Lovable Launches Startup Program with $10K Credits
@Lovable has launched a new program to support early-stage companies. Qualifying startups can receive $10,000 in credits by applying through venture capital or incubator partners. The program is designed to help founders ship products faster and test their ideas with real users.
- YC Partner Michael Seibel advises finding your first ten customers from your personal network; these should be people who you know personally experience the problem your startup is trying to solve. He suggests qualifying potential users with 4-5 questions to gauge how intensely they experience the problem before pursuing them. - To identify early adopters, look for individuals who are actively trying to solve the problem you're addressing, even if it means they are using workarounds or repurposing other tools. These users are often willing to test incomplete products and don't hesitate to invest time or money in finding a better solution. - Engage with niche communities where your target users already congregate, such as specific subreddits, Discord servers, and Slack groups. The key is to participate authentically and offer value before mentioning your product. - For cold outreach, keep your messages on LinkedIn or via email short, direct, and focused on the user's experience, not on selling your product. One effective tactic is to frame the conversation as "customer research" and ask for advice to show you value their expertise. - YC General Partner Ankit Gupta recommends charging early adopters real money for your MVP, not for the revenue, but because paying customers provide more direct and valuable feedback than free users. People with a significant problem are rarely price-sensitive and their willingness to pay is a strong signal of their need. - Instead of building a minimum viable product, YC advises building a minimum "evolvable" product that is designed to adapt quickly based on the feedback from your first users. This approach acknowledges that the initial product will and should change significantly after making contact with the market. - When reaching out on LinkedIn, you can post about the problem space and then send a direct message to anyone who engages with the post to ask for a brief interview. Successful outreach is highly targeted to a specific problem; if you can articulate their pain points, potential users are more likely to talk to you even without a solution. - To build a consistent pipeline, track your outreach efforts in a simple system with stages like "To Reach Out," "Working," and "Scheduled." After each conversation, ask the interviewee if there is anyone else they recommend you speak with, which can generate warm referrals.
