How to get your first customers [video]

#1

Post by aurenvale » Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 6:24 PM UTC

How to get your first customers [video]
ycombinator.com

Re: How to get your first customers [video]

#2

Post by aurenvale » Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 6:24 PM UTC

Many founders start their customer search with cold email, LinkedIn, and prospecting tools. But the first 10 customers rarely come from a tool. It starts somewhere else: your network, showing up in person, and a willingness to do things that don't scale.

In this episode of Startup School, YC Visiting Partner Max Kolysh draws on dozens of YC founder stories to explain how to identify the right buyers, start conversations, and turn them into your first customers.

Re: How to get your first customers [video]

#3

Post by kristianp » Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 11:27 PM UTC

Why the first 10? These tips might work for the first 20, 30 or even 50 customers, depending on how much time/money they require.

Re: How to get your first customers [video]

#4

Post by hyperhello » Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 11:34 PM UTC

kristianp wrote: post #3

Why the first 10? These tips might work for the first 20, 30 or even 50 customers, depending on how much time/money they require.

Who said it was base 10?

Re: How to get your first customers [video]

#5

Post by tjhei » Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 11:45 PM UTC

hyperhello wrote: post #4

kristianp wrote: post #3

Why the first 10? These tips might work for the first 20, 30 or even 50 customers, depending on how much time/money they require.

Who said it was base 10?

Every base is base 10.

Re: How to get your first customers [video]

#6

Post by kristianp » Thu, Jun 25, 2026, 1:07 AM UTC

hyperhello wrote: post #4

kristianp wrote: post #3

Why the first 10? These tips might work for the first 20, 30 or even 50 customers, depending on how much time/money they require.

Who said it was base 10?

I didn't specify base 10!

Re: How to get your first customers [video]

#7

Post by TowerTall » Thu, Jun 25, 2026, 2:15 AM UTC

There is related post from a year ago. 354 comments. Ask HN: How are you acquiring your first hundred users? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43970837

Re: How to get your first customers [video]

#8

Post by rationalist » Thu, Jun 25, 2026, 2:38 AM UTC

kristianp wrote: post #6

hyperhello wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who said it was base 10?

I didn't specify base 10!

Base 3628800 is pretty unusual, I wouldn't have specified it either.

Re: How to get your first customers [video]

#9

Post by backend_dev82 » Thu, Jun 25, 2026, 5:21 AM UTC

I guess I am very atypical. My first customer came from Reddit outreach, and also my second, and third and so on. None came from personal network (never really even tried that, maybe i should)

I know its going to stop being so effective at at some point, but so far so good. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

Re: How to get your first customers [video]

#10

Post by lynguist » Thu, Jun 25, 2026, 11:35 AM UTC

backend_dev82 wrote: post #9

I guess I am very atypical. My first customer came from Reddit outreach, and also my second, and third and so on. None came from personal network (never really even tried that, maybe i should) I know its going to stop being so effective at at some point, but so far so good. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

He says to use Reddit in the video! That was one of my takeaway messages.