Launch my First Research Program

Realization

Over the last couple of years, I have spent time building an app and hoping for the best. In the middle of coding this app, I realized that I always launch MVP quickly, which is great, but I rarely spent enough time talking to the users. I have all the tracking setup for the app, but I rarely got enough data to analyze, then I assume the idea is not valid and move on to something else.

Sounds like a common mistake that a founder made? Definitely. I saw some people succeed without validating their ideas - and maybe it gives me the wrong impression that I can be as lucky as them. I am not lucky or smart - so I decided to change my approach.

Changing my Matric

After I realized this, I quickly finished the app, and I did very little work on advertising my app, but I spent much more time getting attention from my target audience. My matric is no longer about how many downloads. It is how many people I can reach. I interviewed people who were interested in the app ideas. I learned a lot about what they feel about speaking up in their non-native workplace - I am not alone. Many people who work at a non-native speaking company do not have the environment to improve their non-native language outside of their workplace. For example, their spouse and family speak their native language. Or they worked at an English-speaking company from South America.

The Research Program

I designed a new feature without any code and started reaching out to people to join the research program. There are not a lot of people sign up for the research program, but it's enough for me to start learning. These people are highly motivated individuals. They're willing to go through a terrible experience - complete a survey, sign an NDA, and schedule a time to meet with me.

The program started last Sunday, and I am very excited about what I will learn during this process!