Built and launched a networking platform that reached 100+ users I built this platform to solveBuilt and launched a networking platform that reached 100+ users I built this platform to solve
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Prateek Bawa
• 1d
Built and launched a networking platform that reached 100+ users
I built this platform to solve a problem I personally felt: professional networking often feels noisy, transactional, and awkward.
The idea was simple: help founders, investors, and operators meet more relevant people through a cleaner, more intentional networking experience.
I designed and built the full product experience, including the landing page, positioning, responsive interface, pricing section, trust elements, testimonials, and user flow. The goal was to make the product feel credible from day one, even though it was an early-stage MVP.
The platform reached 100+ users, which gave me a real validation signal that the problem existed and that people were willing to try a better way to network.
But I eventually shut it down because of retention problems.
Users were interested enough to sign up, but the product did not create a strong enough repeat-use habit. That was an important lesson: getting users to try a product is not the same as building something they keep coming back to.
This project taught me how to move from idea to launch quickly, test demand in the real world, and make honest product decisions based on user behaviour rather than assumptions.
As a Bolt developer, this is exactly the kind of work I enjoy: taking an idea from concept to a polished, usable product fast enough to validate whether it deserves more investment.
What I worked on:
Landing page design and build
Product positioning and messaging
Responsive web experience
MVP structure and user journey
Conversion-focused sections
Early user acquisition and validation
Post-launch learnings from real users
The biggest takeaway: launch fast, learn from real usage, and don’t confuse signups with retention.
Bolt Developer Frontend DevelopmentBolt.newJavaScript
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Pedro Lopes
• 11h
The 'intentional networking' angle only holds if the product itself resists the noise it reacts against; restraint in the interface becomes the proof of the positioning, not just the copy. Curious how you define a relevant match under the hood: self-declared intent, or behavior...
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Prateek Bawa
• 6h
Intent was mostly based on their role (eg product managers) as well as who they are hoping to meet/connect with. One of the key issues end up being that people were just looking to switch jobs and wanting a referral. Very few people actually realise how crazy serendipitous connections can be
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The network for creativity
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