My 90-Day Goals
By the end of this year, I have three key goals for my startup:
1. Find Serious Learners
2. Build and Release an MVP
3. Get Smarter on EdTech
1. Find Serious Learners
A learning journal isn’t exactly a flashy product. Getting people to embrace the idea of regularly quizzing themselves and tracking their learning progress is going to be a challenge.
I’m competing with Netflix, TikTok, and other forms of passive entertainment for people’s attention. In its current form, my product is what you’d call an “eat your vegetables” tool—everyone knows it’s good for them, but getting them to use it regularly is another story.
So instead of trying to convince the masses, I’m going to focus on finding those who are already passionate about learning. The autodidacts, the bibliophiles, the people who crave knowledge. That’s why I’m building in public and pouring energy into social media—to connect with this community.
As I look ahead, a common challenge for B2C startups looms large: how do I get enough users without blowing a fortune on ads? I want to steer clear of ad spend as it can quickly lead to a cycle of constant fundraising.
Instead, I’m committed to creating engaging content and sparking a movement around learning with AI. I’ll find the people who care about learning, invite them to join me, and together, we’ll build an amazing learning journal that evolves with their input. Fast, iterative feedback cycles will be key to ensuring the product truly meets users’ needs.
2. Build and Release an MVP
Alongside community building, I’m also focused on developing the product itself. My vision for an AI-powered learning journal is ambitious—it’s not just a tool, but a companion that helps users learn smarter, faster, and more efficiently.
Building this is no small feat. I need to figure out how to source learning data, develop a quizzing engine that surpasses current foundational models, and deliver a delightful, user-friendly interface. It’s a lot to tackle!
The first step is finding a CTO to lead the technical side. I’m already in late-stage discussions with a potential co-founder who could fill this role.
There’s also a steep learning curve when it comes to AI applications. I’ve had to quickly realize that my machine isn’t equipped to run local large language models (LLMs) efficiently, which slowed product iteration. That’s why I recently invested in a new MacBook with 40 GPUs to speed things up.
There are so many new technologies to explore—RAG, Haystack, Llama, Ollama—I’m just getting started. But in 90 days, I plan to have something tangible—a version of the product that early alpha or beta users can test and provide feedback on.
3. Get Smarter on EdTech
Lastly, I need to get up to speed in the EdTech space. I’m new to the industry and learning fast, but there’s still so much to absorb. I’ve compiled a list of learning tools, and I’m following content creators on YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms who share similar philosophies on learning.
The activity in this space is exciting. It’s clear there are real pain points that need solving, and that energizes me. But I need to connect with experts who know the industry better than I do. If you have any connections or suggestions, I’d love introductions to people who are knowledgeable in EdTech and learning tech.
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Thanks for reading.
#HappyLearning