Wk1 - 12 Start Ups in 12 Months

Hey I'm Freddy!

Some background on me. For the past six years, I've been working as a Product Manager, building digital products in my day job. It's been a fantastic experience, but there's always been a part of me that craves launching products on my own.

Ultimately I want to run a couple of profitable side projects alongside my day job that I have complete ownership from conception to execution.

I see launching products as a muscle that needs to be exercised.

It's not something you can master by simply reading about it or watching others do it. You only develop this through experience. Developing a hypothesis of where value can be created, building an MVP, getting it to market without getting distracted by shiny new things, and ultimately validating or invalidating the initial hypothesis - this process is like a sport for entrepreneurs. And you only get better at this sport through practice.

So I'm spending the next year exercising this muscle, by building and shipping a new product every month for a year.

12 start-ups in 12 months.

Now, I'm not the first to attempt this challenge. Well-known digital nomad Pieter Levels was the first to attempt this challenge back in 2014. But for me, it's a chance to push my boundaries and see what I can achieve.

Here are five reasons why I think this is a good idea:

1. You're forced to ship: When you have a deadline, you can't keep tinkering endlessly. You have to ship your product and put it out into the world.

2. Increased probability of success: With more attempts, the odds of finding that one winning project increase. It's a numbers game, after all.

3. Learning new skills: Each project presents an opportunity to acquire new skills. Whether it's marketing, design, or coding, I'll be constantly expanding my toolkit.

4. Giving products time to breathe: By dedicating a month to each project, I'll be able to gauge its potential and gather feedback. Sometimes, all it takes is a little breathing room for a product to flourish.

5. Affordability to take risks: Since these are side projects, I have the freedom to take risks and experiment without the pressure of relying on them for my livelihood. It's a unique opportunity to explore uncharted territories.

My aim is to find a project that sticks and becomes a profitable side venture. However, even if that doesn't happen, I know I'll gain invaluable knowledge along the way.

As I take on this challenge, I will be posting each week on a Friday and this newsletter will be like my personal diary! I will share with you my failures, my wins, my experience, and my learnings. At least, that way, I won't forget everything I've been through. My expectation is that no one will read this but if they do (and maybe find some value) then that’s great.

Yours,

Freddy