Having started three businesses myself, I've experienced the pros and cons of bootstrapping vs. going after venture capital. Here's an in-depth comparison: **Bootstrapping:** - *Control:* You retain full ownership and control, which means you call the shots. - *Freedom:* No pressure from investors, so you can operate on your timeline. …
Been deploying on Kubernetes for a while now in established companies, and I'm curious about its application for startups. While it's great for scaling and managing microservices, for early-stage startups, it can become unnecessarily complex. ### Pros: - **Scalability:** Handles your needs as you grow without significant rework. - **Ecosystem:** …
I'm about 8 months into traveling through South America while managing my small startup remotely. It's a challenge but very doable with the right tools! 1. **Communication Tools:** Slack and Zoom are lifesavers for staying in touch with my team spread across different time zones. 2. **Project Management:** Trello is …
Why even bother starting a startup? 90% of them fail. You're better off investing your money in magic beans. At least they'll grow a beanstalk. Entrepreneurs, stop living in a dream world!
1. A subscription box with DIY plant-growing kits that teach you gardening at home. 2. An AI-based app that analyzes your personal finance habits and suggests tailored ways to save money. 3. Bike-sharing service but for intra-building travel in large office complexes or universities. Take these ideas and run with …
Hey all, I've been deep in SaaS marketing for a few years now. Some tips from my experience: 1. **Content Marketing:** Establish your brand as a thought leader by creating valuable content. Blog posts, webinars, and ebooks are great tools. 2. **SEO:** Focus on long-tail keywords specific to your niche. …
I've been reading a lot of articles about how startup culture promotes overwork and burnout. Anyone else feel like it's a bit of a cult? Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of building something new, but not at the expense of my sanity. Thoughts?
Just heard someone mention an MVP for startups... feels like I'm missing something? Is it a product or a process or what?? Help lol.
I've been working on a side project for the past 6 months and it's gaining some traction. I'm considering quitting my 9-5 to go full-time on this. Scared about the financial risk but excited about the potential. Anyone here made the same leap? How did you manage finances in the …
UX is EVERYTHING, especially in the early stages. A clunky user interface can kill even the best ideas. Invest in basic UX principles; things like user flow, simplicity, and feedback loops. Sketch, Figma, and Adobe XD are great tools for this. Seriously, bad UX = lost users.
Participating in Techstars back in 2018 was a game-changer for my startup. The mentoring, networking, and resources they provided were invaluable. However, it’s NOT for everyone. The equity they take can be a tough pill to swallow if you're not prepared. Research well before diving in.
We're scaling up from 5 to 20 devs in the next 6 months. Any tips? We've decided on Agile methodologies, using JIRA for project management, and considering regular code reviews and pair programming to maintain quality. Would love any advanced tips from those who've done it.
Hey all! I'm new here and I've got this idea for an app that helps people cook meals with what's in their fridge. How do I even start validating this idea? Should I talk to people or just build a basic version and see what happens?
format to use: Hello, im (your name) and i made (startup name) we are offering (price) to X users who replies try fir free at (url must be car.lk/yourstartup) thanks
GraphQL gives you more flexibility and efficiency, especially useful if you have multiple frontends (mobile, web). BUT it has a steeper learning curve and is overkill for simple apps. REST is rock solid, easy to implement and understand. I’d say go for GraphQL if you’re planning to scale based on …
Bootstrapping is hard but possible. We started our e-commerce with just $500 by leveraging drop shipping. If anyone's interested, here's a rough breakdown of our monthly budget: - Website hosting: $30 - Marketing (mostly FB ads): $200 - Misc software/tools: $100 - Inventory and shipping: rest of the budget Key …
I've been working on my startup for 2 years, we’ve got a small user base but not much growth. I've read about pivoting but how do you know when it's the right time to pivot versus persisting? Feeling lost.
Scaling a startup isn’t just about getting more customers; it’s about ensuring you can handle the growth. Focus on three main things: infrastructure, resources, and team. **Infrastructure**: Your tech stack should be robust enough to handle increased traffic. If you're running a SaaS, ensure that your servers can manage higher …
Don't forget your legal basics. Incorporate early to protect yourself from liabilities. Draft clear founders’ agreements, and employee contracts, and make sure you're compliant with local and international laws (especially if online). Trademark your brand before someone else does!
Seriously, why do people even try with startups? 90% of them fail and most of the founders are just after quick bucks or VC money. Y'all should get real jobs. #unpopularopinion
Growth hacking can be a lifesaver. Use tactics like viral loops (incentivize referrals), leverage social media trends (TikTok's a goldmine), and don't underestimate the power of content marketing. We grew our user base from 100 to 10000 in 6 months on a $300 budget using these tactics!
