What's New: a16z explains how to sell in the gen AI era

(from the latest issue of the Indie Hackers newsletter)

Here's what you'll find in this issue:

Remember how easy it was to sell software in 2020 and 2021? Gen AI has shaken things up, but there are still opportunities if you know where to look.
WiFi + the Long Range (LoRa) networking protocol = a whole new technology. Here's what you can do with it.
$29K MRR with a Zendesk apps platform. Sorin Alupoaie left everything behind to move from Romania to Dublin, and hasn't looked back.

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a16z explains how to sell in the gen AI era 🤖

Net new dollars available for software have been cut nearly in half since 2021, according to venture capital firm a16z.

Why?

Macroeconomic uncertainty due to inflation, interest rate uncertainty, and the upcoming elections.
A natural period of SaaS consolidation following the mania of 2020 and 2021.
Companies are hesitant to make large investments in any software until the technology landscape is clearer.

But it’s not all doom and gloom; here's what software buyers are actually looking for.

Indie Hackers Top Products 🏅

Here are the top products that launched on Indie Hackers on Monday:

🥇 FounderPal: AI marketing tools that save you time.
🥈 Dumb Phone: Turn your iPhone into a "dumb phone" to avoid distractions and dopamine hits.
🥉 Synth Resume: Create a custom resume and cover letter for each job description.

WiFi goes long range on new WiLo approach 🛜

Researchers have developed a hybrid technology that would combine WiFi with the Long Range (LoRa) networking protocol, yielding a new long distance wireless concept called WiLo.

The research team has designed its proposed WiLo tech to be used on existing WiFi and LoRa hardware.

The opportunities for indie hackers may lie in Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, like networks of long range sensors used in smart cities, or in agriculture.

Here's how it all works.

In the news 📰

📖 The Internet Archive is back as a read-only service after cyberattacks.

✅ Validate your startup idea fast: Survey 100 real consumers for $163. #ad

💬 Here's why DMs are one of the best engagement metrics.

💌 How to write a thank you letter to get customer feedback.

🥊 A challenge to SaaS orthodoxy.

🎃 The economics of pumpkin patches.

He dropped everything to build a better life, and is now at $29K MRR 💰

Sorin Alupoaie left everything behind to move from Romania to Dublin with his wife. They left for two reasons: Escaping corruption and increasing their income potential.

But finding jobs took a stressfully long time. New country. No friends. No family. Little money.

After this period of uncertainty, Sorin found a job and launched a side hustle, Swifteq. He later quit his job to focus on his new business.

He shares his advice on the best thing indie hackers can do for their business, from a financial perspective.

Channing's tweet pick 🐦

As long as the WordPress drama keeps giving, we'll keep receiving. —@channingallen

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Special thanks to Jay Avery for editing this issue, to Gabriella Federico for the illustrations, and to Stephen Flanders, Michelle Hampson, Darko Gjorgjievski, and James Fleischmann for contributing posts. —Channing