Finding your first 100 users is often harder than building the actual product. Most founders make the mistake of launching on big platforms before they have any real feedback.
This approach leads to a spike in traffic but zero retention. For an indie hacker or a small startup team, the goal is to find high-signal testers who actually care about the problem you are solving.
Look for the Subreddits and Digital Watering Holes
Your future users are already hanging out somewhere online. They are complaining about current solutions in subreddits or asking for advice in niche Discord servers.
Do not go there to pitch. Go there to help.
Search for keywords related to the pain point your product solves. When you find a thread where someone is struggling, offer a helpful tip and mention that you are building a tool to automate that specific task.
Ask if they would be open to trying an early version in exchange for their honest feedback. This creates a direct line of communication with a user who is already feeling the pain your startup addresses.
Use the Manual Outreach Strategy on LinkedIn
Automated cold emails usually end up in the spam folder. Manual outreach is different because it shows you have done your homework.
Use LinkedIn filters to find people with the job titles most likely to use your tool. Send a short message explaining that you are an indie founder working on a new resource for their industry.
Ask if they have ten minutes to look at a prototype. Most people are surprisingly willing to help a solo builder if the request is humble and specific.
Avoid long sales pitches. Just focus on the fact that you want to make their job easier.
Create a Simple Landing Page With a Clear Value Proposition
Before you start your outreach, you need a place for people to land. This page should not be a complex marketing site.
It only needs to state what the product does and have a single email capture field. Focus the copy on the outcome for the user.
Instead of listing features, list the transformation. For example, do not say "We have an AI-driven calendar." Say "Save four hours of scheduling every week."
When you share this link in your outreach, it gives potential testers a professional place to sign up and stay updated.
Offer Early Access as a Badge of Honor
People love being part of an inner circle. When you talk to potential testers, frame it as an exclusive beta for early adopters.
This creates a sense of ownership among your first 100 users. They are more likely to give you detailed bug reports and feature suggestions if they feel like they are helping shape the future of the product.
Keep a simple spreadsheet of these 100 people and check in with them personally. This manual effort is what builds the foundation for a successful public launch later.
