Steven Tey, the founder of Dub, successfully transformed a side project into a prominent link attribution platform by emphasizing exceptional design and transparent public development. Dub, initially a part-time experiment with edge computing, evolved from an open-source link shortener into an end-to-end marketing attribution tool, gaining traction without paid marketing and attracting clients like Twilio and Vercel. By focusing on understanding the entire user journey from link click to conversion, Dub achieved growth to 1,000 paying customers through viral word-of-mouth and open-source collaboration. The company's go-to-market strategy emphasizes content creation, social media engagement, SEO, and affiliate marketing, while maintaining a balance between development and marketing responsibilities. Dub's polished marketing site and commitment to community-driven inspiration and contribution further underline its unique approach to product and brand development.