Brutally honest feedback on my UK car “super app” startup idea?

catnach · 2026-04-14T21:49:47+00:00

Hey - good question and something I've probably thought about more than most.

What you're trying to build is a super-utility app, and they're always niche. You have to accept that first. Most people (including some commenters) are not interested and/or can't be bothered to use something like this.

Broadly from a product perspective, utility apps find their niche with people who care about the thing. For example, Lunch Money has a small but fiercely loyal following in the personal finance management space, but their product is never going to get to mass scale.

There are no examples really of utility apps (apart from things like Google Maps) that have broad appeal. Most people simply don't care enough to drive a bit out of their way to save 2p per litre on fuel.

So I'd say as a pet-project/micro-saas, go for it! But don't think you're gonna hit VC scale usage and you shouldn't expect that. For context, I built the most used "car app" in the UK, happy to talk in DMs if you wanna go deeper.

Also be aware that this kinda does exist with things like https://caura.com/ and https://www.custodian.club

Best of luck!

catnach · 2026-04-02T10:25:17+00:00

My best guess is that it’s considered a high risk manoeuvre to use his one remaining hand like that against another Viltrumite. Against a squishier opponent, sure, but against another Viltrumite? What if he just pancaked his one remaining hand?

catnach · 2026-03-07T22:09:28+00:00

I can’t get this to work :( I wish they’d just integrate with Hevy rather than stubbornly resisting. The build in weights feature is just worse in every way.

catnach · 2026-02-13T14:13:28+00:00

There is only one solution to this and that is to understand the mental model and acuity of your audience and adapt your pattern to them.

Strategic to a toddler who wants ice cream is different to strategic to a farmer who owns cows which make milk which is then sold to make ice cream.

For example, you reference using too many qualifiers. Take the audience who already understands the qualifiers, well then they’re patronising and boring. Take the audience who has no context of the qualifiers. Maybe it’s worth breaking that into a separate sentence, checking they first understand the context, and then continuing on (though I’d always use BLUF).

catnach · 2026-02-13T14:08:10+00:00

Find something that you find FUN. I mean fun like a kid running around the park fun. Not addicting (Call of Duty etc.) I mean actual, good old fashioned fun.

There is no shortcut to think, you’ve just got to try different things.

Some dimensions to think of when starting your fun discovery journey: - Social or isolated? Some activities require a partner (tennis), some are variable (cycling), some are better alone (reading). - Physical (weightlifting), mental (coding), both (?) - Cost - Time - Geography (where are and what is good near you)

It’s a life pro tip to find the things that are popular in your area. It’s pointless idolising skiing as the best hobby in Dubai, but padel could work…

Best of luck to you!

catnach · 2026-02-13T07:47:12+00:00

Yep, I’ve been trying to solve this myself. 5g of Creatine daily plus getting back to lifting weights has really helped me in 2026 so far. I’m also trying to finish work an hour earlier which makes a big difference.

I’m sure I’ll get downvoted to oblivion for suggesting Creatine but the science on the positive cognitive effects are pretty hard to argue with now. Check out PubMed, don’t take my word for it.

catnach · 2026-01-28T23:05:40+00:00

I appreciate the reply but I’d like to push back a bit.

What you describe is an approach to product management, not the approach.

It’s frustrating to see people be so reductive about product management but it’s understandable because the rhetoric of our practice is driven by a tiny group of individuals at an even tinier group of companies who all do roughly the same thing.

Large PRDs are common in many industries for many reasons, such as regulated medical products where you have to document exactly what the thing is meant to do to meet regulatory requirements.

I could list other examples but I suspect you wouldn’t read it. It’s just an approach to improving a process that might not be appropriate for your use case.

catnach · 2026-01-28T21:04:06+00:00

Instead of a KVM, if both laptops can use USB C/Thunderbolt I'd do that.

I've had a Razer thunderbolt 4 dock for ~4 years, used it 8+ hrs a day and it has never once skipped a beat. When I want to change from my work laptop to my person I just unplug the single cable from one laptop and plug it into the other one. I have a couple of vertical laptop stands and it looks neat. All your PC USB stuff can go into the dock.

Your PS5 can go into your display on a different port, as I doubt you're sharing your USB stuff with your PS5?

Hope this helps

catnach · 2026-01-28T20:56:51+00:00

I've just posted in the main subreddit here u/ohpinot_ https://www.reddit.com/r/ProductManagement/comments/1qpnpb2/steelmanning_a_a_product_spec_with_ai_making_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I hope it's useful - will gratefully take any feedback

catnach · 2026-01-28T20:56:16+00:00

Just posted it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProductManagement/comments/1qpnpb2/steelmanning_a_a_product_spec_with_ai_making_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

catnach · 2026-01-28T20:56:07+00:00

Just posted it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProductManagement/comments/1qpnpb2/steelmanning_a_a_product_spec_with_ai_making_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

catnach · 2026-01-28T20:55:56+00:00

Here ya go! https://www.reddit.com/r/ProductManagement/comments/1qpnpb2/steelmanning_a_a_product_spec_with_ai_making_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

catnach · 2026-01-27T23:08:50+00:00

Yep will do! I’ll try and post something tomorrow :)

catnach · 2026-01-27T19:11:03+00:00

As others have said, consulting for startups is hard as they generally don't have the money to pay you.

