From dead side-projects to building a community map for expats — what I learned along the way

When vibe coding took off, it became possible to quickly turn product concepts into working software rather than leaving them in Figma or notes. But fast prototyping also made it easy to start projects without clarity, and I ended up abandoning a couple early on.

Now I’m focused on one specific problem: building a community app for expats and travelers from my country. It’s designed as a curated map where people pin local spots, share trusted services, and find businesses abroad where they can communicate comfortably in their native language.

For those building products for local communities or expats:

• How do you approach the initial cold-start problem (getting enough verified places onto the map)?

• What has been your biggest takeaway from previous projects that didn't take off?