I've always been on the personal brand side. More and more founders are building it now (sometimes even before the product is ready while it's still in development, before seed fundraising). The CEO builds their position so the product sells more easily at the official launch.
But I have experience with people who built the product, scaled it, and only then did we discover who was behind it.
Honestly, with the first approach, I'd be concerned that people invest more in me as a person than in the product. People would idealise the founder and overlook the product's flaws (which could hurt development and constructive feedback).
+ I noticed the most common mistake that many people who started building a personal brand first, connected their product to their personal accounts (emails, social media, etc.) and started having a problem selling these things, because they cannot "give someone keys" to their personal profiles.
On Friday I took my first salary as a founder. Paid by revenue. Not investment. My first one ever. So proud. Most startups die before they make $1. We ve been making revenue for 8 months. Even after pivoting from @Dolphin AI. I don t take this lightly. But it isn t about money. It s about the milestone. The fact that something didn t exist and now it does. Something people want. Are happy to pay for. And happy to be part of. @Pretty Prompt keeps surprising me week after week.
And it all started here on PH . If I could talk to my 2023 self, I d say: "Just keep pushing". Doesn t matter if you don t come from a CS degree, or didn t go to an Ivy League.
What matters is your ability to adapt, and move fast. This is proof. And I m super proud. I took my wife out for dinner. If I was motivated before Wait for what we ll do next with Charlie, my co-founder! Here s to the next Pretty milestone. And building things people want.
Let me start from the creator s perspective: I personally don t have a product (apart from hiring people for creative work or offering personal consultations).
But as a creator, I constantly share content, insights, and information, value that helps me build trust (for free). Based on that perceived expertise, people eventually decide to work with me (a paid service).
