I found a great implementation of the product I started building
I started building a product (https://www.letsplayboard.games) as a side-project (with hopes of making something more out of it) about two years ago. In the meantime life stuff happened, so everything was put on pause. I was randomly browsing reddit today, and found a really good implementation of stuff I was going for with my product (https://www.aftergame.co).
As opposed to 2 years ago, when I found some implementations, but none very good.
So this has been quite demotivating and I'm not sure what the best path forward is in this situation. Call it quits and start with something new? Or keep going anyway?
This is a very common (and misleading) moment.
Finding a good implementation doesn’t mean the idea is dead — it usually means there’s real demand.
The key question isn’t “Is theirs better?”
It’s “Who exactly is it better for?”
I’ve seen multiple products exist in the same space because they:
– serve a narrower ICP
– solve one specific workflow better
– or optimize for a different use case entirely
Before quitting, I’d validate one sharp angle you can own and test it fast.
I recently did this with a small AI prototype — execution clarity matters more than being first.
Curious: who was your original ideal user, and what did you want them to do daily with it?
Competition showing up actually validates your idea was good. The harder question is whether you have the energy to differentiate now vs starting fresh on something you're more excited about.
Two years is a long time in side project land. If life stuff pulled you away from this once, it might happen again - and that's okay. Sometimes the best signal is how you FEEL about it. Do you look at aftergame and feel competitive fire? Or relief that someone else did the work?
Either answer is valid. Just don't let sunk cost keep you building something you've moved on from emotionally.
That's a great point. Thank you for your thoughtful comment