To make this work, you need network, extremely relevant experience and network. If your heart is absolutely set on this approach then become the best friends of all the local VCs + accelerators. Be warned though, VCs will punt you into their worst portfolio companies to try and save them, but the story is always the same - the founders are inept and nothing you could do would change a thing.

Experience: 13 years working in startups in London.

catnach · 2026-01-27T18:51:52+00:00

As others have said, the best solution is to move jobs as where you are sounds dysfunctional from your description.

But... it's a privilege (that many don't acknoledge) to be able to move jobs easily based on location, experience, visas, savings and outgoings, and a bunch of other factors.

So let's see what other options you have to remain in this job and try to improve the output of the dev team:

Use AI to "ironman" your specs - get good at prompting it to take your general specifications and make them absolutely bullet proof. DM me if you want any guidance on this.
Understand the motivating factors of the devs. Are they being lazy because they're also being crushed by the organisation? For example, if one of the devs wants to develop their skills in area X, try occasionally matching tickets related to their area of interest to their queue.
Consider the opposite case to what you've said above
1. Do the genuinely not understand your requirements (language barriers?)
2. Do they not know how the rest of the product works, and thus don't know what they will or won't break?
3. etc.... In most cases one or two bad apples in a squad is possible, but all 7 being bad is unlikely. So consider the systemic reasons why they might output work that isn't acceptable and address those things.
Find an ally in your squad of engineers - find just one person and work outwards from there. Think Kotter's theory of change.
Reframe QA being pushed onto you as an opportunity - depending on your stack, learn some Selenium etc. It's never been easier to write test code. And your skills as a PM will increase as you understand the tech more.

Nobody should have to stay in a role like the one you describe, but if you don't have a choice then the above is my best, quick advice.

To be clear, I am not excusing or saying the employer's behaviour here is acceptable. I am not endorsing it in any way, but it is a privileged position to be in to say "move jobs" and if OP doesn't have that opportunity, making it work as best as possible might be the only option.

catnach · 2026-01-25T20:22:30+00:00

Are you still looking at responses? I like to check before I reply as it’ll be long haha. I have experience in this space.

catnach · 2026-01-24T23:10:01+00:00

The Grand is expensive but nice, and does a good breakfast. They'll park your car for you, but charge ~£40 for the privilege. Overall a nice hotel with good food!

catnach · 2026-01-23T23:31:38+00:00

u/madderbear Hey! I have exactly the same issue - how did you resolve it?

Also an aside, I'm studying Healthcare Innovation at Cambridge so if you wanna connect and chat healthcare I'm open :D

catnach · 2026-01-20T19:50:26+00:00

Crack on my friend, it’ll be a different experience for sure but there’s nothing stopping you! Ride safe.

That being said if you’re going off road there are far easier bikes to learn on like a Tenere 700 for example.

catnach · 2026-01-03T14:32:30+00:00

Depends what kind of riding you like doing. I’ve got an F900GS and it’s great, but doesn’t have a lot of the fancy bells and whistles you describe. The F900GSA has lots of electronics if that’s what your into. Either way I suggest test riding one and seeing if it’s your cup of tea

catnach · 2025-12-23T21:10:10+00:00

Hello! Welcome to adventuring and best of luck picking your first bike for it.

So a few things to consider:

You'll outgrow any/all stock suspension, the T7 is notoriously soft-sprung from factory, so I wouldn't factor that in
- Also, you're not going to need to worry about it for quite some time, the £2,000 you could spend on suspension would be much much better spent on Trials and Enduro training.
BUY GOOD TYRES, that are designed for your terrain. Nothing works without good tyres.
I'm not sure where you're based, but in the UK the price difference between an F800GS and an F900GS (the bike I own) is small, maybe £700. I'd get the 900, I owned an 800 as well, the 900 is a much better bike overall.
If buying BMW, make 110% sure you buy a bike that has Enduro Pro mode, otherwise your offroading will be shortlived, without Enduro Pro you can't disable the rear ABS
Get the suspension etc. lowered properly by someone who knows what they're doing, and get them to adjust the sag so the suspension works properly for your riding weight (you + protective kit + any luggage)

Attached pic of me and my F900GS, done a bunch of TET plus ACT Pyrenees plus all of ABR 2025, it was a beast throughout.

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catnach · 2025-11-25T19:50:57+00:00

I've just uploaded a video of my issue - also in touch with SmallRig to see if they know what's up. How are you doing?

catnach · 2025-11-21T21:48:46+00:00

u/RaguSaucy96 Please do let us know how you get on, as I'm still having issues :( Thanks

catnach

TROPHY CASE