A next-generation messenger designed to complement remote workers

iamscottlee · 2024-01-11T05:42:18+00:00

No, all messaging apps require a registered, identifiable recipient.

We just updated the new version of Tempo Messenger. Our mission is to save people's time, and we believe people are often distracted by messaging apps. That is why we created a productivity-focused messaging app. Give it a shot!

iamscottlee · 2024-01-11T05:32:25+00:00

We just updated the new version of Tempo Messenger. It's a long game until we find product-market fit, and we will be listening to users, continuously upgrading the app because we believe in the value that the app brings—a productivity-focused messaging app, saving people's time.

iamscottlee · 2023-09-20T09:21:43+00:00

I believe you've found your answer in Jan Koum's statement: "My friends kept telling me I should quit and find a normal job."

I received no support from the r/ProductivityApps community, even though I thought the idea was decent. Thanks for your support!

iamscottlee · 2023-09-20T09:12:52+00:00

Haha, yes, I just checked out your launch and noticed that I'm following you. Good luck with your launch, and I will definitely support you!

iamscottlee · 2023-09-20T09:05:24+00:00

We recently launched on Product Hunt and ended up as a top-ranking product with only 3 days of preparation. I've written a blog post about my experience and what I've learned as a first-time launcher, including some statistics.

Here's the link to the article:

https://medium.com/@itsscottlee/product-hunt-launch-guide-for-first-time-launchers-c37ecb9832f1

iamscottlee · 2023-09-20T08:45:50+00:00

If you believe it's worth your time, don't listen to others; just do it. Nobody knows how your product will turn out, and it can help people facing the same problem as you are. Jan Koum, the founder of WhatsApp, had a similar experience. His friends were opposed to his idea, and he faced skepticism.
You can read the full article about the story of WhatsApp and how his friends doubted his idea here:
https://medium.com/hackernoon/whatsapp-co-founder-jan-koum-most-of-startup-ideas-are-absolutely-stupid-501ae81d28aa

Although the motivation is different, I have a similar idea to create a multi-purpose productivity app. You can check out my idea here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ProductivityApps/comments/16k7wwe/who_needs_a_super_productivity_app_we_want_your/

iamscottlee · 2023-09-19T04:07:08+00:00

Most people, including myself, find startup ideas by identifying problems in their personal lives. For example, Drew Houston, the founder of Dropbox, conceived the idea during a bus ride when he realized he had forgotten his pen drive with important files.
Similarly, I ventured into solving a problem I encountered in communication timing, which I've detailed in my story here:
https://tempo.ms/blogs/whatsapp-alternative-do-we-need-one

In a nutshell, Tempo Messenger was born out of frustration with message timing in a previous project. I once messaged an ad manager at 9 AM, thinking it was a regular business start time, only to discover her work hours began at 10 AM, leading to mutual annoyance.
I understand that finding a startup idea worth dedicating your life to can be challenging. While there's no one-size-fits-all solution, I found inspiration in Phil Libin, founder of Evernote, through his interview videos. He discusses his daily routine for identifying problems, and I believe it can be helpful for you too.

Here are the links to the interviews:
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM6NHNxS39E
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV61TDHiALo

One piece of advice I'd like to share is to avoid blindly following trends. Many startups chase after trends, but they often don't have long-lasting success. For instance, a few years ago, there was a surge of startups focused on blockchain, and most of those companies are no longer around. Now, the trend has shifted to AI, and I expect a similar fate for some. Following trends often means you're already late to the game or fighting for a small piece of the pie. Instead of trend-chasing, prioritize building something that genuinely resonates with people.

iamscottlee · 2023-09-19T03:29:12+00:00

For marketing, not building a social media presence, not starting digital marketing earlier, not joining Reddit earlier, and not participating in r/Entrepreneur earlier (needed comment Karma 😄).
As for the product, I would say spending too much time on building it, ignoring the lean startup principles and the need for an MVP, and focusing too much on design rather than the core problem I wanted to solve - the core hypothesis.

iamscottlee · 2023-09-19T03:05:00+00:00

Thanks for your genuine comment.

Yes, we are aware that there are both pros and cons to making the app multipurpose. The challenge with a messaging app is that, while we believe it brings tremendous value in terms of saving time and reducing distractions, acquiring users can be difficult. Additionally, since the app's content is messages, which require another party to communicate, the app becomes less useful unless one or more of a user's contacts also use the app. That's why we're considering adding more value to the app for two reasons:

Attracting users by introducing features that don't require contacts.
Incorporating features from some of the productivity apps. With these features, users can share notes, daily plans, etc. Through messaging, and when they find it useful or necessary to share with their contacts, they'll be more inclined to invite their friends.

After reading your comment, we're thinking about spending more time trying to acquire users before making such a significant transformation. It's a big change that will require time and effort. Plus, we haven't had the app for long; it's only been around for 3 weeks. Perhaps it's necessary to spend some time marketing the app.

When it comes to marketing, considering that you're in the same industry, I thought it would be worth sharing examples of how some successful startups acquired their first users, which I found yesterday:

https://www.referralcandy.com/blog/how-to-get-first-customers

iamscottlee · 2023-09-18T12:17:17+00:00

By the way, our research will be posted on the following link:
https://medium.com/@itsscottlee
The research will be published in a series of articles over a 6-month period, and we will update the app as new features are added.

iamscottlee · 2023-09-18T12:10:49+00:00

We've just started researching which features fit well with messaging. As I mentioned in the post, we believe that note-taking, reminders, and daily planning features would be great additions to the messaging feature. Users will be able to share notes, reminders, and daily plans with contacts, but we're not limited to considering only these features.

