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Empowering SMEs with AI: The Story of Fotokatalog

Jakob here 🖐

In my newsletter Fake Mayo I share weekly stories (interviews) of how founders got their first customers.

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Izzat Raihan, the founder of Fotokatalog, began his journey as a product manager in Indonesia before moving to Germany in 2021 for his master's degree.

His interest in artificial intelligence grew during his studies, inspiring him to create Fotokatalog, a platform designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) improve their product visuals.

  • Launched MVP July 2024
  • First sale in August
  • Currently 2,500+ users
  • Currently 70 paying users

Initially targeting the Indonesian market, Izzat aimed to address the challenges SMEs face, such as limited resources and expensive AI tools. His goal was to provide affordable AI solutions that would enable these businesses to compete with larger players.

In mid-2024, Izzat developed the first version of Fotokatalog and launched it in July. The platform allows users to upload product photos and specify desired backgrounds, receiving enthusiastic feedback from beta testers.

Marketing Fotokatalog proved difficult. While Meta Ads, Instagram, and TikTok didn’t yield significant results, Google Ads brought the first 100 users and initial sales. To create a sustainable model, Izzat shifted his focus to SEO and cold email outreach.

He joined the Solopreneur Club, where he met a marketer who helped him expand through API integration, leading to his first $200 in online earnings. Now, Izzat is expanding Fotokatalog’s reach globally and exploring new industries, striving to make it a worldwide success.

Read the full story
https://www.fakemayo.com/p/how-izzat-got-his-first-users-for-fotokatalog


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on January 5, 2025
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