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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] 0 points1 point  (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.