Hi, internet friends! Today, I want to share my journey of starting and eventually letting go of my first startup. About six months ago, I launched Taskpad.io, a product designed to help freelancers manage their clients, projects, timesheets, invoices, and files. Some of you might have heard of it, most of you probably haven’t. That’s okay—it’s all part of the story. The goal was to create something simple and effective for freelancers. To move fast, I used technologies I was comfortable with: Next.js, TypeScript, and other tools like react-query, zustand, Neon, and Clerk for authentication. After a lot of late nights and coffee-fueled coding sessions, I released the alpha version to see if there was interest. The functionality was solid—practically bug-free (and we all know no software is truly bug-free). But the user interface? It wasn’t great. Actually, it was downright bad. Despite this, nine people signed up. That might not sound like much, but for someone with no prior business experience, it felt like an achievement. I was just a developer trying to build a business for the first time, and those nine users gave me a spark of hope. Lessons Learned From My First Startup While Taskpad.io didn’t take off, the journey was a massive learning experience. If you’re thinking of starting your own project, here are some lessons I’ve learned that might help you: 1. First Impressions Matter, Even in Alpha Your product doesn’t need to be perfect in the early stages, but it does need to look good. From the landing page to the core application, a professional, consistent design can make all the difference. If you’re like me and lack design skills, consider using tools like shadcn or a pre-built UI library. Not only do they save time, but they also help maintain consistency across your app. 2. Use Tools You Already Know It’s tempting to try the latest shiny tech, but for your first product, stick to what you know. Familiar tools like Next.js (or similar frameworks) let you write both frontend and backend code in one project, which is ideal for building an MVP quickly. 3. Be Ready to Evolve Your Tech Stack While Next.js is fantastic for shipping an MVP, as your app grows, you might want to reconsider your architecture. Separating the backend and frontend—for example, using Node.js and React—can make scaling and adding features easier. Also, remember that most startups don’t need a microservices architecture from day one. Keep it simple. 4. Marketing Is Everything You can build an amazing product with great features and a polished design, but if no one knows about it, it’s all for nothing. Invest time in marketing. Build awareness, share your vision, and connect with your target audience. It’s not just about building—it’s about getting people to care. What’s Next for Me? While I had big plans for Taskpad.io, running the startup was putting a lot of pressure on me, and I started delaying other things I wanted to do. So, I made the tough decision to step away and focus on personal growth. What’s next? I’ve decided to dive into something I’ve been curious about for a long time: learning C. Why C? I want to go beyond the abstractions of JavaScript and understand how computers truly work. What’s happening behind the scenes? How does memory management work? I’m excited to pull back the curtain and learn more about the fundamentals of programming. I’ll probably write about that journey soon, so stay tuned. That’s my story for today. If you’re on your own startup journey, I hope my experience and lessons can provide some guidance. And if you’ve got any thoughts or advice, feel free to share—I’d love to hear them. Cheers, Alex Cloudstar Hi, internet friends! Today, I want to share my journey of starting and eventually letting go of my first startup. About six months ago, I launched Taskpad.io , a product designed to help freelancers manage their clients, projects, timesheets, invoices, and files. Some of you might have heard of it, most of you probably haven’t. That’s okay—it’s all part of the story. Taskpad.io Taskpad.io The goal was to create something simple and effective for freelancers. To move fast, I used technologies I was comfortable with: Next.js , TypeScript , and other tools like react-query , zustand , Neon , and Clerk for authentication. After a lot of late nights and coffee-fueled coding sessions, I released the alpha version to see if there was interest. Next.js TypeScript react-query zustand Neon Clerk The functionality was solid—practically bug-free (and we all know no software is truly bug-free). But the user interface? It wasn’t great. Actually, it was downright bad. Despite this, nine people signed up. That might not sound like much, but for someone with no prior business experience, it felt like an achievement. I was just a developer trying to build a business for the first time, and those nine users gave me a spark of hope. truly Lessons Learned From My First Startup Lessons Learned From My First Startup While Taskpad.io didn’t take off, the journey was a massive learning experience. If you’re thinking of starting your own project, here are some lessons I’ve learned that might help you: Taskpad.io 1. First Impressions Matter, Even in Alpha 1. First Impressions Matter, Even in Alpha Your product doesn’t need to be perfect in the early stages, but it does need to look good. From the landing page to the core application, a professional, consistent design can make all the difference. If you’re like me and lack design skills, consider using tools like shadcn or a pre-built UI library. Not only do they save time, but they also help maintain consistency across your app. shadcn 2. Use Tools You Already Know 2. Use Tools You Already Know It’s tempting to try the latest shiny tech, but for your first product, stick to what you know. Familiar tools like Next.js (or similar frameworks) let you write both frontend and backend code in one project, which is ideal for building an MVP quickly. Next.js 3. Be Ready to Evolve Your Tech Stack 3. Be Ready to Evolve Your Tech Stack While Next.js is fantastic for shipping an MVP, as your app grows, you might want to reconsider your architecture. Separating the backend and frontend—for example, using Node.js and React —can make scaling and adding features easier. Also, remember that most startups don’t need a microservices architecture from day one. Keep it simple. Node.js React 4. Marketing Is Everything 4. Marketing Is Everything You can build an amazing product with great features and a polished design, but if no one knows about it, it’s all for nothing. Invest time in marketing. Build awareness, share your vision, and connect with your target audience. It’s not just about building—it’s about getting people to care. What’s Next for Me? What’s Next for Me? While I had big plans for Taskpad.io , running the startup was putting a lot of pressure on me, and I started delaying other things I wanted to do. So, I made the tough decision to step away and focus on personal growth. Taskpad.io What’s next? I’ve decided to dive into something I’ve been curious about for a long time: learning C . Why C? I want to go beyond the abstractions of JavaScript and understand how computers truly work. What’s happening behind the scenes? How does memory management work? I’m excited to pull back the curtain and learn more about the fundamentals of programming. I’ll probably write about that journey soon, so stay tuned. learning C That’s my story for today. If you’re on your own startup journey, I hope my experience and lessons can provide some guidance. And if you’ve got any thoughts or advice, feel free to share—I’d love to hear them. Cheers, Alex Cloudstar Alex Cloudstar

This story contains new, firsthand information uncovered by the writer.

I Got #4 on Product Hunt: Here's How - My First Launch Story

The Art of Skillful Software Development: How to Go From Novice to Ninja

Read My Stories

Nominated for 2022 - HackerNoon Contributor of the Year - Typescript

Too Long; Didn't Read

Download free Tech Leaders Productivity Report!

My Startup Failed Because I Kept Ignoring Something Fundamental

About Author

Comments

TOPICS

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN

Related Stories

Untitled Story

Debunking the Myth That You Need a College Degree to Work in IT

Let’s Talk About Vibe Coding

How Not To Die In 2025: Advice From the Graveyard of Failed AI Startups

0 to $2000 MRR in One Month - Lessons Learned

What No One Told Me About Being a Product Manager at an Early Stage Startup

Debunking the Myth That You Need a College Degree to Work in IT

Let’s Talk About Vibe Coding

How Not To Die In 2025: Advice From the Graveyard of Failed AI Startups

0 to $2000 MRR in One Month - Lessons Learned

What No One Told Me About Being a Product Manager at an Early Stage Startup

Light-Mode

Classic

Newspaper

Dark-Mode

Neon Noir

Minty

HN StartUps