BUSINESS: If You're Building an AI Marketplace…
I’ve had a few conversations lately with founders building “AI-powered marketplaces.”
And here’s what I am seeing; brilliant vision. Big ambition. Too much too soon.
Let me share some top level advice for anyone building in this space 👇
1️⃣ Pick ONE Core Problem
Not everything all at once. A marketplace dies when it tries to solve everything.
Instead ask: What is the ONE urgent pain we solve in version one? Clarity wins.
2️⃣ Define ICP1 (Primary Customer) — Not “Everyone”
Marketplaces fail when they serve “all women,” “all freelancers,” or “all industries.”
Choose:
- One demographic
- One income pressure profile
- One skill level
- One use case
If you don’t define ICP1, your product will feel generic.
Generic = forgettable. Forgettable = no traction.
3️⃣ Solve the Chicken-and-Egg Problem Early
Every two-sided platform faces this:
You need supply and demand.
But you actually need demand first.
No demand = dead platform.
Before building tech, validate:
- Who is paying?
- For what?
- At what price?
- How fast do they need it?
Manual matching > automated matching in the beginning. Proof before platform.
4️⃣ MVP ≠ App
Your MVP is not:
- A full marketplace
- Swipe functionality
- Automated screening
- AI matching engine
Your MVP is:
- Clear profiles
- Defined micro-offers
- Real transactions
- Feedback loops
If real money changes hands, you have validation. If not, you have a concept.
5️⃣ Your Real Moat Isn’t Technology
Fiverr has tech. Upwork has scale. LinkedIn has reach.
Your moat is:
- Identity synthesis
- Speed of monetization
- Trust layer
- Niche focus
- Cultural positioning
- Community
Technology is an enabler.
Clarity is the differentiator.
6️⃣ Build Fast — But Validate Faster
Before hiring developers:
- Write the one-sentence pitch.
- Build the competitive matrix.
- Identify white space.
- Create a simple landing page.
- Collect 100 emails.
- Run pre-sales or beta trials.
If no one signs up? You just saved yourself 6 months of build time.
7️⃣ The Real Opportunity
We are entering a new era of work:
- Micro revenue streams
- AI-augmented skills
- Portfolio careers
- Identity-driven positioning
- Rapid exchange economies
Vision must meet disciplined focus.
The Founders Who Win Will:
- Narrow before they expand.
- Validate before they automate.
- Serve one lane before serving the world.
- Build trust before scale.
AI is accelerating everything. But fundamentals still apply.
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BUSINESS: If You're Building an AI Marketplace…
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