We’re building a product to drive traction for our newsletter
It’s a 100% free, minimalist writing tool that uses AI to: Find the best sources Fact-check Spell-check …but puts the onus on you to actually write. As someone who enjoys writing, I love using it myself and I think anyone who wants to keep their own voice, research well, or jot down ideas will benefit from it without having to rely on AI to do the thinking. The idea came from an MIT article...
How much traction can you get before you even build the product?
Most founders rush into building, but some do the opposite. They validate demand first, sometimes without writing a single line of code. A few ways I’ve seen it done: 1)Run targeted ads to a simple landing page with email capture 2)Build a niche audience on social media 3)Publish a newsletter around the problem space 4)Use surveys or polls to gauge interest The benefit? You know exactly who’s...
What’s the weirdest pivot you’ve ever made?
I was reading about the origins of Slack recently. It started as an internal chat tool for a team building a multiplayer game called Glitch. The game flopped but the internal comms tool turned out to be the real gold. So they shut down the game and shipped the chat, the rest is startup legend. It’s a reminder that some of the best products aren’t the original idea, they’re what you discover...
We built an MVP in 48 hours - here's what we shipped vs what we skipped
After reading that MIT study on how using AI to write can reduce memory and critical thinking, we at IdeaTBD knew we wanted to build something fast - a tool that helps you write, not write for you. So we gave ourselves 48 hours to ship an MVP. Here's what made the cut and what didn’t. ✅ What We Shipped A simple, clean writing editor Real-time fact-check and spell-check A research side panel...
What’s one feature you regret building and why?
In college, I built a clean little notice board for campus events - post, register, stay in the loop. That was the plan. Then I got carried away. I added anonymous posts, upvotes, a forum - basically rebuilt Reddit for our college I couldn’t validate the original idea, and it slowly spiraled into a confused mush of features - trying to be too many things at once, and doing none of them well....
With AI making it easier for non-tech people to build, how technical should founders actually be?
You can now build MVPs with no-code and AI tools, no CS degree required. But once you get past the prototype, things get real. Launching a scalable product still demands technical depth. That’s why partnering with a great CTO still makes a ton of sense. But here’s the real question: Can a non-technical founder lead a tech product company all the way? And if so, Where do technical founders still...
Product Idea: What if Your Notes Could Think With You?
❗ The Problem We consume a ton of knowledge - articles, podcasts, voice notes, random ideas but it's scattered, siloed, and easy to forget. Most tools only store thoughts. What we really want is for ideas to connect, resurface, and spark something new. ✅ The Solution BrainBank is a living and social knowledge graph. It organizes your notes, voice memos, links, and insights into a visual map of...
Are there products that shouldn’t launch on Product Hunt?
Not every launch is a good fit and that’s okay. After following PH closely and launching myself, I’ve started thinking about where the line is. PH is incredible for: Consumer tools with a “wow” factor Indie hacks that spread through curiosity Startups solving relatable, niche pain points Products with a clear why now But not everything lands. Some products: Require too much context to excite a...