A founder asks how people got their first paying customers
A founder on r/indiehackers asked other founders how they got their first paying customers. They said they want the real version, including ignored cold DMs, friends who said they would pay but did not, and the first stranger who entered a card. The writer said they are building SendApi, one API for WhatsApp, SMS, and email.
Key points
- The writer asks founders to share how they got their first paying customers.
- They want messy real stories, not polished success stories.
- They mention cold DMs, non-paying friends, and the first stranger who paid.
- The writer is building SendApi for WhatsApp, SMS, and email messages.
- They are open to tactics that worked even if they do not scale.
Quick term guide
- r/indiehackers
- A Reddit community for people building small internet businesses and products.
- founders
- People who are starting or running their own business or project.
- cold DMs
- Private messages sent to people who do not already know you.
- An app for sending messages and making calls.
- business
- An activity where you provide value to others in exchange for money.
- outreach
- Contacting people directly to start a conversation or ask for interest.
- pain point
- A specific problem or frustration that people experience repeatedly and want solved
- playbook
- The standard set of strategies the startup world treats as the 'right way' to build a company.