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Ask HN: Go all in on startup idea, or stay W2

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Ask HN: Go all in on startup idea, or stay W2

#1

Post by Mnexium »

I want to ask HN because it feels this community is more tech oriented then most out there. I have been building an idea for the past couple of months, I think it is a good idea, if not for fear I'd dive head first full time into the idea. Personally, leaving stable W2 is scary, diving into the unknown start-up land is equally scary. Putting in all the effort for an unknown pay off, if any.

I don't really have the network to vet my idea, to tell me wether it is good or bad, something worth building or not? Something worth diving into or not.

My idea is https://mnexium.com - it is a LLM infrastructure layer. All the things you need to do to get an LLM up an running Mnexium would handle.

The reason I want to jump into this start-up is mainly because I'd use this app, and I build it because I needed something like it. Is that enough signal to continue to build?

I would really love to hear others opinions on what they would do? If they've navigated something similar?

I think the last bit I'd add to the above is I have this nagging feeling that I want to build something, from scratch. Build it to the best of my limited ability - but I don't want to fail.

Appreciate it

Re: Ask HN: Go all in on startup idea, or stay W2

#3

Post by Mnexium »

maryamshafaqat wrote: post #2

If you are already building it and would actually use it yourself thats a strong signal. I did focus on getting real users first before making a full leap.

I agree that users (hell even 1 real user) would be motivating and validating from an idea perspective.

May I ask how long it took you to find your first user? and the path you took to find said user(s)?

Re: Ask HN: Go all in on startup idea, or stay W2

#4

Post by maryamshafaqat »

Mnexium wrote: post #3
maryamshafaqat wrote: post #2

If you are already building it and would actually use it yourself thats a strong signal. I did focus on getting real users first before making a full leap.

I agree that users (hell even 1 real user) would be motivating and validating from an idea perspective. May I ask how long it took you to find your first user? and the path you took to find said user(s)?

For me it took a few weeks I mostly started by sharing in relevant online communities and just talking about the problem before pushing the product itself.

Re: Ask HN: Go all in on startup idea, or stay W2

#5

Post by nullfern »

The market has quite a bit of competition which isn't a bad thing, in fact it is good validation of the idea.

The issue is that you are quite late to the party and I don't see a differentiator in your product.

Regardless, I would focus on getting a few paying customers first to validate the idea while still working a job so you can eat.

Re: Ask HN: Go all in on startup idea, or stay W2

#6

Post by Mnexium »

nullfern wrote: post #5

The market has quite a bit of competition which isn't a bad thing, in fact it is good validation of the idea. The issue is that you are quite late to the party and I don't see a differentiator in your product. Regardless, I would focus on getting a few paying customers first to validate the idea while still working a job so you can eat.

I agree and good advice. Being so new to this and not having a network to bounce ideas off of or even try the app makes that part difficult to go from 0 to 1 for me personally.

While I agree that competition exists and it is validating that the labs and others are working on solving this problem. I am trying to focus on a broader solution. Competitors will focus only on memory - but not so much on the other infrastructure requirements to create an AI app (chat history, etc).

I am also trying to create a moat around the difference in how we validate and create memories. Most will have a single pipeline, I want to have multiple and compare - this does increase my COGS however.

Appreciate the message -

Re: Ask HN: Go all in on startup idea, or stay W2

#7

Post by Mnexium »

maryamshafaqat wrote: post #4
Mnexium wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that users (hell even 1 real user) would be motivating and validating from an idea perspective. May I ask how long it took you to find your first user? and the path you took to find said user(s)?

For me it took a few weeks I mostly started by sharing in relevant online communities and just talking about the problem before pushing the product itself.

Good advice - appreciate it

Re: Ask HN: Go all in on startup idea, or stay W2

#8

Post by jryan49 »

I mean a lot depends on your life circumstances. Do you have a family to support? Do you have any money saved up? How old you are? It's tempting for me to quit and work on something I've wanted to work on for years but... The risk feels too high cause I feel like if I fail, it will be impossible to find a new job where either I made as much as I had before, or a job at all.

Re: Ask HN: Go all in on startup idea, or stay W2

#9

Post by simantel »

Mnexium wrote: post #6
nullfern wrote: post #5

The market has quite a bit of competition which isn't a bad thing, in fact it is good validation of the idea. The issue is that you are quite late to the party and I don't see a differentiator in your product. Regardless, I would focus on getting a few paying customers first to validate the idea while still working a job so you can eat.

I agree and good advice. Being so new to this and not having a network to bounce ideas off of or even try the app makes that part difficult to go from 0 to 1 for me personally. While I agree that competition exists and it is validating that the labs and others are working on solving this problem. I am trying to focus on a broader solution. Competitors will focus only on memory - but not so much on the other infrastru…

> not having a network to bounce ideas off of or even try the app makes that part difficult to go from 0 to 1

This wouldn't change if you quit your job.

Keep your job, stop building, and start talking to potential customers.

Re: Ask HN: Go all in on startup idea, or stay W2

#10

Post by austin-cheney »

Honestly, getting VC cash does not look like the challenge it used to be.

Look attractive, be confident, and talk about reselling AI... boom cash.

The real question is: what do you want to be doing in 5 years? Do you want to be explaining to people why you are cleaning up some pitch deck mess that still doesn't make money or would you rather be slaving away for your current employer with next to no equity?

Look, I am sure your idea absolutely brilliant and fantastic, but weigh this decision on more practical terms. If you already have a family you will need either a war chest of cash (at least $35k ready to spend over the next year but $150k would be better) or the unlimited and unquestioning support of people who really should be doubting your ideas just a bit harder.

After all, some of the most successful startups started with singular boring ideas. If you are amazing at sales and execution then you can afford to go all in on your boring idea.

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