My Startup Failed Because I Kept Ignoring Something Fundamental

Hi, internet friends! Today, I want to share my journey of starting and eventually letting go of my first startup.

About six months ago, I launched Taskpad.io, a product designed to help freelancers manage their clients, projects, timesheets, invoices, and files. Some of you might have heard of it, most of you probably haven’t. That’s okay—it’s all part of the story.

The goal was to create something simple and effective for freelancers. To move fast, I used technologies I was comfortable with: Next.js, TypeScript, and other tools like react-query, zustand, Neon, and Clerk for authentication. After a lot of late nights and coffee-fueled coding sessions, I released the alpha version to see if there was interest.

The functionality was solid—practically bug-free (and we all know no software is truly bug-free). But the user interface? It wasn’t great. Actually, it was downright bad. Despite this, nine people signed up. That might not sound like much, but for someone with no prior business experience, it felt like an achievement. I was just a developer trying to build a business for the first time, and those nine users gave me a spark of hope.

Lessons Learned From My First Startup

While Taskpad.io didn’t take off, the journey was a massive learning experience. If you’re thinking of starting your own project, here are some lessons I’ve learned that might help you:

1. First Impressions Matter, Even in Alpha

Your product doesn’t need to be perfect in the early stages, but it does need to look good. From the landing page to the core application, a professional, consistent design can make all the difference. If you’re like me and lack design skills, consider using tools like shadcn or a pre-built UI library. Not only do they save time, but they also help maintain consistency across your app.

2. Use Tools You Already Know

It’s tempting to try the latest shiny tech, but for your first product, stick to what you know. Familiar tools like Next.js (or similar frameworks) let you write both frontend and backend code in one project, which is ideal for building an MVP quickly.

3. Be Ready to Evolve Your Tech Stack

While Next.js is fantastic for shipping an MVP, as your app grows, you might want to reconsider your architecture. Separating the backend and frontend—for example, using Node.js and React—can make scaling and adding features easier. Also, remember that most startups don’t need a microservices architecture from day one. Keep it simple.

4. Marketing Is Everything

You can build an amazing product with great features and a polished design, but if no one knows about it, it’s all for nothing. Invest time in marketing. Build awareness, share your vision, and connect with your target audience. It’s not just about building—it’s about getting people to care.

What’s Next for Me?

While I had big plans for Taskpad.io, running the startup was putting a lot of pressure on me, and I started delaying other things I wanted to do. So, I made the tough decision to step away and focus on personal growth.

What’s next? I’ve decided to dive into something I’ve been curious about for a long time: learning C. Why C? I want to go beyond the abstractions of JavaScript and understand how computers truly work. What’s happening behind the scenes? How does memory management work? I’m excited to pull back the curtain and learn more about the fundamentals of programming. I’ll probably write about that journey soon, so stay tuned.

That’s my story for today. If you’re on your own startup journey, I hope my experience and lessons can provide some guidance. And if you’ve got any thoughts or advice, feel free to share—I’d love to hear them.

Cheers,

Alex Cloudstar