Let’s them see everything without creating an account. As soon as it seems like they want to take an action, hit them with the “you need an account to do this”, and prompt a signup at point of intent.
I built a consumer app with 1M downloads and over 100k DAUs and 60%+ 4 week retention rate. We did this.
You’ve had a legendary 10 years. Do what’s right for you right now, but just know you’ve had a legendary decade.
Almost certainly no.
From your parents? Maybe. From someone else’s parents? Probably not. From my parents? No. From a VC? No.
That said, I have done it, but it was before this market environment. And I already had a (moderately) successful VC backed exit.
Real talk:
The trick is, with time, you get more of both of these things. So start now.
“Semi-complicated, lots of APIs and potentially google lens”.
You’re thinking of the product instead of the problem. You need to think of the viability of the business first and foremost, and it doesn’t matter how ma y bells and whistles to have if the problem doesn’t matter. Build less, listen more. Be a product manager in discovery mode.
What is the problem you’re solving? How are people currently solving that problem? Why?
I think of the two options, B is the clear answer. But it can’t just be a form. You need to be IN it. Facebook communities. Reddit communities. Interact with people who are exploring the problem and maybe be a part of the engaged communities around that problem first.
There are some things you will always have trouble finding the perfect time to do:
In my experience, doing things sooner, generally, is better. You have finite time on earth. Get more done in a shorter amount of time. And break the habit of analysis paralysis. It’s a trap. There will always be a reason to hold off.
And with startups, you learn more and get more “real life experience” in the first year than the entirety of 5 years in corporate. I did. And it’s such a common thing among founders that it’s basically a trope.
The idea of a lifetime comes once a week. Execution makes the difference.
Execution > idea.
And at some point, just moving in any direction will get you to that “original idea” after a while anyway, because you’ll learn through doing and getting things wrong. Chances are your idea needs to be validated anyway. So just get to work and you’ll get there. The more you wait around the more time wasted before validating and building.