MVP Launch Strategy: How to Get Your First 100 Users Fast

You've built your MVP. The code works. The features are ready. Now comes the terrifying part: getting actual humans to use it.

Most founders obsess over building and then freeze when it's time to launch. They share one tweet, post in a couple of Slack groups, and wonder why no one signs up. Then they convince themselves the product must be wrong.

It's not. Their launch strategy is.

Your first 100 users won't find you magically. You need to go get them. Here's exactly how to do it—channel by channel, tactic by tactic.

Why the First 100 Users Matter Most

The first 100 users aren't about revenue. They're about learning. These early adopters will:

• Validate (or invalidate) your assumptions: Does the problem you're solving actually matter?
• Find bugs you missed: Real usage always surfaces issues testing didn't catch
• Shape your roadmap: Their feedback tells you what to build next
• Become evangelists: Happy early users spread the word
• Provide social proof: "100 users" sounds better than "0 users" when pitching

Remember: an MVP exists to test assumptions and learn, not to scale. Your first 100 users are your learning lab.

Before You Launch: The Pre-Launch Checklist

Don't launch unprepared. Make sure you have:

• Analytics installed: You need to know what users do (try Mixpanel, Amplitude, or PostHog)
• Feedback mechanism: Easy way for users to report bugs or share thoughts
• Onboarding flow: Can someone use your product without you explaining it?
• Landing page: Clear value proposition, signup form, maybe a demo video
• Email setup: Welcome email, basic transactional emails working

Use our MVP checklist to make sure nothing critical is missing.

The Launch Channels: Where to Find Your First Users

Different products need different channels. Here's every major option with specific tactics for each.

1. Your Personal Network (Start Here)

Your first 10-20 users should come from people you know. This isn't cheating—it's smart.

Tactics:

• Personal emails (not mass blasts) to friends, former colleagues, industry contacts
• LinkedIn posts announcing what you've built
• Direct messages to people who fit your target user profile
• Ask for intros: "Do you know anyone who struggles with [problem]?"

Script that works:

"Hey [Name], I've been building something for the past few months and just launched the first version. It helps [target user] solve [problem]. I'd love your honest feedback—even if it's brutal. Would you try it for 10 minutes and tell me what you think? [link]"

Personal asks convert at 10-20x the rate of public posts.

2. Online Communities

Find where your target users already hang out online.

Reddit:

• Find relevant subreddits (r/startups, r/SaaS, industry-specific ones)
• Don't spam—contribute value first, then share your product when relevant
• Post in feedback-focused threads ("Feedback Friday," "Share Your Startup")
• Answer questions, then mention your tool solves that problem

Slack/Discord Communities:

• Join communities where your users are (not just founder communities)
• Participate genuinely before promoting
• Look for #showcase or #promotions channels
• DM members who express problems you solve

Facebook Groups:

• Still huge for B2C and local businesses
• Same rules: contribute before promoting
• Ask questions that surface pain points, then offer to help

Indie Hackers:

• Perfect for B2B SaaS and developer tools
• Post a "Show IH" with your story
• Document your journey—people love following along

3. Product Hunt

The classic startup launch platform. Can drive 500-2000 visitors in a day if done right.

Preparation (2-3 weeks before):

• Build a "hunter" relationship (or find someone with followers to hunt you)
• Prepare assets: logo, screenshots, demo GIF, tagline
• Write compelling copy—focus on benefits, not features
• Line up supporters to upvote and comment early

Launch Day:

• Launch at 12:01 AM PST (that's when the day resets)
• Engage with every comment personally
• Share across your channels asking for support
• Keep momentum through the day with updates

Reality check: Product Hunt is noisy. A top-5 finish helps, but don't bet everything on it. Treat it as one channel of many.

4. Hacker News

Technical audience. Great for developer tools, B2B SaaS, and interesting technical products.

Tactics:

• Post a "Show HN" with your product
• Lead with the technical problem, not marketing speak
• Be transparent about what works and what doesn't
• Respond to every comment—HN rewards engagement
• Share your journey: "I built this because..."

What works: Authentic stories, technical depth, open source, founder transparency

What doesn't: Marketing language, vague claims, defensiveness in comments

5. Twitter/X

Build in public. Document your journey. People root for founders they follow.

Tactics:

• Share your building journey weeks before launch
• Post screenshots, decisions, lessons learned
• Engage with people in your target market
• Launch day: thread telling your story + product link
• Ask followers to retweet if they found it valuable

Thread structure that works:

1. Hook: The problem you noticed
2. Story: Why you decided to build this
3. Solution: What you built (screenshot)
4. Results: Early wins or learnings
5. Ask: Try it out + link

6. LinkedIn

Underrated for B2B. Your professional network is full of potential users and connectors.

