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Not a lot of people know that I had a startup. It failed though, and this thread will document the entire process.
I had even managed to receive investment from a Mumbai/LA based angel investor. The entire experience unlocked a new world for me. I met insanely talented people.
I had even managed to receive investment from a Mumbai/LA based angel investor. The entire experience unlocked a new world for me. I met insanely talented people.
In April 2019, I inculcated the habit of listening to podcasts. I had a lot of fun, it felt like I was learning new stuff every single day.
But when I tried to recall stuff, I could recall nothing
But when I tried to recall stuff, I could recall nothing
So I texted my friends - I told them “we really need a better way of learning stuff from podcasts.”
After a couple of sessions, we decided on this: visualise podcasts & summarise them into 5 minute PDFs
We made some really pretty ‘Docs’ which contained all the info
After a couple of sessions, we decided on this: visualise podcasts & summarise them into 5 minute PDFs
We made some really pretty ‘Docs’ which contained all the info
Then we focused on hiring, we ran some ads. We focused on hiring driven teens.
We grew to a team of 10.
Their jobs were designing, content summarisation & making the Docs.
We named it ‘PodDocs’. Not the best name but ok
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We grew to a team of 10.
Their jobs were designing, content summarisation & making the Docs.
We named it ‘PodDocs’. Not the best name but ok
I was in grade 11 & most of my team members were also in high school/college.
We had even sponsored a college festival. It felt truly amazing to see our banners/posters everywhere at the event.
We had even sponsored a college festival. It felt truly amazing to see our banners/posters everywhere at the event.
Now let’s look at the product side.
It was very manual. The entire process was very manual. It took up to 4 hours to create a single PDF (this is excluding the time required for designing & summarisation)
Pair this with college stress, our team had very little time to devote
It was very manual. The entire process was very manual. It took up to 4 hours to create a single PDF (this is excluding the time required for designing & summarisation)
Pair this with college stress, our team had very little time to devote
Cracks in team culture started to surface when we weren’t working on schedule.
I don’t blame anyone though, it’s hard to balance studies and work.
We were really disconnected as a team because we worked remotely.
I don’t blame anyone though, it’s hard to balance studies and work.
We were really disconnected as a team because we worked remotely.
The other issue was: there weren’t enough incentives.
Nobody was getting paid to do the work.
Naturally, when you have incentives to do something you’re more likely to do it. It’s human nature.
I agree that I could have done better to offer some more incentives to the team.
Nobody was getting paid to do the work.
Naturally, when you have incentives to do something you’re more likely to do it. It’s human nature.
I agree that I could have done better to offer some more incentives to the team.
We persisted through it.
We thought we’d fix these team issues once we launch.
So we focused on making more Docs so that we had content to start with
We thought we’d fix these team issues once we launch.
So we focused on making more Docs so that we had content to start with
Fast forward to November 29, 2019. We launched.
On the first day we received about 200 sign-ups. Not a single penny spent on marketing. Most of it was through Instagram stories.
On the first day we received about 200 sign-ups. Not a single penny spent on marketing. Most of it was through Instagram stories.
About a month later, we had amassed about 600 users.
And a lot of users returned. People liked it. I got a lot of DMs with podcast summarisation requests etc.
And a lot of users returned. People liked it. I got a lot of DMs with podcast summarisation requests etc.
Post launch things only got worse. We couldn’t manage to have slow content delivery then.
We needed to rapidly publish content but given our circumstances, we just couldn’t.
We needed to rapidly publish content but given our circumstances, we just couldn’t.
I was faced with two choices. PodDocs took a toll on my grades so I had to choose.
I could either continue with terrible grades & an uncertainty of my academic future or I could stick with PodDocs and think of ways to fix these issues.
I required more money & people
I could either continue with terrible grades & an uncertainty of my academic future or I could stick with PodDocs and think of ways to fix these issues.
I required more money & people
January 1, 2020. I decided to shut it down.
I deeply thought about what I want to do in the future & the answer wasn’t to create stuff similar to PodDocs.
Everyone was supportive, including investors.
I deeply thought about what I want to do in the future & the answer wasn’t to create stuff similar to PodDocs.
Everyone was supportive, including investors.
This entire experience can be summarised into the following lessons:
1. Approach people. You have no idea how it will change the course of your life.
2. Iterate. Figure out where you’re going wrong or which steps can be refined
3. Be absolutely clear about what you want...
1. Approach people. You have no idea how it will change the course of your life.
2. Iterate. Figure out where you’re going wrong or which steps can be refined
3. Be absolutely clear about what you want...
4. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Often, we feel certain tasks are within our reach and we can do everything in the world, this is mostly not the case.
Often, we feel certain tasks are within our reach and we can do everything in the world, this is mostly not the case.
Take things step by step.
Master initial steps & then proceed onto the next steps. Take it slow, you have time.
And finally, don’t build things for the sake of building. Build things worth building.
Master initial steps & then proceed onto the next steps. Take it slow, you have time.
And finally, don’t build things for the sake of building. Build things worth building.
Team and Logo
Some visuals from our Docs
& the actual website :)
