Strategic User Holdback

Nader Al-Naji shares his perspective on the strategic timing of launching and growing a decentralized social network, particularly regarding the involvement of high-profile users and investors. He emphasizes the importance of product readiness over immediate growth.

Key Points:

• Product Development Philosophy:

  • Started with BitCloud as a prototype to test blockchain functionality
  • Focused on getting core features right before mainstream adoption
  • Prioritized long-term success over short-term growth

• High-Profile User Strategy:

  • Many prominent investors from VC and Hollywood bought into the platform
  • Deliberately chose not to activate these high-profile users early
  • Reasoning: "I don't want them to join, bring all their users, and then people are kind of like 'this isn't good enough'"

• Launch Approach:

  • Initially planned for mid-2021 mainstream launch
  • Started with password-protected links to test with small user base
  • Aimed for controlled growth of a few hundred users initially
  • Growth exceeded expectations when links were overshared

• Current Status:

  • Now feels more confident with newer versions (Diamond and Polygram)
  • Beginning to activate high-profile users
  • "You'll probably start seeing some of the bigger people using it and being part of it"

• Core Philosophy:

  • "We're playing the long game here"
  • Better to wait for product maturity before bringing in influential users
  • Values user retention over immediate growth