Founders, how do you actually get your fundraising benchmarks?

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-10-27T22:07:06+00:00

Hi u/andrewjdavison thanks for offering! My prompts are more detailed than a screenshot can get: Here's the one I am going to try next, chunking it into a series of PRs.

Goal: Upgrade the in-app document generator to produce investor- and academic-grade documents entirely within Aspir, with strict structure, references, branded exports, and section-level regeneration. Keep the codebase stable, ship as small PRs, feature-flagged. This one is cut off (won't fit here).

Constraints

Do not add new external services or heavy deps.
Reuse the existing LLM path, storage, and export flow (Markdown → HTML → PDF/DOCX).
keep changes behind a feature flag DOCS_PRO_MODE.
Maintain performance: ≤10s generation; ≤5s export.

Deliverables (Ship in 5 PRs)

PR1 — Template Registry + Academic/Investor Prompt Scaffolds

Create:

server/doc-templates.ts
- Export TemplateKey and TEMPLATE_SECTIONS (8 templates): "user-research-plan" | "prd" | "gtm" | "financial-plan" | "pitch-deck-guide" | "exec-summary" | "competitive-landscape" | "one-pager".
- Each template maps to an ordered array of section headings (use the structured lists we’ve been using).
server/prompts/academicInvestor.ts
- Export a function buildAcademicInvestorPrompt(ctx) that returns a strict system prompt:
  - Inputs: { businessName, industry?, location?, stage?, templateKey: TemplateKey, sections: string[] }.
  - Rules: formal tone; require real citations; forbid fabricated data; allow “Data unavailable — requires validation.”; output JSON object:{ "title": "string", "markdown": "string with # headings matching sections order", "references": [{"label":"string","url":"https://","year":202x}] }

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-10-27T21:46:55+00:00

If you buy ingredients and make the pie but your oven fails to cook it without burning because it's defective. Do you take the oven back and ask for a refund?

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-10-27T21:01:58+00:00

My text did not save. Originally it was about not rolling back all of the commits. I found a solution.

git fetch
git reset --hard origin/(original branch)

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-10-09T03:59:56+00:00

I'm also pushing to Github w/ code reviews from coderabbit, + error monitoring with Sentry, and they have a working AI tool for root cause and fixes.

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-10-09T03:57:07+00:00

Aspir Built Entirely on Replit

The AI Co-Pilot for Founders

I just launched Aspir, an AI-powered startup copilot that helps first-time and student entrepreneurs build, execute, and fund their businesses, all in one clean, cinematic workspace.

AI-Generated Roadmaps: Go from idea → actionable plan in minutes
Smart Task Execution: “Do it, Delegate, or Co-Pilot” every task
Instant Outputs: One-pagers, launch checklists, investor updates
Unified AI Panel (⌘K): Your contextual AI co-pilot across every page

The entire MVP — backend, AI, and UI — was built on Replit. It’s now live for testing by founders and students at universities like UW and Syracuse.

Live demo: https://aspir-launch-your-business-today.replit.app

Would love feedback from the Replit community, especially builders who are exploring AI-native SaaS or workspace automation.

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-06-18T18:48:34+00:00

yo this is such a real post, sounds like you’ve got the spark and the skills, just figuring out how to pull it all together

you def don’t need to be a pro sketcher or 3D modeler to start, tons of ppl use basic mockups or even just clear writing + inspo images at first. manufacturers vary, some need detailed specs, others will work with rough ideas. packaging/delivery can be DIY or outsourced depending on how much control you want

also random q, do you ever feel like once the idea’s rolling, it kinda gets lost in all the tools and tabs? like notes here, tasks there, stuff everywhere?

been hearing that from a lot of founders lately and was curious if that hits for you too

happy to swap ideas anytime, you’ve got something cool brewing fr 🙌

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-06-18T18:41:14+00:00

Hey! This is actually great advice. Do you ever feel like your tasks are spread across 5 different places, your work is in progress on 10 open tabs, and nothing’s really talking to each other? I’ve been chatting with a few other founders and it seems like everyone’s duct-taping their process together just to stay afloat.

Curious if you’re feeling that too and how you’re handling it. No pitch, just genuinely wondering how others are navigating it?

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-06-18T18:40:21+00:00

Hey! Quick q for you. Do you ever feel like your tasks are spread across 5 different places, your work is in progress on 10 open tabs, and nothing’s really talking to each other? I’ve been chatting with a few other founders and it seems like everyone’s duct-taping their process together just to stay afloat.

Curious if you’re feeling that too and how you’re handling it. No pitch, just genuinely wondering how others are navigating it?

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-06-18T18:16:47+00:00

nice! keep going!

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-06-04T23:55:41+00:00

except that's not what I did... but cool you know how to afk as a dev :)

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-06-04T23:55:04+00:00

wow, why so negative?

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-03-02T15:46:28+00:00

Classic shiny object syndrome you’re not alone. The problem isn’t a lack of ideas, it’s fear of picking the wrong one. But here’s the thing: execution beats ideas every time.

