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StartupJanuary 30, 20266 min read

Why DevPass Chose to Build in Public: Lessons From Month One

The first month of building in public taught us more than a year of stealth mode would have. Here's what we learned.

The decision to build DevPass in public from day one was one of the best choices we've made. In our first month, we gained more than we ever could have in stealth mode — early users who shaped our product, honest feedback that saved us from building the wrong features, and a community that holds us accountable.

Key lessons from our first month

Sharing our plans publicly forced us to think critically about our priorities. The feedback we received from developers and companies directly shaped our product roadmap. We attracted team members who believed in our mission. And we built a foundation of trust that will serve us as we grow.

The challenges of building in public

Building in public isn't always easy. It requires vulnerability, thick skin when receiving criticism, and discipline to share consistently even when you're embarrassed by early versions of your work. But the benefits — trust, feedback, community — far outweigh the discomfort.

AC

Alex Chen

Co-Founder & CEO

Alex is the co-founder and CEO of DevPass. Previously, he was an engineering leader at Stripe and led hiring for 200+ engineering roles.

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