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I want to share my journey through 2023, a year of tough lessons and unyielding perseverance.
Six years ago, we embarked on creating a no-code website builder with a tiny band of developers and designers. Throughout this time, we've poured our heart, soul, and savings into making https://siter.io/ come to life. Despite a successful public launch a year back, our attempts to raise funds hit a wall this year.
We kicked off 2023 with high hopes, pitching to investors, dialing into calls with top VCs, and networking with influential industry figures. Our project sparked significant excitement, particularly after clinching 'Product of the Day' and 'Product of the Week' on Product Hunt. Yet, the buzz didn't translate into investments.
So, why didn't Siter catch the financial wind it needed?
The answer seems to be a cocktail of global economic crises, market instability, and concerns about our team's focus.
Many advised against fundraising this year, suggesting we continue bootstrapping and bide our time, as the climate for young startups to attract funding has turned icy. These voices aren't just anyone—they're heavy hitters in our field, and their insights carry weight.
Then there's the issue of the team. Investors shy away when founders are juggling multiple projects. They question our commitment. I get where they're coming from, but isn't there a silver lining? A multi-project founder can leverage a vast network and resources, acting like a Swiss Army knife—versatile and resourceful. I'm in this camp, working not just on Siter.io but also on https://designmodo.com/ , https://pulsetic.com/ , https://static.app/ , and supporting my wife's project, https://absurd.design/ .
Ignoring the chorus of caution, we continued to pitch relentlessly, but fate wasn't on our side. A few months in, we decided to pivot our focus solely on the product—and it's a decision that's starting to look wise. We're now on track to hit profitability by Q1 of 2024, and I'm optimistic about sustaining growth beyond that.
In our latest push, we've launched a Figma plugin, both here on Indie Hackers and on Product Hunt, aiming to turbocharge our growth. Check it out here.
I'd love your thoughts on this. What could we have done differently? Is it a strategic misstep to be a multi-project founder, or could it be a hidden strength? Are VCs right in their cautious stance?
Looking forward to your insights.
I've built a website that I'm hoping reaches users in Asia too. But I'm a bit worried. Just because it's up and running from where I am doesn't mean everyone in Asia can see it. There can be regional internet issues or even country restrictions I'm not aware of. Does anyone know a simple way to check if my site is accessible from various parts of Asia? Thanks!
I've been experimenting with GPT-4 and ended up creating a plugin that, at first glance, might seem utterly 'useless'. It's called Pulsetic, and its sole function is to check a website's availability worldwide. Now, you might be thinking, "Why on earth would I need that?"
Here's how it works:
1. Visit the GPT-4 plugins store.
2. Search for Pulsetic: Once you're in the plugins store, look for "Pulsetic". When you find it, go ahead and install it.
3. Check a website's availability: After you've installed and activated Pulsetic, you can start checking website availability. Just input the URL of the website you're interested in into the chat field, and you'll get your results!
Now, here's where the controversy comes in. Some might argue that this plugin is utterly useless. After all, there are already plenty of tools available that can check website availability. So why create another one?
I'm curious to hear your thoughts. Do you think Pulsetic is a 'useless' GPT-4 plugin, or can you see its potential value?
P.S. If you find Pulsetic useful (or amusingly useless), please consider sharing it with others. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Question: In an age where there are countless tools and plugins available for almost every task, how do we determine what's 'useless' and what's not? Is there a place for seemingly 'useless' tools like Pulsetic's GPT-4 plugin in our digital toolbox?