Getting early users has been harder than building the first version.

We initially assumed that once the product was usable, finding a small group of early adopters would be straightforward. In reality, most people were interested in the problem but hesitant to try a new solution without proof, reviews, or an established user base.

A few lessons so far:

• Specific outreach works better than broad promotion.

• Conversations about the problem generate more useful feedback than product demos.

• Early users need a clear reason to switch now, not just a list of features.

• A small number of engaged users is more valuable than a large list of passive signups.

We are now focusing less on “getting users” and more on finding people who experience the problem frequently enough to help shape the product.

For founders who have been through this stage:

What helped you get your first genuinely active users?

Did you focus on outbound outreach, communities, partnerships, or something else?