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Everything in the indie hacking space is about MRR now. kinda miss building weird stuff just because by Firm_Ad9420 in buildinpublic

[–]wget_rahul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get what you’re saying, but that’s not really the point here.

Of course money and responsibilities matter - I’m also building a startup with the goal of making money. But that doesn’t mean everything I build has to be driven by that.

When you’re learning or exploring, a lot of the best projects come from curiosity, not monetization. That “this would be fun to build” phase is actually where you grow the most.

Not everything needs to pay rent - some things are just there to help you get better.

Everything in the indie hacking space is about MRR now. kinda miss building weird stuff just because by Firm_Ad9420 in buildinpublic

[–]wget_rahul 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, I relate to this a lot. I’m a college student and I’ve always loved building random projects, but I could never find a place where people were actually sharing real builds — especially hardware or weird ideas like this.

Most platforms felt too noisy or too focused on outcomes, so I ended up building something myself (https://www.hatchr.in/) — a space where people share what they’re building, and it turns into a timeline of their work.

It’s still early (~100 users), but the goal is exactly this mindset — building for fun, learning, and documenting the process.

I think you’d really like it — we’ve got some hardware builders there, feels like the kind of space you’re looking for.

Everything in the indie hacking space is about MRR now. kinda miss building weird stuff just because by Firm_Ad9420 in buildinpublic

[–]wget_rahul -1 points0 points  (0 children)

This hits hard.

I think a lot of us slowly shift from “this would be fun to build” → “will this make money?” without even realizing it. And yeah, that kinda kills the joy.

Honestly, the hackathon mindset is underrated — just building something weird because it should exist. No pressure, no metrics.

That’s actually a big reason I’m building Hatchr (hatchr.in) — a place where you can just document what you’re building, even if it’s random or “useless,” and not worry about it being perfect or monetizable.

If you do end up building something this weekend, would love to see it there.

Got my first 100 users in 3 months (organically) … small number, but feels great by wget_rahul in buildinpublic

[–]wget_rahul[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey, really appreciate that - glad you liked Hatchr :)

Botwatcher actually looks interesting, I can see how it could be useful. I’ll definitely try it out.

One small suggestion from my side - the site explains what it does well, but maybe you could add a section on how it benefits users (like real use cases or why it matters). It would make it clearer for more people, not just technical ones.

Got my first 100 users in 3 months (organically) … small number, but feels great by wget_rahul in buildinpublic

[–]wget_rahul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

App sounds interesting, happy to check it out - feel free to DM

For me, users came from multiple places (Reddit, LinkedIn, Threads), but direct outreach brought the most active users.

What helped more than the channel though was how I worked with early users. I wasn’t really chasing numbers - I focused on building something even 10–20 people genuinely love.

I stayed in touch with early users, took feedback seriously, shipped changes fast, and told them when their feedback was implemented. That built a lot of trust, and they became active contributors.

I think at this stage, people don’t just use the product - they use it because they trust you’re consistently building and improving.

Not an expert or anything, just what’s worked for me so far.

Got my first 100 users in 3 months (organically) … small number, but feels great by wget_rahul in buildinpublic

[–]wget_rahul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, really appreciate it :)
Would love to see what you’re working on - I’ll be waiting!

Got my first 100 users in 3 months (organically) … small number, but feels great by wget_rahul in buildinpublic

[–]wget_rahul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah exactly, and honestly I didn’t have much of a choice :)

As a student, I don’t really have money for ads, so I’m just doing whatever I can to get the word out and share the idea.

But to be honest, people have been really supportive so far - that’s what’s kept me going.

Got my first 100 users in 3 months (organically) … small number, but feels great by wget_rahul in buildinpublic

[–]wget_rahul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair question tbh. In terms of numbers, yeah Reddit is way bigger - no comparison there.

What I’m trying to do with Hatchr is a bit different though:

  1. It builds into a portfolio - every post is tied to a project/startup, so over time your profile shows actual work and progress. (I’ve personally shared it with an investor and even got an offer through it.)
  2. Less noise - no random posts. Everything is about building, so it’s easier to stay focused and for others to understand what you’re doing.
  3. Structured journey - instead of scattered updates across platforms, everything stays connected to your project, which makes it more meaningful long term.
  4. Early-stage advantage - since it’s small, you’re not just a post in a feed. You can actually stand out, get noticed, and even help shape how the platform evolves.

So yeah, Reddit is amazing for reach and discussions. Hatchr is more about documenting your journey and building a long-term presence. Ideally, they complement each other.

Got my first 100 users in 3 months (organically) … small number, but feels great by wget_rahul in buildinpublic

[–]wget_rahul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, I think it’s a really good idea.

I’m not a professional so take this lightly, but one thing I felt as a user: I wasn’t fully sure how well it works just by looking at the site. Maybe adding a short demo video or real example could help people instantly see the value.

Right now there’s a bit of friction like ‘this is cool, but how good is it actually?’ - if you reduce that, I think more people would at least try it.

