Building my startup in public

Key Takeaways & Insights

Viral launch can generate significant initial traction and investor interest but may also expose product weaknesses and create pressure.
Fundraising is a learning process; founders should guide conversations with VCs rather than treating them like job interviews.
Momentum in fundraising is crucial; packing many meetings in a short time helps maintain it.
Receiving many rejections ("nos") is normal and expected; persistence is key.
Building a startup in San Francisco offers unparalleled networking opportunities, despite the city's downsides.
Building in public is highly recommended for distribution and growth, but focus on mastering one platform before expanding.
Early MVPs often are imperfect; feedback from users is invaluable for product iteration.
Viral marketing is a new but evolving playbook: launch a rough MVP, go viral, learn from data, improve the product, then retain users.
Mental resilience is essential to cope with public scrutiny after going viral.
Founders should prioritize user needs and product quality over trying to appease algorithms or external pressures.

Fundraising:
Schedule as many VC meetings as possible in a condensed timeframe to maintain momentum.
Take initiative to lead VC conversations.
Expect a high volume of rejections; persistence leads to eventual success.
Use early fundraising rounds to validate demand and prepare for larger raises later.
Product Development:
Launch a minimum viable product (MVP) quickly to gather real user feedback.
Iterate rapidly based on user data and feedback.
Prioritize building a product that users will retain and find valuable.
Building in Public:
Choose one social media platform to focus on initially (e.g., YouTube or Twitter).
Publish frequently to gain confidence and momentum (e.g., 10-15 posts/videos before analyzing impact).
Focus content on audience interest rather than algorithm optimization.
Build a personal brand to aid future product distribution.
Networking & Location:
Engage actively in local startup communities and events for networking and learning.
Balance between grinding alone and attending events for relationship building.
Mental Health:
Accept the emotional challenges of public scrutiny and rejection.
Take breaks and engage in activities that clear the mind (e.g., sports).

Viral launch video stats: 750,000 views on Twitter, 200,000 on Threads, 100,000 on Instagram.
Raised $100,000 out of an initial $1 million fundraising goal.
Conducted about 30 to 40 VC calls but noted the need for more to maintain momentum.
Product focus: video editing through text prompts to simplify and speed up editing.
Real example: Uploading 70 clips from a vlog for text-prompt editing and removing filler words.
Used Gemini AI models to analyze inspiration links and video style.
Personal anecdotes: coding challenges, bug fixes, and balancing fundraising with product work.
Mentioned events: Cluey after YC launch party, Browser Base launch party.
San Francisco experience: Founders Inc. community, Adobe office partnerships, and self-driving car rides.
Founders interviewed: Two with 400,000 LinkedIn followers, focused on building viral content and niche dominance.
Reference to "Uncle T" — a developer building real-time apps and dev tools (gabber.de).

Treating fundraising as a passive Q&A rather than guiding the conversation.
Trying to spread content creation across too many platforms at once leading to burnout.
Expecting viral launch to be easy or painless; mental strain and criticism are common.
Focusing excessively on algorithm tricks rather than audience engagement.
Dragging out fundraising for too long without traction can kill momentum.
Neglecting product quality and user retention in favor of chasing virality.
Avoid waiting too long to launch — launching early helps validate real demand.
Being too extreme in avoiding events or networking can limit growth opportunities.

Platforms: Twitter, Threads, Instagram, YouTube for building audience and marketing.
Tools: Gemini AI for video analysis, gabber.de for real-time app development.
Communities: Founders Inc., YC events, Cluey, Browser Base launch party.
Recommended actions:
Focus on rapid MVP iteration and user feedback.
Schedule concentrated fundraising efforts.
Build personal brand on one social media platform.
Attend startup events and network actively.
Maintain mental health and balance work with rest.
Follow-up content: upcoming vlogs of launch parties and further fundraising insights.