Ask HN: Ok you've built a rudimentary prototype – how would you proceed next?

Myself and a couple of 'co-founders' are trying to create a service where you can order drinks/food from the bar/restaurant via your phone/device. There are a number of companies already tentatively in this space so in theory there is a demand (or we're all barking up the wrong tree).

Having knocked up a basic iOS prototype we're wondering how to proceed with our next 'sprint'. What should be our goal be we thought?

1. Engage 1 bar and work with them?

2. Engage multiple/many bars? maybe a clearer picture of the problems will emerge?

3. Beef up the prototype? 4. Pay designers to make the app so beautiful people just want to hand over their cash immediately ;-)

5. Business plan?

6. Something else we haven't thought of ?

How would you proceed?

Sounds like you're a solution in search of a problem. Go directly to multiple business owners and ask them if this solves any problems for them, or ask them how this might possibly make money for them. Listen, pivot or abandon.

My experience is try to couple the development of your app as close as possible to solving the problems of your users. You really need to find someone who can help you find out if the concept is viable or not. The major thing to look for is does your app solve some problem that your paying (future) customers need solved. The only way you are really going to find this out is get at least one involved.

Find a very understanding bar(and understanding bartenders) to rent out for an evening for a private event. Make sure everyone who shows up for your event is using your app -- Invite friends, your friends friends, the bartender's friends, etc.

Get feedback from these users, the bartenders and the bar management.

Do this a few times. This will cost you a lot of money (you most likely will need to offer heavily discounted drinks where you subsidize the cost for the bar but _not free_), but that's your market research.

At this point, do something that does not scale. That means "Engage 1 bar and work with them". Sure you could say why not multiple bars at the same time. But that will be over optimizing which you don't want in the beginning.

Get your very first client by talking to them manually, showing them everything manually and get them to believe that your service will provide value to their business and help them make/save money either quickly or in long run.

Once you have done this successfully (which majority fail at), then you can go to Step 2.

Steps 3-infinity are all good only when Steps 1 and 2 have been done, rinsed, repeated with at least 30-40 ? clients ? May be more ? Depends on your industry. But before you get these many clients, don't bother with anything else.

I am doing this right now. Telling you from experience. Remember, a successful business is not about awesome software, automated stuff or any other fancy stuff. A successful business is about :

1. Aquiring customers

2. Retaining those customers for as long as possible which means keeping them happy.

Of course, doing the fancy things like a great design, automation are important but not at the stage you are at. Hope this helps.