The “Single-Player Mode” Fallacy?
I’ve been thinking about the tension between single-player mode and multiplayer mode in SaaS (especially in the days of LLMs & user context).
On one hand, founders (myself included) often hear: “Don’t just build for one user, build for teams. That’s where the revenue and moats are.”
On the other, some of the best products in recent years started by winning over individuals first and only later layering on team features.
A great example is @Granola: They nailed their single-player use case (taking notes) before expanding into Granola 2.0, which introduces more team-oriented collaboration. That sequencing seems to have worked really well for them.
At Attrove, we’ve been wrestling with the same question — do we double down on helping individuals get value immediately, or lean harder into team-based insights? I’d love to hear how others have navigated this tradeoff.
So here’s the question: is single-player mode a stepping stone to scale, or is it a trap that slows you down from real adoption?
If you started solo-first, how did you know when it was the right moment to “go multiplayer”?
Replies
Love this topic. The trap is permissions and admin before daily value. Quick test I use: did one output get posted in a team channel three times in a week. If yes, ship the smallest collaboration next.
Attrove AI
@elenamira I like that framing — if teammates are already posting the same output in a channel, it’s a pretty clear pull for collaboration. Makes a lot of sense as a signal.
Cal ID
I think single-player is a gateway, not a trap. If your product solves a real pain for one person, you’ll naturally see organic sharing among teams. That’s your real signal to go multiplayer!
We tried pushing team features early on Cal ID, but it just slowed us down. Founders get FOMO about collaboration, but individuals won’t use a clunky tool. Once you notice a few power users sharing outputs (like screenshots or links in chats), that’s the cue to build lightweight multiplayer, not before.
Personally, I’d focus on making solo users look smart, not admin-friendly. Teams don’t sign up because of permissions, they sign up because someone on the inside made it look useful.
IXORD
If a product truly helps users, why not offer both a single-user mode and a team mode? I personally prefer products that take this approach, since there are many practical use cases that can be addressed and it brings only advantages.
Attrove AI
@ixord Makes total sense, just a matter of priorities and GTM strategy.