Mix this with staying ahead of market trends, bootstrapping your startup, and trying to keep time for yourself, it’s a lot to ask. Which is why tools and products you invest in have to perform well and make business sense. This brings me directly to Apple’s Vision Pro M5, a mixed reality headset introduced with hopes of revolutionizing productivity and creativity but falling short in key ways for many founders like us. It’s a fascinating case study for anyone navigating the tech ecosystem, especially because it mirrors some tough lessons about prioritization and scaling.
What Vision Pro M5 Promised, and Where It Struggles
When Apple announced the first Vision Pro, it was billed as a leap forward, combining virtual screens, immersive media, and AR in one sleek device. The newer model, the M5, boasts more pixels, a faster processor, and the promise of longer battery life. For tech enthusiasts, this sounds great. But as someone who leads tech-based startups, I can see the cracks when the product is viewed through a practical lens.
Here’s what the Vision Pro M5 got right:
- The new Dual Knit Band is more comfortable, a huge plus for those of us working long hours.
- The Mac Virtual Display feature now runs smoother with higher refresh rates (up to 120Hz), a needed improvement for multitaskers.
- Extended battery life makes it better for prolonged use sessions.
But despite these updates, the device doesn’t fix its core problems that matter most for entrepreneurs. Its lack of focus on clear use cases, a thin app ecosystem, and a sky-high €3,500 price tag makes it feel more like a luxury for tech experiments than a tool for building and scaling startups.
Lessons for Female Entrepreneurs
I see some important parallels between Apple’s struggles with the Vision Pro line and the challenges we face as startup founders, particularly in Europe. Balancing innovation with practicality is hard but necessary. Let's break it down:
1. The Right Focus Matters More Than Flashy Features
The Vision Pro’s EyeSight feature, which displays your eyes externally on the device, might make for cool marketing photos, but for the end-user, it has very little value. Similarly, Apple seems unsure about where the Vision Pro fits. Is it for productivity, gaming, or entertainment?
Lesson: As a founder, it’s tempting to oversell or load up your product with “wow” features. Customers care about solving real problems. Spending resources on unnecessary bells and whistles can derail your momentum.
2. Build for the Ecosystem
Apple promised content that would fully tap into the Vision Pro’s capabilities, like immersive movies and gaming experiences. In reality, its poor app support (Netflix? YouTube? Not supported) and lagging third-party developer interest have dulled the potential of its hardware.
Lesson: If you’re building an innovative product, ecosystem and partner buy-in are key. Too many startups overlook this step and launch a product that customers can’t easily integrate into their existing daily processes.
3. Accessibility Amplifies Adoption
With a starting price north of €3,000, the Vision Pro is out of reach for most customers. That premium pricing might reward Apple with some early adopters, but it makes little sense for the wider market.
Lesson: European markets can be price-sensitive. If your product or service targets budget-strapped founders or small businesses, consider pricing strategies carefully. Could you create a lower-cost version initially to build trust and scale?
Working Smarter, Not Just Harder: If You’re Considering Tools Like Vision Pro
Smart businesses demand smart investments. Tools are meant to reduce effort while delivering value, so keeping these checkpoints in mind could save you time and money:
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Know your needs.
Are you tempted by the tech hype, or is there actually a productivity gap the tool addresses? -
Evaluate ROI practically.
A tool like the Vision Pro hinges on content and apps that may not yet exist for your specific workflows. Early adopters pay a premium for promise, not performance. -
Consider usability for your team.
Collaboration tools matter, especially if your team spans countries or works remotely. A great gadget for “solo play” might not bring significant workplace improvements.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid With Business Purchases
Technology choices go beyond specs and packaging, so here are three mistakes you don’t want to make as a female entrepreneur:
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Ignoring team input:
Don’t be the only decision-maker on tools your team will use daily. Demo products together to hear perspectives across roles. -
Chasing trends:
Just because many businesses are “experimenting” with technologies like mixed reality doesn’t mean you need to fit it into your budget. Measure direct impact against your immediate goals. -
Over-complicating operations:
Vision Pro is sleek but demands setup, app-compatibility checks, and familiarizing your team with a completely new workflow. Stick to a solution that lets you hit the ground running.
