Lancer · B2B · AI agent that bids on Upwork jobs
Build the tool for your own agency first, then let a few agency friends try it
Beta friends closed three five-figure clients in 2 weeks; then launched
Workedvalidation
What they did
Ivan's agency got most clients from Upwork, where qualifying a job and writing a personal proposal takes ~10 minutes and jobs post around the clock. He built an internal AI tool over a weekend and it 'crushed' for the agency. Then invited several agency-owner friends to a beta; after they closed three five-figure clients within 2 weeks, he spent ~3 months building a commercial MVP and launched Lancer as a standalone product.
What happened
Beta users closed three five-figure clients within 2 weeks, validating a standalone launch.
- Stage
- Pre-launch
- Effort
- Weekend build, small beta of several friends
“So we initially built this as an internal tool, and it crushed for us. Then we did a beta test where I invited several friends which are also agency owners as well.”
“when they both closed like between them three, five-figure clients within 2 weeks of using the tool, I really thought we really had something here”
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