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

You've built your MVP. The code works. 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.

Your first 100 users won't find you magically. You need to go get them.

Why the First 100 Users Matter Most

The first 100 users aren't about revenue. They're about learning:

• Validate assumptions: Does the problem you're solving actually matter?
• Find bugs: Real usage 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"

The Launch Channels

1. Your Personal Network (Start Here)

Your first 10-20 users should come from people you know.

• Personal emails 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]?"

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, contribute value first, share when relevant.

Slack/Discord: Join communities where your users are, participate genuinely.

Indie Hackers: Perfect for B2B SaaS and developer tools.

3. Product Hunt

Can drive 500-2000 visitors in a day if done right.

• Build a hunter relationship
• Prepare assets: logo, screenshots, demo GIF
• Line up supporters to upvote early
• Launch at 12:01 AM PST
• Engage with every comment

4. Hacker News

Technical audience. Great for developer tools and B2B SaaS.

• 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

5. Twitter/X

Build in public. Document your journey.

• Share your building journey weeks before launch
• Post screenshots, decisions, lessons learned
• Launch day: thread telling your story + product link

6. LinkedIn

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

7. Cold Outreach

Yes, it still works. Especially for B2B.

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

The Launch Week Schedule

Pre-launch: Tease on social, line up supporters, email personal network

Day 1: Product Hunt, Twitter/LinkedIn, personal emails

Day 2-3: Hacker News, Reddit, follow up with engaged visitors

Day 4-5: Slack/Discord communities, cold outreach

Day 6-7: Second wave of personal outreach, follow up with interested leads

What "100 Users" Actually Means

• 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

Aim for 100 activated users—people who actually tried your core value proposition.

Common Launch Mistakes

• Launching too quietly: Nothing happens from one post
• Launching before ready: Broken onboarding, crashes
• Wrong audience: Know where your users actually are
• Not following up: Every interested person deserves personal attention
• Giving up too early: 100 users often takes 4-6 weeks of sustained effort

After the First 100

Once you hit 100 activated users:

• Analyze: Which channels worked? Double down.
• Talk to users: Schedule calls with power users and churned users
• Iterate: Build what users actually want
• Decide: Is there enough signal to keep going?