30 days of rejections. 1 month of silence. Still shipping.
For the past month, I’ve been building ClueFrames an AI tool that helps creators finish pre-production faster.
But here’s the honest part:
This entire month felt like rejection after rejection.
• Emails unanswered
• Instagram DMs ignored
• Creators signing up but never returning
• Beta testers ghosting after getting access
• Some didn’t even try the tool after onboarding
There were days when I questioned the whole idea.
But this journey taught me something important:
Creators don’t want a perfect AI tool.
Creators want LESS PAIN.
So instead of adding more features, I spent this week removing friction:
✔ Cut down the number of steps
✔ Reduced decisions so creators don’t feel overwhelmed
✔ Cleaned up the UI
✔ Made script → storyboard → media pack flow twice as fast
✔ Added one-click downloads so creators don’t hunt for assets
These changes brought something unexpected:
Two returning users + one detailed feedback message.
And that felt better than any vanity metric.
Momentum is slow.
But it’s momentum.
If you’re building early-stage:
Silence is normal.
Rejection is feedback.
And shipping is the only cure.
I’m opening a few more beta slots this week.
Happy to personally onboard anyone interested.
Rejections don’t kill momentum — attachment to outcomes does.
Keep shipping, learn fast, and treat feedback as data, not defeat. Winners iterate, not wait. 🚀
Sri, this is a textbook example of early-stage learning—pain points > feature count. A few strategic takeaways:
Friction kills adoption, not features. Your shift from building “perfect AI” to removing steps and simplifying the workflow is exactly what separates tools that get used from those that sit idle.
Small signals matter. Two returning users with detailed feedback are more valuable than hundreds of passive signups—they tell you what actually works.
Momentum > vanity metrics. Early-stage traction is rarely explosive; micro-iterations that reduce cognitive load compound over time.
Beta strategy: Personally onboarding a small cohort ensures you get rich qualitative feedback, which is gold for shaping product-market fit.
The core insight—creators want less pain, not more tech—is huge. If you continue shipping fast, removing friction, and listening closely, ClueFrames could evolve into a must-have pre-production workflow tool.
Early-stage builders should take note: shipping + feedback > polishing in isolation.
It's so relatable to hear about your journey and the challenges you've faced with early users! I especially appreciate your point about creators wanting less pain, not necessarily a perfect tool.
ClueFrames now supports full pre-production: Research → Script → Storyboard → Media Pack → One-click download.
If you want access, comment ‘I’m in’