Yes, startups struggle a lot with distribution... I've been thinking and experimenting a lot lately. I also launched a couple of products on various platforms: the last one is a distribution/marketplace.

The way MOST non-bootstrapped see it: - Launch on Product Hunt - Raise VC money. - Invest in Ads. - Hyper-growth.

Why this vision is flawed in my opinion: - Product Hunt votes don't prove PMF. - Early Ads are a waste of money. - Conversion needs tuning first. - Hyper-growth isn't always the answer, it strongly depends on your GTM timing & market maturity

Get rid of VC/angel money and it'll take x10-x100 longer to expand.

I'm building and growing a new platform https://microlaunch.net/ to overcome these reasons. My goal is to provide a healthy way to grow without compromising early founders' margins.

I feel like the famous Pareto 80-20 rule totally applies to this situation: putting 80% effort into your distribution will feel like a 20% reward. It's a quite hard game.

Do some of you relate to this take? Please share your experience too.