# cold-start-strategy

Guides cold start planning for AI and SaaS products, helping find seed users and launch when starting with zero traction.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1200 installs · ★ 1062
- Author: kostja94
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/kostja94/marketing-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/strategies/launch/cold-start/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-21
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/cold-start-strategy

## What it does

The skill builds an early traction roadmap for SaaS and AI products starting from zero. It checks for a root `contextus.md` file to load relevant project facts. When that file is missing, the agent asks for missing details. It needs product type and budget.

The main task is picking two or three distribution channels. The guidance compares channels like Product Hunt and founder-led outbound messaging. It also tracks Twitter/X for phrases like "looking for AI tool" or competitor mentions. Freelance boards like Upwork offer another path to high-intent buyers.

Pouring money into paid ads before product-market fit burns cash fast. The skill forbids hiring sales reps before the founder closes 10 deals. Avoid mass directory submissions. Instead, it coordinates a multi-channel launch across 6–7 weeks. That timeline relies on a waitlist of 200–1,000 signups and 20–30 user interviews.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill cold-start-strategy -a claude-code
```
```bash
npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill cold-start -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/cold-start/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/cold-start/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill cold-start -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/cold-start/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill cold-start -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/cold-start/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install kostja94/marketing-skills cold-start
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/cold-start/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill cold-start -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/kostja94/marketing-skills --path skills/strategies/launch/cold-start
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/cold-start/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add kostja94/marketing-skills --skill cold-start -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/kostja94/marketing-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/strategies/launch/cold-start/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- select 2–3 acquisition channels tailored to the product
- schedule a multi-channel launch timeline across 6–7 weeks
- find early leads on Twitter and Reddit using direct demand signals
- plan a pre-launch waitlist targeting 200–1,000 signups

## Example prompts
- Help me plan a cold start strategy for a new B2B SaaS with zero budget.
- How can I find early users for an AI tool using demand signals on Twitter?
- Draft a 7-week multi-channel launch schedule before releasing on Product Hunt.

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 29b834dc055b5b7d.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 29b834dc055b5b7d
```text
---
name: cold-start-strategy
description: When the user wants to plan cold start, get first users, or launch a new product with zero traction. Also use when the user mentions "cold start," "cold start problem," "first users," "seed users," "finding users," "finding early users," "Fiverr Upwork," "comment outreach," "Twitter search users," "product launch strategy," "0 to 1 growth," "early-stage acquisition," "launch channels," "get first customers," "Product Hunt launch," "AppSumo," "LTD," "indie hacker," "bootstrapping," or "solo founder." For directory listing copy and submissions, use directory-submission. For Product Hunt day-of execution, use product-hunt-launch. For GTM motion design, use gtm-strategy.
metadata:
  version: 1.3.0
---

# Strategies: Cold Start

Guides cold start strategy for AI/SaaS products: getting first users and traction when you have zero. The cold start problem is overcoming the chicken-and-egg barrier; most startups fail due to poor distribution, not product quality. For **indie hacker** context (first 100 users, Build in Public, Pieter Levels tactics), see **indie-hacker-strategy**.

**When invoking**: On **first use**, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On **subsequent use** or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.

## Initial Assessment

**Project context:** Read root `contextus.md` when present and load only the modules relevant to this task. Without Contextus, use available project material or user-provided facts and ask for missing information; do not create a parallel context system.

Identify:
1. **Product type**: AI tool, SaaS, app, B2B, B2C
2. **Target audience**: Where they spend time
3. **Budget**: Zero, minimal ($500–1K), or moderate
4. **Timeline**: Pre-launch, launch week, post-launch

## Cold Start Channels

| Channel | Audience | Use | Notes |
|---------|----------|-----|-------|
| **Product Hunt** | Indie makers, early adopters | Launch-day buzz; community upvotes | ~3% conversion; traffic spike; see **product-hunt-launch** |
| **AppSumo / LTD** | Deal seekers, early adopters | Lifetime deal for fast revenue, validation | Quick cash; price-sensitive users; see **discount-marketing-strategy** for LTD structure, trade-offs |
| **Reddit** | Subreddit-specific | r/AlphaAndBetaUsers, r/roastmystartup, r/devops, r/SaaS | 80/20 rule; 5+ months for traction; lead with story |
| **Indie Hackers** | Indie makers, founders | Sustained engagement; authentic journey | ~23% conversion; 4–6 months; see **indie-hacker-strategy** for tactics |
| **Hacker News** | Tech, startups | Show HN launch | Luck + timing; front page = traffic spike |
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 29b834dc055b5b7d

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 29b834dc055b5b7d tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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