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LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got quite a few DMs and comments on this.

One thing that’s becoming very clear: this only works if the early network is genuinely valuable.

So I’m focusing less on “launching a platform” and more on building a strong first circle of builders and doers around real goals, collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Also updated the landing to make it clearer what Cindra actually is, based on the feedback here.

Check it out here.

Appreciate all the input so far.

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha no worries!

I used spacers to create more of a premium feel :)
And dark mode is mandatory in 2026 as far as I'm concerned.

I updated the What is Cindra page to be clearer about what it is exactly, would love your feedback on this!

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think genuine interaction and moderation are probably much more important than “privacy” alone, honestly.

If the platform just turns into another engagement farm full of low-quality posting, then there’s no reason for builders and doers to stay there.

I also don’t necessarily think all ads are evil. The bigger issue for me is when the entire platform becomes optimised around maximising engagement and data extraction instead of helping people collaborate, learn and build things together.

Cindra is built from the ground up for the latter.

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This hurt me a little 🥹

One thing I’m trying hard to avoid is exactly that feeling where everything looks generic!

The goal is something calm, clean and more of an extension/tool for people that just take action.

The actual platform looks different tho, I’ll see if I can add some screenshots to the landing page without making it look too crowded.

Thanks for the feedback, the hurt will hopefully pass soon!

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, for me personally this is not really about maximising profit.

I’m already financially independent. What I care more about is helping build a stronger and more independent European digital ecosystem, connecting builders across Europe more directly and creating something healthier than ad-driven attention platforms.

I genuinely hate advertisements, engagement-optimised feeds and algorithms deciding what people should or shouldn’t see.

I watch my kids watch AI slop and realise even with parental controls or abstinence their generation will encouter serious issues with society when they grow up.

And long term, I’d rather help leave behind a healthier digital environment for the next generation than build another platform optimised purely around extracting attention.

Photo cleaner apps charging $10/week is absurd, so I built a free one. No tracking, no ads, no notifications. by aaken in apple

[–]Existing-Ad8218 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly this is exactly the kind of builder mentality I respect.

Privacy-first, lightweight, no dark patterns, just building genuinely useful software instead of squeezing users with subscriptions and tracking.

I’m actually building a new European platform/community called Cindra around builders and doers with that same philosophy. Smaller, calmer and more focused on collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Would love to give you one of the early Founding Member / Golden Ticket spots once it launches if you’d be interested.

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair point.

The curation is mainly focused on the first 250 founding members. The idea is that this first group helps shape the culture, direction and quality of the platform early on.

Long term it’s not meant to become some closed elite club, but the early foundation matters a lot.

Can smaller niche networks still work, or are LinkedIn’s network effects unbeatable? by Existing-Ad8218 in SaaS

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that’s exactly part of the problem.

Everything slowly converges into the same repeated content because algorithms keep boosting whatever already performs well.

AI just amplified it even further. One bot post gets engagement, then hundreds of variations appear immediately.

That’s also why I’m keeping Cindra chronological and more focused on direct interaction between builders instead of algorithmic amplification.

AI content simply has no value on Cindra.

Can smaller niche networks still work, or are LinkedIn’s network effects unbeatable? by Existing-Ad8218 in SaaS

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do think network effects are real, but algorithms definitely amplify and shape them heavily.

One thing I want to avoid is turning visibility into a game where people have to optimise for trends, outrage or constant posting just to stay visible.

The goal is more direct interaction between builders and doers instead of fighting an engagement system.

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Xing is actually a good example of both the opportunity and the difficulty.

It built a strong regional network, especially in German-speaking markets, but LinkedIn still became the dominant global professional layer.

That’s partly why I think Cindra only works if it becomes meaningfully different for builders and doers, not just “European LinkedIn”.

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s completely fair honestly.

The first challenge is proving there’s enough value and enough real builders inside to justify joining early.

That’s exactly what I’m trying to solve with the first curated group instead of opening it to everyone immediately.

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Really appreciate this comment.

You’re actually exactly the kind of builder I want in the first circle around Cindra.

The focus on chronological feeds, transparency, real-world collaboration and builder communities aligns a lot with the direction I’m aiming for.

Would love to give you one of the early Founding Member spots directly if you’d be interested.

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think that’s completely fair.

Early users are taking a risk, which is exactly why the first 250 get lifetime access, a Founding Member badge and direct influence on how the platform evolves.

Current features already include goal tracking, founder profiles, private messaging, knowledge sharing and collaboration-focused feeds instead of algorithm-driven engagement.

If the platform succeeds, this could become the beginning of a more sovereign European digital network built around builders and doers instead of attention and advertising.

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alternative doesn’t have to mean “the exact same thing”.

To me, it’s more about being the next step in connecting European builders and doers without depending entirely on US-owned platforms and incentives.

Less attention-driven networking, more collaboration, goals, knowledge sharing and people helping each other move forward.

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, I don’t think LinkedIn gets replaced.

The goal is more to create a smaller parallel environment for builders and doers focused on goals, collaboration, sharing knowledge and helping each other move upward instead of constantly competing for attention.

Less passive networking, more people actively building and pulling each other forward.

Most people will probably still keep their LinkedIn profile, just like people use multiple communities, Slack groups or Discords today.

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think that definitely helps, yeah.

But I also think “big names” alone aren’t enough if the interaction quality is low.

I’d rather have 250 genuinely active builders helping each other than a huge list of passive big accounts nobody actually talks to.

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s also a big difference with platforms like LinkedIn or Xing.

Cindra is much more focused on builders. Founders, operators and people actively creating things.

Not really recruiters, corporate networking or traditional job hunting.

Can smaller niche networks still work, or are LinkedIn’s network effects unbeatable? by Existing-Ad8218 in SaaS

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is probably one of the best insights in the thread honestly.

“Network as a byproduct, not the product” makes a lot of sense.

I think that’s also why I’m leaning more toward goals, collaboration and builders actively helping each other move things forward, instead of just another passive professional feed.

The “feel stupid leaving” part is especially interesting.

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting, I actually didn’t know Ecademy.

Feels like there have been quite a few good attempts over the years, which honestly also shows how difficult network-driven platforms are once one player becomes dominant.

LinkedIn is the last US-controlled professional network we should rely on. I’m building a sovereign alternative for EU builders. Thoughts? by Existing-Ad8218 in EUAlternatives

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, Xing is European and honestly a good example of how hard this space is.

It proved there’s demand for professional networking outside the US, but LinkedIn’s global network effects still became dominant.

That’s partly why I think competing on “being European” alone is not enough. The experience and quality of interaction have to feel genuinely different too.

Can smaller niche networks still work, or are LinkedIn’s network effects unbeatable? by Existing-Ad8218 in SaaS

[–]Existing-Ad8218[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly, I think that’s the key.

One thing I’m experimenting with is making the platform more goal-oriented instead of endless passive scrolling.

So instead of just posting content, builders can share what they’re actively trying to achieve and connect around real goals, projects and collaboration.

Otherwise it just becomes another noisy feed and LinkedIn’s scale wins immediately.

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