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Nika

What do you struggle with the most when launching a product?

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Personally, for me, the hardest part has been reaching out to others for help. 😅 (But this is more of a personal challenge than a technical one.) What has been the most difficult part for you when launching a product?

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Rajiv Ayyangar
In my first few launches, I struggled with fear - fear that the product wasn't ready, fear that people would see it and think it's bad (and that I'm a bad founder as a result), fear that people would use it and churn and be angry. I still feel that, but I've learned it's worth pushing through it. Quick story from my last startup @Tandem from when we went through YC: My #1 lesson from YC was from @gustaf, when he pushed us to launch weeks before we felt ready. “You should launch to Bookface [YC internal forum] immediately and Product Hunt on Thursday.” He listened to our excuses, then said “You need to know whether people want this more than you need to know whether you can build it.” He was right. Our first launch - internal to YC - wasn’t great. But we learned, refined our positioning, simplified our product, and our Product Hunt launch went viral / led to a outsized seed from a16z. Launching sooner than we wanted was life-changing advice. Launch on Product Hunt. Launch on HN. Keep launching and iterating. Don’t stress too much about the ranking. Even if you don’t get #1, the feedback and engagement from launch will teach you a ton.
Nika
@tandem @gustaf @rajiv_ayyangar Isn't it a self-impostor syndrome you are talking about right now? (I am on the same page too.) 🥲😅 "Keep launching and iterating." should become a daily mantra for everyone who has an inner need to improve. :)
Kay Kwak
Launching soon!
I always ask myself, 'Do people really need this? Is it different enough to beat the existing services?' 😂😂
Malcom Broadnax
@kay_arkain Looms in the my mind as well. Lol Always a struggle.
Pratik Rajurkar
@kay_arkain one of those things I struggle with too. But then I think there are so many mobile makers, everyone has something different to offer. If they can, we can.
Nika
@kay_arkain But sometimes it feels that everything already exists and one cannot come up with something really new :D
Kay Kwak
Launching soon!
@pixelprep That's a relief Lol
Kay Kwak
Launching soon!
@pratik_rajurkar Love your mindset, so inspiring ! 🔥🔥
Zhiqi Shi
I always feel like my product isn't good enough, and that the switching cost is too high for my target users to leave their existing solutions. But deep down, I know that no matter how great a product becomes, its beginning is always unremarkable. The future of a product doesn't lie in how it starts, but in the small differences at the beginning and the continuous adjustments made through constant interaction with users.
Nika
@zhiqi_shi It sounds like you are chasing perfection, aren't you? :)
Zhiqi Shi
@busmark_w_nika It's not about chasing perfection-it's more like a natural sense of anxiety. Haha
Tasos V
For me it has been similar to yours. Reaching out to others for support, for 2 main reasons: 1. It takes a lot of effort to contact a lot of people for support 2. You know that you will send 200 messages to get supported by 10 people. Also, the fact that nothing feels organically possible anymore. Unless you pay for promo, or you have a massive audience, feels impossible. It is not, but it feels like it.
Nika
@cryptosymposium Yes, you are right but my main reason is that I am simply shy :D
Tasos V
@busmark_w_nika oh from that perspective you meant? Well, it is the only way. It is your ego talking, just go for it i would say.
Nika
@cryptosymposium I will try! :D
Tera Bitcoins
Complying to all legal requirements from different jurisdictions.
Nika
@terabitcoins what do you mean exactly? Can you give an example?
Tera Bitcoins
@busmark_w_nika Basically all the bureaucracy and legal requirements that exist in different jurisdictions to create a business associated with a new product or project.
Nika
@terabitcoins I thought that you were talking about crypto. Since I know, Portugal is benevolent towards it. So I was surprised first :D
Tera Bitcoins
I was just answering your question. Being benevolent doesn't mean that it isn't hard!
Malcom Broadnax
Finding users to get feedback from. Even if you search in all the "right" places, it's hard to get them to go to your site and test the prod or download the app to test it. 😅
Nika
@pixelprep was there any sentence or motivation to make them test it? :)
Malcom Broadnax
@busmark_w_nika Yup. I mean, I have like 2 testers, but I'm searching for more. Lol I'm grateful for the 2 I've secured, was just hoping for more feedback. Especially since I'm on a dev platform promoting it.
Nika
@pixelprep are they paid? Maybe you should ask for the support here: https://news.ycombinator.com/
Malcom Broadnax
No, they're not. And thanks for the link, I'll check this out!
Stefani Sparysheva
Getting enough organic upvotes
Nika
I think it depends on a lot on your network and product. In fact, many people do a lot of marketing outside the PH (asking on LI in DMs, posts on Twitter). I think that most supporters are already existing friends. @stefaniya_sparysheva
Stefani Sparysheva
@busmark_w_nika that's true
Neel Patel 🦕
Struggle can be when an established company launches on the day you launch 🥲😅
Nika
@neelptl2602 I was waiting for that moment when someone come up with this :D
Sudhansh Jadon
I start my day with 2-3 key tasks in my mind. By 7 PM I realize I spent the day doing everything else.. 😭
Nika
@sudhansh_j and the procrastinator of the year is... 🥁😂
Sudhansh Jadon
@busmark_w_nika haha, not procrastinator.. probably all over the place ADHD 🤓
Kassidy Currey
I can totally relate to this - it’s one of my biggest challenges too, and I'm actively working on getting stronger at it. My co-founder recently shared a tactic that’s been a game-CHANGER for me - It can either go 1) really poorly (which, honestly, is great because any negative feedback is valuable), or 2) really well (which is awesome validation). 'No's' only make you stronger as long as 1) you take action on them and 2) you only allow yourself a 5-second funeral before moving on. Try it out and report back ◡̈
Lucas Zen
As an indie developer, I don't have the budget to run content in other countries, and the cost of running a social media account is also high, so I recently reached out to some media to gain exposure.
Nika
@lucaszen which media?
Yunxi Chang

Totally relate! Asking for help can feel just as daunting as solving the problem itself. For me, the hardest part has been balancing speed vs. perfection—knowing when to ship vs. when to refine. How do you approach that?

Sugars Skulls
Getting the right audience's attention can be tough. Even with a great product, cutting through the noise and tattoo near memaking people notice feels like a constant challenge.
Javier Fandos
How to stop the eternal impovement loop? Then when you are able to stop, you realized the product is not good enought. And then you start again to improve it. hahah
Albert Dani

Honestly, it’s the balance between perfecting the product and launching it fast enough to gain traction. You can overthink every little detail and never release, or you can rush it and risk missing the mark. Finding that sweet spot is tough!