Problems we Solve
Since 2016 we've worked with over 450 founders. This has helped us uncover many of the problems faced when starting a side project. Click a problem to read its detail.
We solve this by making sure you build something people want, that people will pay for and that you can grow a customer base for.
Here's how we make that happen:
We'll ask you to generate 50+ ideas, using 4 market research methods and 3 creative methods.
We'll show you how to determine which of those ideas have good business fundamentals, and which are just silly.
We'll ask you to take a very hard look in the mirror and pick the top idea that suits your personality, your resources, your situation and that you really care about. You'll be surprised how important this process is.
We'll show you how to build a Seed Group of customers and prove that you have what it takes to grow "this" idea in "this" market. If you can't, then we'll ask you to #FailFast and pick your next idea/market to test.
We'll show you how to work with your growing Seed Group of customers to make sure your product is exactly what they want before you build it. It's worth noting that the odds of your original idea being exactly what they want are low. Your idea will evolve based on working with the group.
We'll show you how to do things that don't scale and launch your product as quickly as possible to your waiting customers.
We'll show you how your business is a never ending cycle of learning, iterating, launching and growing.
We solve this by breaking down all our lessons, discussions and steps into small bite-sized chunks, many of which can be done in 10 minutes at the end of the day or in a lunch break.
Then we keep you coming back using the following techniques:
We made a little rocket that flies across the screen! It's fun to make it fly further by completing stuff.
As you see your batch members making progress in Slack you'll feel inspired to make your own progress.
If you drop off for 5-7 days, we'll send an email nudge with a big orange button that gets you right back in to the lesson where you left off.
We've been able to help some members with the following process:
We'll ask you to generate 50+ ideas, using 4 market research methods and 3 creative methods.
We'll show you how to determine which of those ideas have good business fundamentals, and which are just silly.
We'll ask you to take a very hard look in the mirror and pick the top idea that suits your personality, your resources, your situation and that you care deeply about.
In other words, you'll gorge on shiny objects, and then pick one that is so right for you it will hold your attention in the long term.
Our approach is to help you pick an idea you care very much about.
We'll ask you to generate 50+ ideas, using 4 market research methods and 3 creative methods.
We'll show you how to determine which of those ideas have good business fundamentals, and which are just silly.
We'll ask you to take a very hard look in the mirror and pick the top idea that suits your personality, your resources, your situation and that you care deeply about.
We tackle this problem from two angles. First, process. Second, mentoring.
The end goal of having a profitable side project seems like a mountain to climb. We overcome that by mapping the entire process out into small gradual steps.
If all goes well you'll look back and see you're half way up the mountain, without even realizing you were climbing the mountain in the first place.
For more detail have a look at our process page and be sure to click open each stage and have a look at the small steps within.
We'll work with you on a one-to-one basis for as long as it takes to see you move through all of those steps. If you get stuck in any place you will be able to talk with mentors who already know you and your journey.
The foundation of starting a profitable side project has nothing to do with coding!
The core work we do here is help you find your optimal idea. Then we help you validate you can grow a customer base for it. That work is Stages 1 through 7.
Then, if you get to Stage 8 it means you're validated. In Stages 8 through 12 we'll show you how to outsource design, web development etc at the appropriate time.
Keep in mind, you can also get your product to market without writing any code by using platforms like https://bubble.is or https://www.engineer.ai.
You're not alone. Every year 2 million teams try to raise Startup funding. Of those 97.4% #Fail (1.945m). With those odds it's easy to spend a lifetime never being funded.
Making the choice to bootstrap a micro side project changes the equation. For the first time you hold all the cards. You don't need to ask anyone's permission to get started building your business. You just need to work out how to get your first $100 and scale from there.
That's what MailChimp did, and now they are a $4.4b company, 100% owned by the original 2 coders who started it as a micro side project in 2012.
Where we come in is we specialize in helping you get to that first $100 and then $1,000 and then $10,000 and so on.
On average, you're dealing with a 3% acceptance rate. No matter how good you are, or your idea is, incubators simply don't have the room to accept more than 3 in 100.
By contrast, Nugget is self selecting. Anyone who wants can join. Everyone can have a batch based incubator experience.
That said, just because you can get in doesn't mean you should. Please check out the Are you are a good fit? page to make sure the Academy is a good fit for you.
The Academy is a completely remote and self paced program. You can dip in and out whenever you need. Some of our founders race through the program. Others take it slow.
Something we see a lot is founders working in bursts. For example, if things are quiet at home (and work) founders might make a lot of progress. Then "life" happens and they drop out for a bit. Then things things calm down and they jump back in.
The hope is, as you see others asking for help in your batch's Slack group you will feel more inclined to ask because everyone is doing it.
Just know that, as mentors we feel there are no bad questions. No matter how basic or noobish you might think they are. Especially if you are blocked or unsure on how to move forward. We're available any time.
Note, if you don't want to ask mentors, then ask a fellow batch member who has impressed you and who is making progress in the areas you are having difficulty with.
If you would like to get a sense of the Academy community, create a free account and flip back days through the momentum blog.
While most of the conversation happens in Slack, the momentum blog conveys the sense of purpose founders have, and the progress they are making toward a common goal.