January 2020 Summaries

After submitting their application, the team focused on maximizing their progress before an important interview scheduled for November 7th, with their best-case scenario being to acquire paying customers and their worst-case scenario to demonstrate significant progress. They opted against using a Hacker News post due to its unpredictability and instead invested $2,000 in ad campaigns, carefully tracking which channels were most effective in attracting users. This method led to significant improvements in user acquisition and product engagement, resulting in 400 sign-ups within three weeks at a reduced cost per user. Despite initial challenges in securing feedback from users, they prepared for the interview by practicing with friends, family, and industry contacts, focusing on clarity and preparedness. The interview, conducted by notable figures including Dalton Cadwell and Geoff Ralston, went well overall, though they felt uncertain about a specific question regarding demonstrating real user problem-solving. A week later, they received the positive news of acceptance, which initiated a flurry of activities including setting up a US parent company and continuing to grow their business while maintaining regular progress updates with partners to sustain their momentum.