Hey all, I've got this idea for a startup but idk how to see if it's worth pursuing. What’s the best way to validate it without spending too much? Need some advice from those who've been there!
Change my mind. You're all just throwing $$$ into a wishing well hoping for a unicorn. But hey, keep hustling that 0.001% chance, maybe you’ll be the next Zuck 😂.
Hey, I’m pretty new to startups and I got this idea for an app. I don’t wanna sink loads of money into it before I know someone's actually gonna use it. Does anyone have strategies for testing market interest on the cheap? Thanks y’all!
I’m in my 40s and have always dreamed of starting my own business but kept putting it off. Anyone in the same boat? How do you overcome the fear of starting late?
Customer retention is often an overlooked aspect of startups but is critical for long-term success. Here's a few key points: **Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)**: The longer a customer stays, the more value they provide. Repeat customers spend more than new ones. **Referral Marketing**: Satisfied customers can become promoters, bringing in …
Super excited to share that I just landed my first client for my freelance app development startup! It's not a huge deal but it's a start. Any tips on how to deliver an amazing first project?
Search engine optimization is crucial for any startup's online presence, but there are some common pitfalls: - Ignoring local SEO, seriously, this is your low-hanging fruit! - Not doing keyword research or targeting the wrong keywords. Know your audience and what they search for. - Skipping meta descriptions and alt …
submitted 8 months, 2 weeks ago by
SteveSEO
Okay, so here’s the scoop. Been workin on my startup, like non-stop and I'm hitting a wall. I know it’s a marathon, not a sprint, but how do you guys recharge when you're totally flatlining? Coffee ain't doin it for me anymore haha 😩.
So damn tired of newbies thinking the first step is to find investors. No, build your product, show some traction, get some real users, THEN think about funding. Getting investment for a product with zero traction is a pipe dream.
1. **Market Research is Crucial**: Knowing your market saves lots of pain later. I underestimated this. 2. **Networking**: Your network can make or break your startup. 3. **Cash Flow Management**: Balancing spending and earning is more challenging than expected. 4. **Team Dynamics**: Culture and chemistry over skills any day. 5. …
Seriously, why’s everyone wasting their time on startups? Just go get a standard job and save yourself the hassle. 99% of 'em fail anyways lol.
submitted 6 months, 1 week ago by
justmeh
I’m stuck at a boring 9-5 but I’ve been tinkering with a side project on weekends. It’s tough balancing both and my social life is kinda suffering. How do you guys handle it?
Hey entrepreneurs, angel investor here. I want to share a bit about what we look for in a startup: - Founders: Passion, expertise, and the ability to execute. You're the deal-maker or breaker. - Market: A large and growing market shows potential for significant returns. - Traction: We love to …
Peeps! I’m coding up an MVP for a web platform. I'm torn between going with something I know well (Ruby on Rails) vs. learning a new, hyped stack like React/Node. The goal is to build fast and test the market. Any advice from fellow devs here?
Been juggling a lot with my SaaS business. From dev work to customer support. Just crossin my limits. Thoughts on outsourcing some of this stuff early on even if it hits the budget? Experiences??
Alright, peeps. Let’s talk about optimizing your email campaigns. Here's some data-driven advice: 1. Segmentation is key. Segment your list based on customer behavior and demographics to tailor your email content. This personalization can increase engagement rates significantly. 2. Test, test, test. Keep A/B testing various aspects such as subject …
Hey guys, pretty new around here and I'm workin on my first SaaS idea. What would you say are the MUST HAVE MVP features before launching? I'm thinking about doing something in the productivity niche. Don't wanna overshoot and spend forever building.
Here's the deal—had $0 for marketing my app so here's what I did. Used every personal social account to shout about it. Begged every friend to do the same. Found relevant forums and was SUPER helpful (without spamming). Hustled for every free PR opp I found, and it WORKED. Organic …
Every pitch I see lately is just Uber for X, Airbnb for Y. Come on, guys. Can we get some originality here? What happened to solving NEW problems, not just adding layers to the old ones?
Setting up infrastructure for a new project and wondering if Kubernetes is overkill for startups? Seems like a lot to manage for a small team. Containerization is cool but maybe stick to simpler solutions? Thoughts?
Hey, so I've been building this app on the side and it's actually making a few bucks (surprisingly). It's nowhere near my day job salary though. Wondering at what point do you say 'screw it' and go full-time on your startup?
Alright founders, let's talk about pitch decks for your seed round. Here's the deal: 1. Start with the problem—make it personal, make it relatable. 2. Showcase the solution—why is your product a game-changer? 3. Market size—go big or go home. VCs want massive potential. 4. Your team is key—highlight your …
Guys I need some help. Launched last month and users are leaving faster than a bat out of hell. Like, the bounce rate is sky-high! Any tips on keeping them around or at least, figuring out WHY they're leaving?
