Zero to Alpha with Gigzz

My Journey from Zero to Alpha

About a year ago, in late December, we launched the alpha version of Gigzz. I called it a beta at the time, but honestly, it was too early to deserve that label. It was rough—painfully rough—and I hit this crushing moment of realization. Looking back now, I think it’s a rite of passage for every founder who’s building something from nothing, taking it from idea to Alpha or v1.

After that, I took a month-long pause—to think, reflect, and ground myself. What I had to truly accept, even though I already knew it on some level, was that this is the reality of going from 0 to 1. It’s messy, it’s imperfect, and it’s relentless—especially when you’re bootstrapping a start-up.

We had missed the original launch date I’d set with the development agency, and that in itself was a hard lesson. But I was adamant about making December work. Somehow, we pulled it off. That experience also crystallized something for me: building a product is entirely different from launching it or even planning the GTM strategy. Yet, the two are inextricably linked. The GTM strategy needs to live alongside the product from the start because they shape each other in ways you don’t fully understand until you’re in it.

Building a product is a unique experience—almost impossible to explain to someone who hasn’t been through it. There’s this deeply personal connection to the user and the hope that you’re creating something they’ll not only use but find value in—maybe even love. It’s about taking an idea and transforming it into a real, tangible experience. You work with developers to design the front end, blend it with the backend, and create something cohesive. It reminds me of constructing a building—starting with an idea, developing the design and structure, and then weaving in all the functional systems like electricity and plumbing to bring it to life.

One of the hardest adjustments for me was learning how to communicate with developers. At first, it felt harsh—borderline rude. But now, I understand why product management often has that edge. When something doesn’t work, it simply doesn’t work. There’s no room for, “Well, I kind of like it this way.” It’s more like, “The chat feature isn’t working. What’s the root cause? Is this problem isolated, or does it hint at a larger issue?” There’s no room for fluff or compromise in these moments. Unlike other parts of the business, product management doesn’t have the luxury of soft edges—things have to function, or the whole thing falls apart

The Audience: Is Everything

Another incredibly valuable lesson I learned: understanding your audience is everything. With Gigzz being B2C and incorporating elements of social networking, I quickly realized the audience dynamics were completely different from my experience in B2B. In some ways, they’re more available—but far less committed.

For anyone working in a start-up, you know how critical the ideal customer profile (ICP) is. And what do you think your ICP is at the start? It will evolve. For instance, I assumed moms would be one of the strongest influencers over their teens and even early users of the app.

• Every mom I’ve spoken to loves the concept. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Yet not a single one actually downloaded the app to test it. I get it—moms are busy. They’re working, volunteering, juggling activities, managing meals, chauffeuring their kids around—it’s a non-stop grind. The moms I’ve targeted are laser-focused on getting their kids the best experiences possible, whether it’s through sports, drama, or other activities. Testing an app like Gigzz? It’s just not high on their list of priorities.

• Then there are the teens. I thought offering $100 to test the app would be a huge motivator. But I realized they didn’t quite understand what I was asking them to do. It turns out, it’s easier to get a kid to mow your yard for $40 than to test an app for $100. That insight was a tough pill to swallow, but it’s helped me better frame the value proposition moving forward.

• The real surprise? The audience I didn’t anticipate: single women whose teens are either in college, out of college, or who don’t have kids at all. They’ve been active participants in the beta and have opened my eyes to a new demographic. Not only do they love helping teens, but they’re also more engaged, offering thoughtful instructions and feedback. And they often have more time and interest in getting involved.

Moving through alpha, fixing bugs, improving the V1 for almost six months, and then running a beta for another six months has been an incredible journey. It’s been challenging, eye-opening, and filled with moments of both frustration and amazement. Understanding the audience and learning to not take it personally has been incredibly rewarding. One of my beta testers prepared me for her feedback, but I only appreciated it because the app is not about me, it’s about connecting the dots between teens and those who need work completed

Product-Market Fit: The Never-Ending Journey

Last week, as the New Year approached and I reflected on working on this project for two years, I had a moment: What’s next? The app itself has only been available for a year—realistically, just six months—but I’ve been building, iterating, and working on Gigzz for two years. I thought it would happen faster. I thought it would be easier.

You hear people say, “It’s easier than ever to build an app or software,” and while that’s true in some ways, it’s still not easy. It takes a blend of big-picture strategy and daily micro-decisions—most of which are things you’ve never considered before. It might be legal questions, figuring out how to prioritize markets, or deciding where to allocate resources. And every choice impacts product development, which always costs both time and money.

As a founder, I’ve gained a deep respect for others in this space. I understand why so many founders want to move fast, get to market, and ship buggy products. I really get it. But I’ve intentionally spent more time in alpha and beta because the user experience matters so much to me. I feel like if I can get it right, maybe I’ll see teens find jobs, grow into their careers, and maybe the community benefits—helping teens while getting their own work done.

But I’ve also realized that when you’re building just for the money, you make very different choices. And last week, I was grappling with a hard question: Is this it? Are we at the end of the story?

Then, out of nowhere, inspiration struck out of a problem. The problem, the issue always seems to be the opportunity. Using the ‘problem’ to think through what if, or why has given me ideas for making a few changes, to again test and likely iterate again. This journey isn’t linear. It’s full of moments where I’ve been stuck, wondering if it’s over, only to find a different road.

Lessons Learned

• Patience is Part of the Process Building something from nothing takes time—often more than you expect. Even with modern tools, creating a functional, user-friendly product requires persistence. I learned to embrace the messy, iterative process instead of rushing to the finish line.

• Your Ideal Customer May Surprise You The audience I thought would be my early adopters—moms and teens—was different from the audience that truly engaged. Listening to feedback from unexpected beta testers taught me to let go of assumptions and adapt based on real user behavior.

• Balancing Speed and Quality is Crucial The pressure to launch quickly is intense, but prioritizing a polished user experience makes all the difference. Spending more time in alpha and beta allowed me to fix bugs and refine features, creating a better foundation for future growth.

• Clear Communication with Developers is Key Product management is all about clarity. When a feature doesn’t work, it needs to be addressed directly—there’s no room for “maybe” or “almost.” Learning to communicate effectively with developers was a steep but necessary curve.

• User Experience is Everything It’s not just about functionality—it’s about how users feel when interacting with the app. Small bugs or unclear instructions can create frustration, so I learned to prioritize usability and listen carefully to feedback.

• Iteration Drives Progress Finding product-market fit isn’t a one-and-done moment. It’s an ongoing process of testing, tweaking, and adapting. Every new experiment brings you closer to what truly works.

• Focus on the Vision, Not Just the Revenue Staying connected to the mission—helping teens find jobs and fostering community connections—keeps the work meaningful. When you focus solely on monetization, the decisions you make will look very different.

• Flexibility is a Superpower Missed deadlines, unexpected challenges, and evolving priorities are inevitable. The ability to pivot without losing focus on your core goals is one of the most important skills for any founder.

What’s next… probably not what I think right now. If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that plans evolve, audiences surprise you, and the path forward often takes unexpected turns. I’m looking forward to more learning, more experimenting, and more growth in 2025. Here’s to embracing the unknown and continuing the journey.

www.gigzzapp.com