- Jeff "Fuzzy" Wenzel
- Posts
- Building in Public: A Startup Superpower and How to Do It Right
Building in Public: A Startup Superpower and How to Do It Right
Try Out These Two Tips In Your Startup Today
Tip #1 - Use DeepSeek to Create Youtube Videos 🎥
@nocodeautomation Deepseek can create this kind of stuff? Did you know about his? #chatgpt #deepseek #ai #artificialintelligence #ai
Tip #2 - Building in Public: A Startup Superpower and How to Do It Right
Building in public isn’t for everyone, but for those who embrace it, it can be a powerful force multiplier. The transparency, engagement, and authenticity it fosters can accelerate growth, attract top talent, and create a community around your product in ways that traditional marketing cannot.
I’ve seen firsthand the impact of building in public:
Our team has deep personal relationships with hundreds of our users online.
Each new job posting attracts tons of qualified candidates.
I receive a dozen emails daily from funds interested in investing in our company.
We can seamlessly broadcast updates to thousands of current and potential users for free.
Our team routinely receives and addresses invaluable real-time feedback.
None of this would be possible if we operated in stealth. Instead, we embrace radical transparency, sharing our journey, wins, failures, and insights across social media.
Why Building in Public Works
Humans are naturally drawn to stories. We follow narratives, root for underdogs, and celebrate victories. That’s why people follow people—not faceless brands.
Just look at how major companies like Airbnb leverage this principle. Their CEO, Brian Chesky, announces new features from his personal account first, not the company’s. The engagement numbers are staggering because people trust and relate to people, not corporate logos.
For me, building in public means:
Audience: Entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, and startup founders.
Value: Real-time strategies, growth tactics, hiring insights, fundraising tips, and behind-the-scenes updates.
As startup culture grows, so does the appetite for transparent, educational content. People want to learn from others’ successes and mistakes to gain an edge. By building in public, you create a compelling, educational, and entertaining narrative that attracts an engaged audience.
The Power of Audience
An engaged audience isn’t just about vanity metrics—it’s a real business advantage. Consider:
Kylie Cosmetics (Kylie Jenner)
Feastables (MrBeast)
Skims (Kim Kardashian)
Prime (Logan Paul & KSI)
These brands compete with industry giants because they have built-in audiences that provide free distribution. For startups, the ability to broadcast updates, attract talent, and drive sales without massive ad spends is a superpower.
I might not be Kim Kardashian, but I’m working on it. My approach? Consistently creating valuable content about startups and entrepreneurship. Every aspect of building our company provides content—A/B test results, hiring strategies, product updates—it’s all fair game.
What I Share When Building in Public
My content falls into five main categories:
Company Milestones
Milestones validate progress and credibility. People want to follow success.Example: We hit $5M ARR in record time, growing exponentially month after month.
Product Updates
Transparency about feature releases keeps users engaged and attracts new ones.Example: Announcing updates like optimized checkout pages or improved UX design.
My Vision
Leaders who can clearly articulate their vision attract believers and backers.Example: Setting ambitious revenue goals and sharing how we plan to achieve them.
Lifestyle & Personal Stories
The founder’s journey, personal challenges, and even humor humanize the brand.Example: The struggles of startup life, personal habits, and work-life balance.
Promoting Our Users
Elevating user successes builds community and trust.Example: Highlighting users hitting major milestones using our platform.
The Compounding Benefits of Public Momentum
By consistently engaging online, we create compounding effects:
Positive feedback loops with users.
Free word-of-mouth marketing.
A sense of belonging among users who engage with the brand.
Increased visibility on algorithm-driven platforms.
Real-Time Feedback & Market Insights
Many startups struggle to collect meaningful feedback. We have the opposite problem—users proactively share insights, feature requests, and pain points in real time. We use this feedback to iterate quickly and improve the product faster than competitors.
Hiring Advantages
Because our team and culture are visible online, talented individuals who resonate with our mission reach out proactively. As a result, we can hire top-tier talent quickly.
Should You Build in Public?
Building in public isn’t for everyone. It may not be the right fit if you’re uncomfortable sharing progress, dealing with public scrutiny, or engaging online regularly. However, for those willing to embrace it, the benefits are undeniable:
Increased visibility and credibility
Stronger relationships with users and investors
Faster iteration cycles through direct feedback
Easier hiring and recruiting
Organic marketing and brand growth
How to Do It Right
If you’re considering building in public, here’s how to get started:
Be Authentic – Share real insights, struggles, and wins. People appreciate transparency.
Engage with Your Audience – Respond to comments, DMs, and feedback.
Share Valuable Content – Whether it’s learnings, updates, or behind-the-scenes stories, make it useful.
Be Consistent – Building trust and momentum takes time. Show up regularly.
Don’t Just Sell – Provide value first. Sales will follow naturally.
The Bottom Line
Building in public is a competitive advantage. It accelerates growth, builds trust, and opens doors that wouldn’t otherwise exist. While it’s not for everyone, those who do it well will find themselves ahead of the game—attracting investors, customers, and top talent while fostering a community around their vision.
For startups looking for an edge, building in public might just be the superpower you need.
Today’s Newsletter Sponsor 💸
Get Booked on 3.8 Million Podcasts Automatically
Stop wasting time – 2025 is going by fast. If you finally want to be a regular podcast guest in your industry, PodPitch.com will make it happen. Even the beehiiv team uses it!
Imagine snapping your fingers & getting booked on the exact podcasts your customers are already listening to…
With PodPitch.com, it takes 60 secs to start emailing tons of podcast hosts to pitch YOU as the perfect next guest.
Sync your email address
Load in your brand info
Click "go"
Now, you've just automated thousands of personalized emails pitching YOU as the PERFECT next podcast guest. Sit back and relax as you watch the emails send out from your email address.
Big brands like Feastables, Jack Links, and hundreds more are already using PodPitch.com instead of expensive PR agencies.
PodPitch.com is so confident in their tech that they'll give you a FREE Starbucks gift card if PodPitch.com isn't the most impressive 20 minute demo you've ever seen.
Ready to make 2025 your year?
Reply