I built an AI marketing tool, but getting the first 10 users is harder than building it
https://vexa-growth-ai.lovable.app
I built a free AI marketing tool that generates product copy, ad ideas, and content plans. Building it was easier than getting my first 10 users 😅
How would you get the first 10 active users?
Roast it: https://vexa-growth-ai.lovable.app/
First 10 users being harder than the build is the classic trap — marketing tools especially, because your ICP already lives in noisy places (Twitter/LinkedIn/Reddit) and keyword search isn't enough.
Curious: are you hunting Reddit / niche communities daily for people describing the pain, or mostly waiting on launch channels?
I built a scored thread digest for that hunt (discovery only — where ICP is complaining right now, not auto-posting). Happy to show a sample mapping for an AI marketing tool on a 10-min call if useful.
Thanks for the insight! Right now I'm exploring both launch channels and more direct outreach, but I agree that finding people already experiencing the problem is probably the better approach.
For Vexa, I'm currently looking at Shopify merchants who need help creating product descriptions, ad ideas, and marketing content. I'm interested in learning how you approach finding those conversations and identifying the right ICP.
Narrowing makes sense, but not by industry first.
"Shopify owners" is still too broad because the pain is not evenly distributed. A store with 12 SKUs and decent descriptions may treat Vexa as nice-to-have. A store importing 80 supplier descriptions, testing ads, or rebuilding product pages after bounce problems is in a different situation.
For the first 10, the group to find is the one where bad or slow copy is already costing them this week.
That could be high-SKU stores, dropshippers testing products fast, or small teams rewriting product pages because ads are getting clicks but not sales.
The question is not really "which niche likes AI copy?"
It is "who has to produce enough product/ad copy that the current workaround is visibly painful?"
Once that group is clear, the first-user hunt gets less abstract.
Thanks, that's a really helpful perspective. I think you're right that "Shopify merchants" is still too broad. Focusing on the operational pain instead of the industry makes a lot of sense. I'm going to narrow my outreach toward stores that are constantly creating or updating product and ad copy, since that's where Vexa should deliver the most immediate value. Thanks for the insight!
Good ICP!
How I find those conversations:
If useful, I can do a 10-min call and map a concrete Vexa sample (subs + phrases + how I'd pick threads this week). That's how I usually show the approach with real posts — happier to do it live than paste a wall of theory. Want to pick a slot?
Thanks, this is really helpful. I like the idea of searching by pain language instead of product category.
I'm not really doing calls at the moment, but I'd definitely be interested in seeing a quick Vexa example here if you're open to sharing one.
That sounds like the right direction.
One thing worth separating: "creates copy frequently" as the whole signal vs. a current trigger. Frequency helps, but the sharper signal is usually something happening now — new products imported, ads getting clicks but not sales, a seasonal push, or old supplier copy that obviously needs rewriting.
If you test this, track one thing after each outreach attempt:
was this store already trying to fix copy this week, or were they just a store that could theoretically use better copy?
Those two groups can look similar from the outside, but they behave very differently.
That makes a lot of sense. I think you're right that the strongest signal isn't just "this store needs better copy", but whether they're actively trying to improve something right now.
I'll start tracking those signals during outreach (new product launches, active ads, seasonal campaigns, outdated supplier copy, etc.) and compare which group actually responds.
Thanks for the insight — this helps me refine the customer targeting.
Yes, that is the split.
One small thing that may make the outreach data easier to read: keep the "active trigger" bucket separate from the "looks like a fit" bucket.
A store with weak copy can still ignore the tool. A store that just launched a product, has ads running, or is visibly updating pages may be in a different state.
If responses mostly come from the second group, that tells you more than a broad merchant category would.
Great point. I agree that separating "active trigger" from "looks like a fit" will probably make the data much more useful. A store can have weak copy but no urgency to fix it. I'll start tracking those buckets separately and see if the response rate differs. Thanks for the insight.
Quick heads-up: the feed I sent you was a one-time snapshot — that's the free sample. The actual product is that same feed refreshed every morning with new threads.
You already told me the scoring matches your instinct. The open question is whether the daily version turns into real conversations for you. $19 first month, refund if it doesn't — you're not risking anything except finding out.
Want me to switch your feed to daily?
Thanks for explaining—that makes sense.
I do think the scoring is solid, but I'm still at a very early stage with Vexa and I'm focused on getting my first active users. Because of that, I don't think I'd be able to properly evaluate the daily feed right now.
I really appreciate the offer and the refund policy. I'll pass for now, but I'd be happy to reach out again once I'm at a stage where I can make better use of it.
Totally get it on calls.
Here's the approach as a mini example for Vexa × Shopify merchants:
Pain language (not "AI marketing tool"):
Where it shows up: r/Shopify, r/ecommerce, r/smallbusiness (r/dropship is noisy).
