I have a cold start problem - Show me your website, and how you worked it out.

Hello hackers.

I would like to seek out some suggestions, advice and would love to hear about other peoples experiences regarding a cold start problem I am facing.

To give a little context, I am trying to build a high end automotive marketplace which collaborates car enthusiasts with trusted high end service providers. I am also a solo founder trying to bootstrap this. I can deploy money towards it, but I have to be super efficient with it.

They will engage through 2 very simple features:

• A Job board where car owners can post their requirements.

• A Search feature where car owners can search for trusted service providers.

I have chosen to build the supply side first. I have starting doing this by directly engaging with service providers, who have the right credentials I am looking for and offering them the following:

• Free and zero risk for taking part (until we decide the MVP has proven useful and decide to charge for it)
• Be one of the first 50 service providers on the site when we launch
• Build out a business profile showcasing their recent work, and feedback.
• They can find their business embedded within relevant blog articles.
• By answering technical questions in the forum they profile will have a stand out presence.
• Unique search results displaying them ahead of others
• Geographically limited to ensure they are not directly competing with their competitors.
• Social promotion through our brand channels for a lifetime. 

This is bit of a no brainier for the service providers, its a reasonably easy sell, and it gets quite a positive response, although this process can be a little time consuming.

Now for the demand side. This is where I am struggling to come up with an onboarding strategy, and yet to start my efforts here.

Initially I had envisioned the customers using the site for free, however this presents its own problem because I am wondering how do I offer something that is more valuable than free?

Ultimately customers will find value behind a network on trusted service providers, vetted by us with a plenty of positive feedback behind them.

I am working on a few options to build up an email list, this will consist of an E-book for track day enthusiasts and a free some free calculator tools. Although this doesn’t mean they will convert into free users.

The ultimate goal for the MVP would be to onboard as many car owners as possible to start filling up the job board.

Has anyone here been through a similar cold start problem, if so can you give an example with your venture, and list your website below so I can pool my ideas together.

More varied the industries the better.

Thanks!
Sean