How To Get Your First Users

Launching a successful startup requires shifting from building a "minimum viable product" to a "minimum evolvable product" designed to survive initial market contact. Finding the first ten users is a search problem rather than a persuasion problem, targeting "early adopters" who possess a burning need or a natural inclination toward new technology. Charging real money immediately is essential because paying customers provide the sharpest feedback, which serves as the primary driver for product evolution. This evolutionary process is path-dependent; for instance, Tesla’s current focus on high-performance acceleration over ride comfort stems directly from the preferences of the original Roadster buyers. Startups hold a distinct advantage over large corporations by being able to run aggressive, public experiments without the risk of negative headlines, allowing them to navigate the "phylogenetic tree" of product development until they find a mature, market-fit form.