I know it isn't just me because I have a number of LCNC friends who, like me, won't even open Stripe before first opening ChatGPT or something similar to guide me through the maze that is Stripe. Here's me, having just downloaded Claude Cowork, really doubtful that it is going to make any difference with the seven stuck projects I have in Stripe...
Global problem: Dating apps fail for complex lives (illness, relocation, unfulfilled youth). A platform is needed for matching based on life path compatibility.
Daily routine: after every client meeting, I need to write a structured report for colleagues. Existing corporate tools (Microsoft 365) are inefficient and slow for this.
A startup founder loses focus and productivity juggling 5-7 tools for a single project. Existing all-in-one platforms don't provide the feel of a unified workspace.
An African entrepreneur cannot accept international payments on Shopify. PayPal blocks, Stripe is unavailable. There is no payment gateway that does not discriminate based on geography.
Micro-influencer cannot monetize a loyal audience: there is no safe and effective platform for deals with small brands and those willing to work with small influencers in India.
After four long years of grinding, building, fundraising, and hiring, we decided to pivot. I wanted to write down my thought process and timeline because I wish I d seen more honest pivot stories when we were stuck. Not just we pivoted and everything was instantly great but the real version where we kept trying to make the original idea work for way too long because we already put so much into it.
I went through YC S20 (the first COVID batch) as a solo founder working on @Basedash. After YC, I did what you re supposed to do. I talked to users. I built product. I did founder-led sales. I hired a great team. It felt like progress because I was constantly busy and the product kept getting better.