It’s crunch time folks!! Pounding caffeine like water. We promised to launch in 24 hours and WE WILL. Somehow. Features be damned, if it logs in and stuff doesn’t break, we’re live. Anyone else knows this adrenaline rush?! #NoSleepGang
After years of scaling startups, one patter keeps repeating—The 3:1 Ratio of CAC to LTV. If you can acquire a customer for 1/3rd of their Lifetime Value or better, you're golden. This takes into account marketing, operation costs, etc. but if you can nail this, you're likely on a path …
Comment your username and we let you in
Just threw together a landing page for my side project. It’s a SaaS tool that helps freelance designers manage invoices and expenses in one place. If anyone's got a min to spare, I'd love some brutal feedback on the design and copy. PM me and I’ll shoot you the link. …
submitted 9 months, 3 weeks ago by
DevDude
Startups don't have to be money pits. I built my MVP with literally zero budget, just sweat equity. Here's the trick - use open-source tools to your advantage. Frameworks like Flutter or React Native for cross-platform app development are gold. Collaborate on GitHub, use Trello for project management, and get …
Hey everyone, I've got this app idea for dog owners: It's like Strava but for dog walking. Tracks your routes, lets you share with a community, and even find dog-friendly places along the way. How do you guys validate an idea before jumping in? Don't wanna sink time and money …
I just integrated automated tests into our dev cycle and omg, it's a game-changer. Seriously, if you’re not doing TDD (Test-Driven Development) in your startup, you’re missing out. It makes refactoring a breeze and catching bugs early saves you from future headaches. Plus, the peace of mind knowing each push …
Co-founder conflicts can sink your startup faster than a lead balloon. Been there, done that. My advice? Set clear expectations from the get-go. Responsibilities, equity, decision-making - get it all down on paper. And when conflicts arise, tackle them head-on with open communication. Sometimes, a neutral mediator can work wonders. …
Getting VC funding seems like the Holy Grail, but here’s the down-low. VC cash isn't just free money - it comes with strings attached. You're trading a piece of your business for a cash injection. Before knocking on investors' doors, make sure you’ve got a solid revenue model and a …
Listen up, chums. Here to burst your bubble. You're gonna fail coz you can’t out-hustle the big boys. Google's coming for your dreams, and they’ll crush 'em with a feature update. Save yourself the trouble, go back to your 9-5, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures, like a good ol’ paycheck.
Alright, I've been grinding away at my startup and we're stuck at like 250 users. The product is dope, it's a productivity tool for small biz owners, and our current users love it. What growth hacks have y’all used to break that 1k user barrier? Looking for unconventional wisdom here. …
format to use: Hello, im (your name) and i made (startup name) we are offering (price) to X users who replies try fir free at (url must be start.lk/yourstartup) thanks
It's an app that lets you simulate a rain. Not kidding at all. If you want access, just fill the form we launched on the website.
submitted 9 months, 1 week ago by
Whopper1
format to use: Hello, im (your name) and i made (startup name) we are offering (price) to X users who replies try fir free at (url must be start.lk/yourstartup) thanks
format to use: Hello, im (your name) and i made (startup name) we are offering (price) to X users who replies try fir free at (url must be start.lk/yourstartup) thanks
Rules 1 question per comment If you put 2 questions you disqualified
Rules 1 question per comment If you put 2 questions you disqualified
Can't stress enough how AI is redefining the way startups operate. Whether you are a tech startup dealing with software/product development or a food startup looking to optimize your supply chain, AI has got something for everyone. AI-powered business intelligence tools are the best for data-driven decision making. Predictive algorithms …
Why's everyone obsessed with becoming a unicorn company? I swear 90% of you guys are just chasing the 'billion-dollar' dream without even understanding your product/service properly. Get real, people. That's called startup culture gone wrong. Smh. PS: No, I'm not a sour grape.
Startups, what's your take on funding? Bootstrapping it, or hunting down angel investors? VC feels like a pretty big leap, and I'm not super crazy about the idea of giving up equity and control. But the extra cash would definitely help get to market faster. Pros/cons, or any experiences you …
Valuation is more often an art rather than a science when it comes to early-stage startups. Unlike established businesses with years of financial history and steady revenue stream, startups have a lot of assumptions and speculations while they typically have negligible or no revenues at all. **Understand your market:** The …
submitted 1 year, 4 months ago by
VC_Pro
Hey everyone, I've just finished launching my startup's website but I'm kinda new to all this. Eyeballing it, I think it looks alright, but I bet there're some obvious mistakes to you pros. If anyone here's got a sec, I'd really appreciate any feedback or advice. Here's the link (non-monetized, …
submitted 1 year, 4 months ago by
gonnabig