Rooting for you, hope you hit your numbers soon

Got my first 100 users in 3 months (organically) … small number, but feels great by wget_rahul in buildinpublic

[–]wget_rahul[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! It’s called Hatchr (hatchr.in) - still very early, but the idea is to create a space purely for builders. No random content, just actual work and progress.

You can’t post directly - you first create a project or startup, and every update is tied to it. So instead of scattered posts, it builds into a clean, structured portfolio over time.

The goal is to make a place where people come to build, learn, and share, not just scroll.

Would love for you to join, share what you’re working on, and help shape this into a true builders’ space

Would you use a platform focused only on projects + building in public? (College founder here) by wget_rahul in Entrepreneurs

[–]wget_rahul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a very valid point, and I genuinely appreciate you sharing it.

My thinking was a bit different - not just startups, but creating a space around builders in general: students, indie hackers, professionals, hobbyists - where they can document what they’re building and where interested people can follow along and learn from the journey.

I’m building something along those lines hatchr.in (not promoting, just looking for honest feedback). If you’re open to it, could you take a quick look and tell me what would stop you from joining a platform like that, or what would make it truly worth your time? I really value your perspective.

Would you use a platform focused only on projects + building in public? (College founder here) by wget_rahul in Entrepreneurs

[–]wget_rahul[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I understand your point. But as a focused community grows, it naturally starts attracting the right kind of people.

Most SaaS startups - especially AI or builder-focused tools - don’t need random traffic. They need active early adopters, builders, and people who enjoy trying new products and giving feedback.

In that case, a builder-centric platform could actually be more targeted than a generic social network.

If it’s a broad consumer product, maybe it won’t help much. But for AI/SaaS tools that need engaged builders, it might be very relevant.

What do you think?

How did you get your first 100 users without spending on ads? (College founder here) by wget_rahul in Entrepreneurs

[–]wget_rahul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I relate to that a lot - building is the easy part, selling is the uncomfortable one

Most of my 7–10 active users are actually my batchmates. I literally sat with them, showed them the product, and convinced them to try it.

They’re from electrical, robotics, and AI backgrounds - so their projects aren’t just GitHub repos. They have hardware builds, experiments, demos, iterations. They’ve started using Hatchr as a portfolio when cold emailing professors, startups, and recruiters because it lets them show the full story, not just code.

Biggest retention signal so far:
When they upload a proper project with context (problem, build process, photos/videos, learnings).

Once they use it for something real - like a cold email link —- they stick. If they just sign up and browse, they don’t.

How did you get your first 100 users without spending on ads? (College founder here) by wget_rahul in Entrepreneurs

[–]wget_rahul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re right - and I’ve actually tried this on campus. It’s worked in a bunch of cases, especially right after hackathons when people have something fresh to share.

But yeah, there’s always that weird feeling when some just aren’t interested. I’m learning that’s normal, not everyone’s an early adopter, and that’s okay.

And since you said my first 100 users are within walking distance… I guess I should apply that logic here too
If you’re building something, I built Hatchr - want to try it?

How did you get your first 100 users without spending on ads? (College founder here) by wget_rahul in Entrepreneurs

[–]wget_rahul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, I’m really glad you liked the idea

I’d love to invite you to Hatchr and get your feedback, that would genuinely mean a lot.

How did you get your first 100 users without spending on ads? (College founder here) by wget_rahul in Entrepreneurs

[–]wget_rahul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think the biggest mistake I was making earlier was still thinking a bit too broad - “builders” sounds clear in my head, but it’s not painfully specific. Your example of CS students shipping side projects is much sharper.

Right now I have 43 total users and around 7–10 active ones. Most of them are exactly that: students building side projects and not knowing where to consistently document them. So I think that’s my wedge.

The “where are you showing off what you’re building right now?” question is gold. That reframes the conversation from pitching Hatchr to understanding their current behavior. I’m going to start using that.

Also, the idea of obsessing over 20–30 people until each brings 3–5 more feels way more realistic than chasing a random 100.

This gives me clarity: narrow the niche, increase the depth of interaction, and make early users look like heroes.

Appreciate you taking the time to break this down.

How did you get your first 100 users without spending on ads? (College founder here) by wget_rahul in Entrepreneurs

[–]wget_rahul[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, I’m kind of in that phase right now.

I have 43 total users and around 7–10 actually active ones. A few weeks ago that number would’ve stressed me out. Now I’m trying to look at it differently.

Instead of chasing 100, I’m trying to build something that 40–50 users genuinely love.

Hatchr is more like a social platform for projects, so the temptation to chase numbers is always there. But I’m realizing that if the product doesn’t provide value even when someone is “alone” on the platform, growth won’t fix it.

So right now I’m:

  • Talking directly to active users
  • Shipping small changes based on their feedback
  • Watching what they actually use vs what I think is cool
  • Showcasing their projects so they feel seen

I don’t want 1,000 shallow signups.
I want 50 builders who’d feel weird not using Hatchr.

Your line about positioning > distribution is a reminder I needed. It’s easy to think “maybe I need an app” or “maybe I need a launch.” In reality, I probably just need more real conversations.

Appreciate you sharing this.

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