Demo of the product flow (~60s):
https://www.loom.com/share/5b178932cc9149f1ac30970e179e819b
If you want a fuller sample mapped to Vexa, I usually do that on a short call so access isn't just a dead feed link. But if you'd rather skip the call, no problem — reply with:
I'll run a small scored sample and send you the feed.
This comment was deleted 2 months ago
Vexa sample is ready:
https://threadscout-theta.vercel.app/feed/4f179f1b-5627-4385-81b9-5a4b7849d2e6
Scanned your three subs r/Shopify, r/ecommerce, r/smallbusiness + pulled r/marketing and r/dropship where Shopify copy/ads pain also shows up. Each card = score + why matched.
Quick channel-fit flags from me (manual, not in the tool):
Pick 2–3 and say "yes I'd reply" or "no, not my buyer." That tells me if the scoring matches your instinct.
I checked all 6. I'd definitely reply to the one-product store/zero paid sales thread and the ecommerce bounce/product page thread — those feel very close to Vexa's ideal users.
I'd also consider the Meta ads traffic but zero sales thread, but I'd first understand whether the issue is the ad copy/creative or the offer itself.
The other three feel weaker for Vexa right now. Overall, the scoring seems pretty aligned with my instinct.
Totally fair — if Shopify cold outreach isn’t converting to real conversations yet, a daily Reddit feed won’t be the bottleneck.
Door’s open whenever the channel is actually in motion. Good luck with Vexa.
Hey! circling back on the Vexa feed.
Did any of those 2 “yes” threads turn into a real reply/conversation?
If yes (or still worth trying): I can keep the daily digest on at $19/mo founder rate.
Stripe: https://buy.stripe.com/4gM5kCfNDdo16N6fJBa7C04
If not / timing’s bad — all good, just say so and I’ll close the thread on my side.
Thanks for checking in!
Unfortunately, none of those "yes" threads have turned into real conversations yet. I'm still doing cold outreach to Shopify merchants and trying to get Vexa in front of more users, so I don't think I can justify the subscription right now.
I really appreciate the founder offer, though. If things pick up in the future, I'd be happy to reach out again.
Thanks, and best of luck with the product!
refund option is available, so if you'd like to have a free month to try product more, you can refund by the end of the month =)
This comment was deleted a month ago
Perfect. I'll keep the daily Vexa feed running while you test. I'll check back Friday to see if any of those replies turned into an actual conversation — that's the number that matters, not the score. Go get one.
That's exactly the read I was hoping for — 2 strong yeses and the scoring matching your instinct means the feed is doing its job.
Here's what I'd suggest, no pressure: I keep sending you this daily for a few days, you actually reply to those Vexa-fit threads, and we see if it turns into real conversations with store owners. If it does, it's clearly saving you the daily hunt.
I'm pre-launch on pricing so early founders get $19/mo instead of $39, locked in. You'd only start once you've seen it convert to actual replies — not before.
One honest flag: this saves you hunting time, it doesn't fix Reddit account reputation. If your account is fresh, don't copy-paste — comment as yourself so you don't get flagged. Works best if you already have a warm presence there
That sounds good. I'd be happy to test it for a few days and see if the threads turn into real conversations with Shopify store owners.
The Reddit reputation point makes sense too — I agree that the replies need to be genuine and helpful, not just promotion.
I'll try replying to the Vexa-fit threads and track the results.
Getting the first 10 users is rarely about proving the product works. It's about proving you've chosen a group with an urgent enough problem to change their current behavior. Those are very different milestones.
That's a great point. I think I focused too much on building the tool and not enough on narrowing down the first user group.
For Vexa, I'm currently thinking about starting with Shopify store owners who need product descriptions and ad ideas frequently, since they have a recurring marketing problem.
Would you focus even more on a specific niche within Shopify merchants for the first 10 users?
That's a good question.
I do have a view on it, but I don't think the right niche can be chosen independently of the product you're building. I'd rather explain the reasoning with Vexa as the context than turn it into a generic startup answer.
If you're open to it, what's the best email to reach you on?
Thanks! I tried to send you a DM, but it looks like private messages are disabled. Is there another way I can reach you?
Sure—email is probably the easiest.
What's the best email address to reach you on?
Thanks! You can reach me at: repmax30@gmail.com
I'd really appreciate your thoughts on Vexa and the first user group to target. Looking forward to hearing your feedback!
Thanks! I’ve just sent it over.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts whenever you have a chance.
You need to reach out to potential customers every day. You need to provide value upfront while asking for zero upfront effort. Those who engage, you deliver value. After that, most are happy to engage further with your product.
Btw, I do live video reviews of SaaS products and give honest feedback. Let me know if this sounds useful.