Tibo1. Set a public goal and a deadline
A public goal with a deadline gives people a reason to follow along.
- Pick a measurable goal and deadline
- Explain what sparked it
- Share progress on a schedule
- Show the system behind it
How to build in public
Building in public means sharing real progress, numbers and decisions while you build, so people follow the story and become early users. Set a public goal with a deadline, share small wins, and be honest about what did not work. Tibo set a public challenge and Shpigford celebrates small wins.
Updated · By Blake Emal · 5 real examples, each linked to its source
What are the steps
- Set a public goalTibo set a goal and a deadline.
- Share real numbersRevenue, users or results you are comfortable sharing.
- Celebrate small winsShpigford shares the small moments.
- Show the workScreenshots, drafts and decisions.
- Invite people inAsk for feedback and early users.
How do the options compare
| What to share | Real example |
|---|---|
| A public goal | Tibo YouTube challenge |
| Small wins | Shpigford |
| How you pay people | Jason Fried |
| Engineering wins | GitHub CSS modules |
| Fun facts | Guillermo Rauch |
Which real examples show it
Tibo
Josh Pigford2. Celebrate small wins in public
Small wins shared in public invite congratulations and build curiosity over what the domain is for.
- Share a true milestone as it happens
- Thank whoever helped by tag
- Show the proof
- Let people ask what is next
37signals3. Share one real number about how you pay
A clear stance plus a hard number turns a company policy into a talking point and a recruiting pitch.
- Pick a policy where you differ from the norm
- Share the actual figure behind it
- State your belief in one sentence
- Tie it to who should work with you
GitHub4. Share an engineering win with two numbers
Concrete performance numbers are shareable among engineers.
- Pick an internal engineering change
- Lead with the before and after
- Give two numbers
- Link the write up
Vercel5. Share a fun fact list people want to pass on
A clean list of surprising facts in your field is easy to share and keeps the founder top of mind.
- Find a surprising pattern in your industry
- Present it as a clean list
- Add one line of humor
- Skip any pitch
Get three ideas for your own product
Open the idea generatorPick a channel and a goal. Get real examples and a plan to fill in. Free, no login.
What else do people ask
Is building in public risky
You give competitors some information. Many founders find the attention is worth more.
What should I not share
Customer data, anything under NDA and numbers you would regret.
Does building in public work for B2B
Yes, buyers like knowing the people behind a product.