Once · B2C · disposable camera app for events
Scroll your X, LinkedIn and Instagram friend lists and ask anyone with an upcoming event
4 friends agreed to try it: a Halloween party, birthday, wedding and networking event
Workedvalidationword-of-mouth
What they did
Open X, LinkedIn and Instagram/Facebook friend lists in three tabs, go through every contact and circle anyone who fits the ideal customer (here: anyone with an event coming up), then ask them to try it. Apply The Mom Test: friends and family are encouraging, so be honest about whether you're validating or just looking for encouragement.
What happened
4 friends committed events (Halloween party, birthday party, one wedding, one networking event).
- Stage
- pre-launch
“I open up three different tabs. I have my X open, I have my LinkedIn open, and I have my Instagram or Facebook open up. I have my friends list. I just go through every single one of them and see who might be a good fit.”
“it was four friends who said, "Okay, I would love to try it." It was a Halloween party, birthday party, one wedding, and one networking event.”
Related topics
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More from this episode
- Once: Don't write app code until 10 hosts commit to using it at a real, dated eventGot 12 events booked in one month, built the app, and hit $20K/month 83 days after launch
- Once: Find event hosts through Instagram hashtags like #wedding and send each a 2-3 sentence DM~250 messages got ~15 replies and ~12 events booked in one month
- Once: Build a rough web version in 1-2 weeks and test it at a friend's partyBroke many times but proved guests love a shared disposable-camera album; then rebuilt from scratch
- Once: Charge per event based on guest count: $2 for 10 guests, $50 for 150Part of a model at ~$22K/month; no pricing test reported