Money follows trust, not features: build-in-public advice for founders
Making money from software is less about the idea or and more about credibility. AI has made building so easy that apps like Cursor or Granola can be cloned in a few days, yet that alone doesn't translate into revenue for most people. The only reliable way to build credibility online is through — consistently sharing what you're making.
That means posting your progress regularly, replying to people as fast as possible, and talking with other founders to keep showing up. Over time, people start seeing your name repeatedly, watch your progress, and slowly begin to trust you — and that trust is what eventually converts into . Many founders quit around six to seven weeks after launch once nothing seems to be happening; sticking with a startup requires being willing to spend six months building and improving without a single paid user.
Viral claims like making a million dollars within a month of launch are called out as mostly fake and not worth being discouraged by.
Key points
- Making money from software increasingly depends on credibility rather than the idea or alone
- have lowered the barrier so much that products like Cursor or Granola can be cloned in a few days
- — posting progress consistently, replying fast, and engaging other founders — is described as the main way to earn online trust
- Many founders give up six to seven weeks after launch; staying in means being ready to build for six months without a paid user
- Viral 'made $1M in a month' success stories are mostly fake and shouldn't be a