You know the saying, "Your network is your net worth."
In my own startup journey, that network has always felt… underdeveloped. Network poor.
My solo ventures never quite hit the mark, and I sometimes wonder how things might've gone if I'd taken that SF job, embraced VC, or dived into the funded startup world before my 30s.
With "vibe coding," the creator economy, and movements like Build In Public (and its cousins, the Indie Hackers) taking off, it's clearer than ever that you can build things you're passionate about, even with limited time. Success stories are everywhere. Solo makers are finally making it work.
Yet, even in this world of "self-made" wins, true solo success is rare. Behind the scenes, there are often private group chats, support communities, 'reply guys' and insider networks. Even YC heavily relies on the network.
So, I wanted to build something for people like me: solo builders, creators trying to carve out their space, who don't have a pre-existing network or interest in traditional accelerators, but do want to build successfully in public while finding genuine peers. Iron sharpens iron.
That's BIPCombinator (Build in Public Combinator) - bipcombinator.com
It's a straightforward community project aiming to:
- Run seasonal cohorts for makers who are Building In Public.
- Connect members thoughtfully based on focus area, location, project stage, etc.
- Provide a Discord for communication, help coordinate weekly check-ins.
- Host an 'end of season' online demo day (think TikTok/YouTube/X streams).
What it's not:
- No VC, no equity, no funding involved.
- No fees, and no monetization plan. This is a community service, not a business.
This is born out of my own desire for such a community. It's not my full-time gig, but it's something I felt was missing, so I'm working on it.
If this resonates with you, I'd love for you to check it out and consider joining.
My solo ventures never quite hit the mark, and I sometimes wonder how things might've gone if I'd taken that SF job, embraced VC, or dived into the funded startup world before my 30s.
With "vibe coding," the creator economy, and movements like Build In Public (and its cousins, the Indie Hackers) taking off, it's clearer than ever that you can build things you're passionate about, even with limited time. Success stories are everywhere. Solo makers are finally making it work.
Yet, even in this world of "self-made" wins, true solo success is rare. Behind the scenes, there are often private group chats, support communities, 'reply guys' and insider networks. Even YC heavily relies on the network.
So, I wanted to build something for people like me: solo builders, creators trying to carve out their space, who don't have a pre-existing network or interest in traditional accelerators, but do want to build successfully in public while finding genuine peers. Iron sharpens iron.
That's BIPCombinator (Build in Public Combinator) - bipcombinator.com
It's a straightforward community project aiming to: - Run seasonal cohorts for makers who are Building In Public. - Connect members thoughtfully based on focus area, location, project stage, etc. - Provide a Discord for communication, help coordinate weekly check-ins. - Host an 'end of season' online demo day (think TikTok/YouTube/X streams).
What it's not: - No VC, no equity, no funding involved. - No fees, and no monetization plan. This is a community service, not a business.
This is born out of my own desire for such a community. It's not my full-time gig, but it's something I felt was missing, so I'm working on it.
If this resonates with you, I'd love for you to check it out and consider joining.
Cheers, CG