The Cold Start Problem
The hardest part of any project is going from 0 to 100 users. You don’t have a marketing budget, you don’t have an email list, and you don’t have a “brand.”
In 2026, the best way to bypass this is through Relationship-Led Growth.
3 Strategies for the First 100
1. The “Problem-First” Search
Go where your potential users are complaining. Search for keywords related to the problem your tool solves on Reddit, X, and BuildInProcess.
* Action: Don’t just post a link. Answer their question first, then mention: “I actually struggled with this too, so I’m building [Project Name] to fix it. Want to try it?”
2. The “Build-in-Public” Magnet
People love to be part of a story. When you share the raw journey of building your tool — the late nights, the bugs, the small wins and you create “Believers,” not just “Users.”
* Action: Post a daily update on BuildInProcess. These people will be your first 100 because they feel like they helped you build it.
3. The Weekly Launch Cycle
Instead of a “Big Bang” launch, use recurring launch cycles.
* Action: Enter the BuildInProcess Weekly Launch. Even if you only get 10 users in week one, you can iterate and launch again in week three with a better version.
The Rule of 1-on-1
For your first 100 users, you should talk to every single one of them. Ask them:
“What was the one thing that made you sign up?”
“What’s the one thing that’s confusing?”
Conclusion
Getting to 100 users isn’t about “going viral.” It’s about manual, unscalable effort and building real connections in the community.