Tactics:

• Personal post about what you've launched (not company page)
• Tell the story—why you built it, who it helps
• Direct messages to connections who fit your target profile
• Ask for introductions to potential users
• Comment on relevant posts and add value before promoting

7. Cold Outreach

Yes, it still works. Especially for B2B.

Finding prospects:

• LinkedIn Sales Navigator to find target roles
• Company directories for your niche
• Conference attendee lists
• Twitter followers of competitors

Cold email template:

Subject: Quick question about [specific pain point]

Hi [Name],

I noticed you're [role] at [company]. I'm building a tool that helps [target users] solve [specific problem].

Would you be open to trying the beta and giving feedback? It's free, and I'd genuinely value your input.

No pressure either way.

[Your name]

Short, specific, low-pressure. Expect 5-10% response rates if targeting is good.

8. Content Marketing (Slower but Sustainable)

SEO and content won't get you your first 100 users quickly, but starting now pays dividends.

Quick wins:

• Write a detailed blog post about the problem you solve
• Create a comparison page (your tool vs alternatives)
• Answer Quora/Reddit questions with genuine help + subtle product mention
• Guest post on industry blogs

9. Partnerships and Integrations

Piggyback on existing audiences.

Ideas:

• Build an integration with a popular tool (then get listed in their marketplace)
• Partner with complementary products for co-marketing
• Reach out to newsletter curators in your space
• Offer affiliate commissions to influencers

The Launch Week Schedule

Don't just launch once. Launch repeatedly across channels.

Pre-launch (1 week before):

• Tease on Twitter/LinkedIn
• Line up Product Hunt hunter and supporters
• Email your personal network that something's coming
• Prepare all assets and copy

Day 1 (Main launch):

• Product Hunt goes live
• Post on Twitter/LinkedIn
• Email personal network
• Engage everywhere all day

Day 2-3:

• Hacker News Show HN
• Reddit relevant subreddits
• Follow up with engaged Product Hunt visitors

Day 4-5:

• Slack/Discord communities
• Cold outreach batch 1
• Share early feedback/wins publicly

Day 6-7:

• Second wave of personal outreach
• Cold outreach batch 2
• Follow up with everyone who showed interest

What "100 Users" Actually Means

Be clear about your definition:

• Signups: Easiest to get, least valuable signal
• Activated users: Completed onboarding or key action
• Active users: Used the product multiple times
• Paying users: Strongest validation

For an MVP, aim for 100 activated users—people who actually tried your core value proposition. 100 signups who never log in tell you nothing.

Tracking and Learning

Your first 100 users are a goldmine of insights. Capture everything.

Track:

• Where each user came from (UTM parameters)
• What they do in the product (event tracking)
• Where they drop off (funnel analysis)
• What they say (feedback, support tickets, reviews)

Ask:

• How did you hear about us?
• What problem were you trying to solve?
• What almost stopped you from signing up?
• What's missing that would make you use this daily?

This data shapes everything: your positioning, features, channels to double down on.

Common Launch Mistakes

Learn from others' failures:

Launching too quietly: "I'll just post once and see what happens." Nothing happens. Launch is a multi-channel, multi-day push.

Launching before ready: Broken onboarding, missing features, crashes. First impressions matter. Use your pre-launch checklist.

Wrong audience: Launching a developer tool in a marketing community. Know where your users actually are.

Not following up: Someone shows interest, you never reply. Every interested person should get personal attention.

Giving up too early: "We got 20 users in week one, guess it's not working." Keep pushing. 100 users often takes 4-6 weeks of sustained effort.

After the First 100: What's Next?

Once you hit 100 activated users:

1. Analyze: Which channels worked? Double down on those.
2. Talk to users: Schedule calls with power users and churned users alike
3. Iterate: Build what users actually want, not what you assumed
4. Decide: Is there enough signal to keep going? Pivot? Kill it?

The goal was learning. What did you learn? If you've validated your idea, start planning for 1,000 users. If signals are weak, dig into why before spending more.

Real Talk: How Long Does This Take?

The MVP timeline doesn't end at launch. Budget 4-8 weeks of active user acquisition effort to hit 100 activated users. Some get there in days (viral products, huge existing audience). Most take weeks of grinding.

This is normal. Don't compare your week-one numbers to products that launched years ago.

Get Help With Your Launch

Building an MVP is hard. Launching it is harder. If you want a team that's done this before—from building your MVP to helping you plan your launch strategy—let's talk.

At t3c.ai, we don't just ship code. We help founders ship products that get users.