Final Thoughts: Where Apple and Every Entrepreneur Must Pivot
We all admire Apple’s creativity and boldness. As entrepreneurs, there’s a tendency to look up to companies like Apple and try to mirror their strategies. But the Vision Pro M5 reminds us that risk-taking only works when it’s intentional, backed by customer insights, and aligned with clear goals.
As women founders, we’ve got enough on our plates without juggling unnecessary complexity in our tools. Let's prioritize products that truly add efficiency to the working day or enhance customer outcomes while staying affordable. A sleek gadget like the Vision Pro might be nice to have someday, but until then, your euros could be better invested in team development, market research, or even competitor analysis. Save the flashy tools for when they solve simpler, better-defined problems with less hassle.
Big decisions like these aren’t just about the here and now; they shape your journey as an entrepreneur. So as Apple figures out what’s next, so should we, staying bold but thoughtful in charting our own course.
FAQ
1. What is Apple Vision Pro M5 designed for?
The Vision Pro M5 is designed as a mixed reality headset for immersive experiences like virtual monitors, AR media, and productivity tools. However, it has limited app support and higher prices, making it currently a niche product. Learn more about Apple Vision Pro M5 review
2. What improvements does the M5 model bring over its predecessor?
The M5 model offers a faster processor (M5 chip), sharper micro-OLED displays with 10% more pixels, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a more comfortable Dual Knit Band for extended use. Check out Apple Vision Pro M5 Specs
3. Is the Vision Pro M5 good for productivity?
The Vision Pro M5 has improved Mac Virtual Display support, allowing smoother multitasking with virtual screens. However, the lack of app compatibility limits its effectiveness as a productivity tool. Read more about Apple Vision Pro’s productivity review
4. Why does the Vision Pro M5 struggle to appeal to female entrepreneurs?
For entrepreneurs, especially those balancing multiple priorities, Vision Pro M5 lacks a clear focus, with unnecessary features like EyeSight and limited ecosystem support, while costing €3,500. These factors reduce its practicality for business use.
5. What is Apple's EyeSight feature, and is it useful?
EyeSight displays a simulation of the wearer’s eyes externally on the headset. Though innovative, most users, including the reviewer, find it adds little value compared to its cost and weight implications. Learn more about Vision Pro EyeSight details
6. Why is app support a recurring issue with Vision Pro M5?
Despite being a sophisticated device, Vision Pro has a thin third-party app ecosystem, with many popular platforms like Netflix and YouTube still unsupported. This limits its utility in real-world workflows. Explore Apple Vision Pro app limitations
7. What lesson can female entrepreneurs take from Apple Vision Pro's pricing strategy?
The Vision Pro’s high price limits accessibility for many users. Entrepreneurs should consider offering cost-effective or scaled-down versions of products to build adoption before scaling up.
8. How does Vision Pro compare to promised “true AR” advancements?
Vision Pro remains an indoor device and lacks features for outdoor or mobile AR use, falling short of delivering on the promise of “true AR glasses.” Read about Vision Pro's AR capabilities
9. What is the favorite feature of Vision Pro M5 for professionals?
The most praised feature is the Mac Virtual Display, which allows professionals to work on multiple virtual monitors with higher refresh rates and less motion blur than before. Discover Vision Pro Virtual Display focus
10. Could the Vision Pro platform improve in the future?
The potential exists, with rumors about future products like smart AR glasses or cheaper "Vision Air" models. Apple may need adjustments to hardware, pricing, and ecosystem support to fully realize Vision Pro’s potential. Learn more about Apple Vision Pro future developments
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
