HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

Build It For a Real Paying Client First, Then Open-Source It

Build It For a Real Paying Client First, Then Open-Source It is a first users & traction tactic for getting your first users: Medusa started as a bespoke build for an actual ecommerce client, so it was battle-tested against real requirements long before it was ever released publicly.

It's a strong fit for Dev tools / technical and E-commerce / DTC teams, and works especially well for dev tools, infrastructure, open source. As a first users & traction play, plan for high effort and expect results to build gradually over time, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

First users & tractionHigh effortSlow

Why does first users & traction work for this?

A real design partner forces you to solve genuine problems, so the public release already works for real use cases.

The exact steps (5)

The full step-by-step this founder ran, what they posted, where, and in what order, plus the watch-outs, is part of the library.

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Sources

Works for
Dev tools / technicalE-commerce / DTC

Frequently asked

What kind of products does the "Build It For a Real Paying Client First, Then Open-Source It" tactic work for?
It is a good fit for Dev tools / technical and E-commerce / DTC — pick it when your product looks like one of those, since the play is shaped around how those users find new tools.
How is the "Build It For a Real Paying Client First, Then Open-Source It" tactic verified?
It is drawn from 1 primary source — a real founder write-up or interview, not generic advice. It is linked in the Sources section above so you can read the original account yourself.
How much effort is it and how fast are results?
It is high effort, and results tend to be slow.
Where can I see the exact step-by-step?
The full step-by-step a founder ran, documented via Source — IndieHackers, is in the paid library.

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