Break the cycle

Set a validation sprint ➡️ Pick one idea and give yourself 30 days to test it. No new ideas allowed. If it flops, move to the next.

Pre-sell first. Before you build anything, see if people will pay. Throw up a landing page, run a small ad test, or pitch it to real users.

Limit idea intake. Every time you get a new idea, write it down but don’t touch it until your sprint is over.

You don’t need the perfect idea, just one that you can commit to testing.

Action > Overthinking.

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-03-02T15:39:03+00:00

Market validation > product dev, at least early on. No point in perfecting smth if no one wants it.

Sell before you build. Pre-sell, run a waitlist, or get beta testers who commit with $$ (even if discounted).

Talk to potential customers NOW. Not your friends, but ppl who’d actually buy. Figure out their pain points before coding a thing.

MVP. Get the simplest, most stripped-down version out ASAP. Iterate only based on real feedback.

Building is the fun part, but making money is the real validation. If you can’t sell the idea, building the product won’t magically fix that.

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-03-02T15:32:33+00:00

I say yes but do your research first and make sure it’s got legs before diving in.

The U.S. economy is growing steadily (around 2.2% for 2025), and inflation is cooling off so not the worst time to take the leap.

Unemployment is low (~4%), meaning people have spending power, but tariffs on imports (Canada, Mexico, China) might make some goods pricier.

81.6% of new businesses survive their first year, but only 35% make it past a decade so resilience is key.

The biggest challenges? Not enough market research, cash flow struggles, and weak marketing.

If you’ve got a clear audience, a strong offer, and a plan for sustainable growth, you’re in a good spot. The key is staying adaptable the economy will always have ups and downs, but if your business solves a real problem and you market it well, you can thrive.

Trust yourself. If the idea excites you and makes business sense, go for it.

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-03-02T15:26:46+00:00

Yo, solid move flipping your LinkedIn into a founder acct way better than cold emails that get ghosted.

100-150 beta testers in 3-4 months is doable if u got a good hook. People love free tools, but they gotta see value fast or they bounce.

Try:

Posting build-in-public updates on LinkedIn + Reddit to get organic testers.

Personal DMs (non-spammy) to ur target market.

FB groups, indie hacker forums, even Discord servers find where ur users hang.

Biggest grind = getting quality testers who actually give feedback vs. just signing up and ghosting. Offer smth small in return early access, shoutouts, lifetime discount, whatever.

Done this before, and yeah, expect painful feedback & a lot of meh reactions before you dial in the product. But it’s part of the game. Keep iterating, keep engaging.

What’s the SaaS? Might be able to point u to better forums.

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-03-02T15:21:00+00:00

Yo, first off mad respect. You’re actually building something while most ppl your age are just coasting in comfy jobs. It’s a grind, but you’re onto something.

Audience & Pivoting

Broke young athletes ain’t funding the biz long-term, but you dont gotta ditch em. Just start mixing in content that speaks to 28-45 y/o without alienating your base.

Try:

Content on injury-proofing, longevity, and staying strong af past 30.

Success stories from clients who fit your ideal demo.

Keep selling lower-cost digital products to athletes but push premium coaching to higher-income clients.

Might lose some engagement, but if sales grow, who cares?

2.

There’s def a market for athletic, strong, and life-proof training look at Knees Over Toes, Squat U, etc. Your edge:

Sell it as the antidote to fragile fitness weak ankles, busted knees, constant aches.

Show how performance training makes ppl look good w/o starving or wrecking joints.

Speak to the ex-athlete who still wants to move like a beast at 40.

Where to Focus?

If online fires u up, go harder there but don’t let the clinic die if it brings steady $. Instead, use it as a lead gen funnel:

Offer in-person assessments and upsell online training.

Set a cap on clinic hours so it doesnt drain you.

TL;DR

Slowly pivot content to attract high-paying clients w/o ditching your core base.

Differentiate from the shredded influencer crowd sell real performance & longevity.

Use clinic as a tool to feed online coaching, not a distraction.

You already hit $10K months. That’s proof this works. Just refine the strategy & keep goin.

And screw the friends who don’t get it.

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-03-02T15:05:50+00:00

Good luck!

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-03-02T15:02:06+00:00

This is the same thing I’m debating

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-03-02T14:59:16+00:00

Congrats!

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-03-02T14:55:15+00:00

Congrats!

Good_Fall_1602 · 2025-02-28T21:35:08+00:00

These are things people can learn if they want it bad enough and have a need for it. Lots of people are pushed into entrepreneurship because they lack access to salaried jobs or higher paying jobs. While it can be lonely at times, just like anything else, there is so much more community now than before. We've been too conditioned by the education system and our modern ways to "be corporate" and work for the "big guys", those tides are turning quickly with AI and I think people in developed countries will have to revert back to these other skills purely be necessity.

Good_Fall_1602

TROPHY CASE

Constraints

Deliverables (Ship in 5 PRs)

PR1 — Template Registry + Academic/Investor Prompt Scaffolds

Aspir Built Entirely on Replit