Do Things That Don't Scale
A directory of startups that did things that don't scale
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Rajat Gupta

Do Things That Don't Scale - A directory of startups that did things that don't scale

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A curated directory of startups that did things that don't scale. Discover 100+ examples of founders' scrappy tactics, from YC-backed companies to unicorns. Get inspired, learn unconventional growth strategies, and share your own startup story.

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Rajat Gupta
Maker
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Hello, PH community! 👋 I'm excited to introduce https://dothingsthatdontscale.org - a directory of startups that did things that don't scale. As a startup enthusiast, I've always been fascinated by the scrappy, unconventional tactics founders use to get their businesses off the ground. I found myself collecting these stories, and before I knew it, I had a goldmine of inspiration. So, I thought: why not share this with the world? Here's what you'll find: - 100+ examples of founders getting their hands dirty - Stories from YC-backed companies, unicorns, and more - Searchable by industry & tactic - New stories added weekly Some of my favorite examples: - Airbnb founders photographing listings themselves - Stripe doing on-site installations - DoorDash founders delivering food - Zappos buying shoes from retail stores to fulfill orders The site is still in its early stages, and I'm constantly working to improve it. Coming soon: - More detailed case studies - Improved search and filtering - User-submitted stories - Integration with other startup resources I built this in just a couple of days, inspired by the very principle it celebrates - doing things that don't scale! I'd love to hear your feedback: - What other features would you like to see? - Are there any amazing startup stories I've missed? - How could this resource be even more useful for founders? Check it out and let me know what you think. And if you have a scrappy startup story of your own, I'd love to add it to the collection! Happy hunting! Your sleep-deprived creator, Rajat
Elijah Scott Fitzgerald
Just checked it out and I gotta say, it's a pretty cool idea! Love the stories from big startups like Airbnb and Stripe. I can see this being super useful for early-stage founders. Congrats on putting this together!
Rajat Gupta
Maker
@elijahscottfitzgerald Thank you, Elijah! I'm thrilled you found the stories inspiring. You're right, my goal is to provide valuable insights for early-stage founders. Appreciate your support!
Shushant Lakhyani
I hope more makers know about this, because this will help them a lot
Rajat Gupta
Maker
@shushant_lakhyani Absolutely, Shushant! We're working on spreading the word to reach more makers. Thanks for recognizing its potential to help others.
Sergey Li
This is super valuable! Learning from actual practices is how we actually learn things. We should have more of this. Thank you!