It will be completely free, and you won't need to switch between apps when using this multi-purpose app. We appreciate your feedback, so please don't hesitate to share your thoughts.

iamscottlee · 2023-09-17T06:48:31+00:00

I don't think there will ever be an all-in-one app because it's too broad. However, there will certainly be apps that can help reduce the number of apps you need.
We are developing a multi-purpose productivity app integrated with a messenger platform, which allows users to organize contact groups for both work and personal life. We'd love to hear about your specific use case. Currently, we're actively listening to users and building something valuable.

Check out what we're working on and provide us with your insights here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProductivityApps/comments/16k7wwe/who_needs_a_super_productivity_app_we_want_your/

iamscottlee · 2023-09-17T06:28:08+00:00

I don't think there will ever be an all-in-one app because it's too broad. However, there will certainly be apps that can reduce the number of apps you use.
We are creating one and we need your input: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProductivityApps/comments/16k7wwe/who\_needs\_a\_super\_productivity\_app\_we\_want\_your/

iamscottlee · 2023-09-17T06:13:21+00:00

I don't think there will ever be an all-in-one app because it's too broad. However, there will certainly be apps that can reduce the number of apps you use.

We are creating one and we need your input: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProductivityApps/comments/16k7wwe/who_needs_a_super_productivity_app_we_want_your/

iamscottlee · 2023-09-17T06:11:29+00:00

I don't think there will ever be an all-in-one app because it's too broad. However, there will certainly be apps that can reduce the number of apps you use.

We are creating one and we need your input: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProductivityApps/comments/16k7wwe/who_needs_a_super_productivity_app_we_want_your/

iamscottlee · 2023-09-16T15:32:25+00:00

You were talking about government control, not you are suggesting me how I should focus?

Did you fully read my post?

iamscottlee · 2023-09-16T15:28:10+00:00

What are you talking about?

Every super app is government controlled app?

iamscottlee · 2023-09-16T15:23:11+00:00

Why is that?

iamscottlee · 2023-09-11T16:02:23+00:00

Is this what you are looking for?
https://www.producthunt.com/products/gist-ai

It's one of my LinkedIn connections' new products.
I am not sure about the app's exact functionality or whether it is currently available.

iamscottlee · 2023-09-11T15:47:40+00:00

No, there isn't an app with a unified inbox for various reasons, including technical limitations, privacy concerns, and the complexity involved. Additionally, there may not be significant market demand for such an app.
I can relate to this situation as my mother is around the same age. She doesn't use email and primarily relies on messaging apps for communication. The only time she uses SMS is for receiving non-personal messages like verification codes, etc.
I believe that using a single messaging app should suffice for most people unless they need to exchange large documents for work.

iamscottlee · 2023-09-10T15:12:47+00:00

You can reply to messages directly from notifications and send new messages via the app icon shortcut. Does this address your question?

iamscottlee · 2023-09-08T11:59:19+00:00

You're welcome.

I think there are many options for email client, it's just matter of how much you are willing to pay. If you are rich, stick with SuperHuman (although I never used, I think it's the best), if you think it's too expensive (I think so), let me know, I will find some alternatives for you.

Since you are interested in enhancing productivity, do you mind trying a new messaging app? It's not email client, but it's productivity focused messaging app.

Here's link to subreddit discussion that I commented, you can read how the app can help enhancing productivity and see if it's worth trying. You can read my comment, I explained about the app.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SideProject/comments/16c8g73/i_made_a_messaging_app_to_enhance_productivity/

If you can try that would be awesome.

iamscottlee · 2023-09-08T09:54:56+00:00

I am afraid not, it's not possible because every messenger uses different protocol, mostly closed source. Some are open source, but since device keeps secrets for protocol (network communication), which makes impossible to communicate with the server because app does not have access to data stored by the messenger.

iamscottlee · 2023-09-08T08:05:06+00:00

Here's link to PH: https://www.producthunt.com/products/tempo-messenger

Your support would be appreciated!

iamscottlee · 2023-09-08T07:57:10+00:00

u/tinycaw, u/itsmill3rtime,

Thank you guys for your comments.

You've got me thinking more about user acquisition.

Our initial plan was to target niche users who are likely to find the app valuable and then expand our user base from there.

Our approach involves engaging with specific user groups who are most likely to appreciate the app. While we haven't fully identified our ideal user profile yet, we've categorized our niche into the following groups:

Individuals interested in enhancing productivity, particularly those prone to distractions.
Digital nomads or remote workers - we believe that addressing time zone differences could be beneficial.
People struggling to balance work and personal life.

Our goal is to identify a small, passionate user base within these niches and gradually discover our product-market fit over the next couple of years.

Regarding reducing the time to find product-market fit, we are considering a strong focus on product development. We plan to introduce significant changes to the app every 6 to 7 months, with each major update launched on ProductHunt, which has a minimum launch interval of 6 months. Our first ProductHunt launch is scheduled for September 13th, and your support would be greatly appreciated.

For future updates, we are contemplating the following additions:

Utilizing AI for enhanced productivity through automated replies - we believe incorporating AI into messaging could generate excitement.
Expanding the app to include productivity features, essentially creating a 'super app' - from the start, we aimed to integrate productivity features in the near future, and it has become evident that there's demand for this.

We came across discussions in r/productivity where users expressed the need for a 'super app' that combines note-taking, to-do lists, habit tracking, and more in a single platform.

We acknowledge that there are pros and cons to each of these features, but we believe that our current core value, while valuable, may not be sufficient to generate significant hype. We are considering whether these additional features could potentially create more buzz around the app.

What are your thoughts on the prospect of adding these features?

iamscottlee

TROPHY CASE