The hype around Building In Public

Building in public is a concept that has gained a lot of traction in recent years. It involves building a startup with the input and feedback of the general public, rather than keeping everything under wraps until the final product is ready. This approach has several benefits, including increased transparency, early feedback, and a sense of community involvement. In this edition, I'll explore the benefits and challenges of building a startup in public and mark it as a start to doing the same for myself.

So why build in public?

One of the main benefits of building a startup in public is increased transparency. By sharing your progress and ideas with the public, you are opening yourself up to scrutiny and accountability. This can be intimidating, but it also forces you to be more thoughtful and deliberate in your decision-making. It can also help build trust with your audience since they can see firsthand how your product is developing.

Another benefit is early feedback. By involving the public in your development process, you can get feedback and insights that you may not have considered otherwise. Your initial community should consist of your target users as well as people who could be skilled at execution or strategy or whatever you can get help in. This can help you identify potential issues early on and make changes before it's too late. It can also help you build a community around your product, which can be invaluable when it comes to marketing and promotion.

Any challenges?

Of course, building a startup in public also comes with its challenges. One of the biggest is managing expectations. When you involve the public in your development process, they may have certain expectations about what your product will be and when it will be ready. It's important to be transparent about your progress and communicate any delays or setbacks.

Another challenge is dealing with negative feedback. When you open yourself up to the public, you are also opening yourself up to criticism. It's important to take this feedback in stride and use it to improve your product, rather than letting it bring you down.

How to go about it?

So, how do you build a startup in public successfully? Here's how I've framed it:

1. Start small: Don't try to build your entire product in public all at once. Instead, start with a small feature or prototype and build from there.
2. Be transparent: Share your progress and ideas with the public, but also be upfront about any challenges or setbacks you encounter.
3. Listen to feedback: Take feedback from the public seriously and use it to improve your product. Don't dismiss negative feedback, but also don't let it discourage you.
4. Build a community: Engage with your audience and build a community around your product. This can be a valuable asset when it comes to marketing and promotion.

What next?

Building a startup in public can be a powerful way to build trust, get early feedback, and build a community around your product. However, it also comes with its challenges, including managing expectations and dealing with negative feedback.

I am personally planning to take this route for an upcoming venture and would be sharing updates on a weekly basis. Very excited to see how it goes!