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If you want to build a successful startup, make sure it's 'quaint'
by
PavatiDasani
https://multitudes.weisser.io/p/quaint-startups-become-the-next-big
Good read. My take: Quaint = underestimated. I think people think they need to start with some huge TAM. No. That's ridiculous. Start with a niche, and then branch out.
Underestimated is a good way of putting it. The slight difference might be that even the founders of quaint startups might not initially understand in the early days that there's even more potential for what they're building.
What do you mean quaint ? I have been building mine, createxdigital.com, is it quaint?
Perhaps something that doesn't appear to outsiders like it's ever going to be a big business. Just appealing to a few enthusiasts, for example. But suddenly, the appeal can increase rapidly over time branching out into the mainstream (like with the Steve Jobs example).
Love the way you framed this. The enthusiasts concept seems key here. Sometimes enthusiasts are not the precursor to widespread adoption and the product needs to be tweaked to move into a larger adjacent market. Other times the enthusiasts are the early adopters and the product does not need to change much in order to eventually reach broader appeal.
I'd certainly agree! As long as something is going on with the enthusiasts, things can eventually snowball.
I seriously learnt something. Have you built yours? something I can look at and get a few ideas from? and do you think mine is quaint?
In general, communities are quaint by default by nature of the fact that everyone imagines they grow linearly and have a ceiling.
The linear concept is almost entirely false—if it's a good community, they tend to grow exponentially and the biggest challenge is maintaining quality of experience at scale. Some example of dealing with this are Universities (and YC) where there are cohorts.
I'm a co-founder of a company that started as a community (On Deck) so I try to never underestimate what might be possible with them.
Well done. Interesting read
Thank you - I'm planning to writing more about these topics in the future. 🫡
It's funny that I've come across this article today because I've just been reading about Canva.com founders. They definitely fit into the 'quaint' category and they have become phenomenally successful. Clearly, it works.
They're an excellent example. I've heard that few investors took them or their idea seriously. What was the article you were reading about them?
I must say good read. But as you said " Quaint" - Perhaps something that doesn't appear to outsiders like it's ever going to be a big business.
Agreed but I have almost seen every startup leading towards Mobile Apps for their business. Every business is going digital nowadays. I have also come across the blog that seems a perfect fit for a startup guide and ideas: https://www.apurple.co/best-mobile-app-ideas/.
After this I prefer yes it will be a successful startup to start with the mobile apps.
Thanks for sharing this here (noticed on Substack people were visiting from here :)). I've always admired this community from afar and it's about time I joined it as I'm now launching some publications and other projects outside of my main job.
Happy to answer any questions about the article or more broadly!
Do what matters! I'd say that's the key here. Interesting read. Thanks for sharing.
As someone who is fairly new to long-form writing this comment made my day. 🙏