Journey so far building an AI startup: Mistakes and Learnings

Hello Fellow Hackers,

I'm excited to introduce you to a no-code LLM app builder that I have built, named Meerkats AI. It is specifically designed to assist solopreneurs in building apps which can automate and streamline the content creation process.

The journey to actualize Meerkats AI was not a straight one. It took me 8 months and two unsuccessful ideas to finally land on this third one. Here's my story:

Idea 1:
In December 2023, riding on the wave of AI buzz, I ventured into the realm of AI chatbots for customer support. However, upon interacting with potential customers, I discovered a saturated market and a challenging sell. My primary focus was targeting SMBs; unfortunately, they neither had the volume nor a pressing need. I then explored the enterprise sector, finding potential needs but similarly tough sell due to my credibility deficit, lack of customer trust, and absence of any VC backing.

Idea 2:
Following the unsuccessful chatbot builder, I pivoted to developing an AI process automation tool, intended as an alternative to Zapier. The MVP got an enthusiastic response, but more for the potential of the "idea" than the actual product itself. I distinctly remember the stark query from a client - "what can it automate?" and my vague response, "anything."

The journey to the third project was not smooth, with significant financial and mental challenges looming large. There were moments when quitting seemed like the only viable path. However, instead of flying blind, I started learning from my past mistakes:

1. Trend-centered and buzz products don't necessarily translate into client acquisition.
2. A technically advanced product with no user-centric purpose is futile.

One of the most daunting aspects of building an AI startup is identifying a concrete problem that your solution will address. The development of an AI app for every task is plausible, but are we solving a significant problem remains the question.

Idea 3:
During my process of understanding customer needs, I realized that even if a problem exists and is identifiable, it's the easiness provided by your solution that's critical. Simplification is the key to success.

AI is incredible at generating content. However, it was during a conversation with a friend that I comprehended the challenges involved in creating relevant and meaningful content using AI, especially for non-technical users. This made me realize that despite AI's efficiency in text production, higher-end tasks like deep research, defining style and tone, and SEO still required manual intervention.

This revelation led to the inception of Meerkats AI. An application designed to help content creators and marketers hasten their content creation process, spanning ideation, research, and publishing. Using my app builder, I created an app capable of conducting in-depth web research on any given topic and repurposing it into any form of content.

In building Meerkats AI, I have leveraged tools like Langchain, Langgraph, an AI web research tool (happy to share the details in comments), Open AI APIs, and Node.js.

At present, I've just wrapped up the MVP for Meerkats AI and I'm brainstorming on strategies to acquire the initial users. I've approached platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn but with little success. I welcome suggestions on improving this.

Recap:

1. 8 months and 2 failed projects.
2. Focus on Job-To-Be-Done (JTBD), not fleeting trends.
3. Despite JTBD focus, transitioning from 0 to 10 is strenuous.

Request for favor: I invite advice and shared experiences from those who've tackled the challenges that I am currently facing.

And additionally, anyone interested in content creation and willing to give feedback on my product, feel free to comment below. I'll happily share the link.