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Jan Builds Digital

@janbuildsdigital.bsky.social
77 followers 41 following 478 posts

Builder of digital products. Sharing my thoughts about business, tech & life. Based in Prague. Let’s build real connections, not just audiences.

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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 18h
Talent, intelligence, and temperament are innate traits that nature gives people across all social classes, regardless of their background. That could change if genetic engineering advances to the point where these traits can be deliberately enhanced. [...]
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Switzerland brings together beautiful cities, crystal-clear lakes, and breathtaking mountains in a remarkably small area. It’s the perfect destination for both hiking in nature and exploring the cities!
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
In the age of AI agents, product management skills are more relevant than ever: - What is the core value of the product? - What are its key features? - Who is the product built for? - What is the product interface? - How does the product make money? [...]
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The night sky is too beautiful, and life is too short to ignore it.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
There are at least two things needed to contribute to open-source software: [...] #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
This is so important for well-being! It’s 100% true that anything that triggers my negative emotions becomes MY problem. [...]
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Flippa brokers reaching out via DM with unsolicited offers are really annoying. They’re completely off-target for my niches, just clutter my inbox, and there’s no way to stop them, even with an active Flippa Premium subscription! Flippa, please do something about this.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
It’s funny how much of the behavior encouraged and normalized by online platforms like social media feels dysfunctional in the offline world. +1 to Jason for a genuinely funny article on the topic. longform.asmartbear.com/social-media...
longform.asmartbear.com
If Kindergarten were like Social Media Marketing
What if we ran kindergarten classes with the same rules as social media marketing?
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Autonomous driving will be a very cool technology until people start abusing it by crashing empty cars into occupied ones. At that point, humans may still have an important role in driving or supervising, even in the age of autonomous vehicles. [...]
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Dear Forbes, you made me realize that endless PR and ad-filled “business content” teaches me very little about business. Ironically, you also helped me realize that truly useful content exists elsewhere, definitely not in Forbes. And no, this isn’t a joke.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
ChatGPT is rolling out ads. It will bring a new way to monetize free users and a new stream of revenue. The ads will be personalized based on existing conversations and basically everything the platform knows about its users. [...]
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Using AI has definitely made me more productive, but it’s also made me switch focus more often and do less deep work. I don’t know many indie builders who aren’t struggling with this. Is it possible to stay productive while building products without constantly shifting focus? #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
What makes it so hard to walk away from a project when client validation isn’t bringing results? [...] #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
It’s underappreciated how lucky indie builders are to be able to create and launch products while keeping a 9-5 job. Not many industries have that luxury. I’m sure quitting my job would create more urgency, but success is far from guaranteed. So for now, I keep my job and build on the side.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
The risk of mastering a hard skill is that technology can eventually make it obsolete. However, soft skills and entrepreneurial skills are less likely to become obsolete. [...] #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
One aspect of how social media became asocial media: [...]
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
A useful mental heuristic: when something feels too simple, it’s probably wrong. For example: - responding to people with verbal aggression - picking expensive hobbies - skipping sports and exercise
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
I like the parallels between martial arts and entrepreneurship: • You have to stand and fight for yourself. • No one is usually coming to rescue you. • You live with the consequences of your choices. #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Yesterday I spoke with a potential customer who tested my product against his Claude agent. It wasn’t a favorable comparison. Custom agents can be incredibly powerful because they’re built around one user’s exact needs, while general products trade specificity for scale. #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Social media has a huge impact on our brains. Personally, I find that using it too much makes me miserable and gives me this constant anxiety about not making it. I’m probably not the only one. I notice it when following the #buildinpublic community,...
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
It's always funny when companies call employees "Product Owners." In many places, the role is really about maintaining an internal product, without giving the employee any real ownership. The title implies ownership, but the role rarely comes with it.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
First pair of prescription glasses in my life. Do I fit in with the indie community better now? 🤓
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Software is a great way to start a business because it has relatively low capital requirements. People with limited capital can gain real business experience, accumulate capital, and later use it in any other field... #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Google is planning to verify all Android developers and block apps on stock Android if the developer isn't verified. The verification seems similar to Google Play, but it would apply to every developer, regardless of how they distribute their apps. keepandroidopen.org
keepandroidopen.org
Keep Android Open
Your phone is about to stop being yours. In 2027, Google will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with them.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Commenting on X posts is often futile. Most large accounts rarely notice or reply to comments (though there are exceptions). Comments boost the original post's engagement, but the commenting account usually gets little to no reward... #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Just a reminder for myself and others who need it: We can talk to potential customers before there is an existing product. People are willing to talk to us if we show interest in their actual problems and perhaps offer something in exchange.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
The AI slop has entered Flippa where pre-revenue projects are now regularly listed for sale. With the barrier to building software lower than ever...
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
I'm still shaping my understanding of the difference between a business relationship and a friendship. A business relationship is built around an economic exchange, whether it's monetary or non-monetary. Once that exchange ends, the relationship usually ends as well.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
I usually get bored on passive vacations. Give me physical work instead! A new floor makes the house look better and brings satisfaction to my mind. By the way, physical work feels great for digital people. We have bodies that are meant to work too!
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
This makes me very anxious: the opportunity cost of a failed venture. I've spent X months on a failed project. Those months could have been used on a different activity that would have pushed me closer to my goals. #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
I need to learn how to do market research for products that don't exist yet. The last project taught me a big lesson. #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Last two weeks were stressful and crushing. After getting a lot of positive feedback from accountants, a new blocker has appeared that can directly disrupt my new product. Electronic invoicing is being adopted across several European countries with a clear goal: governments want to reduce tax fraud
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
When hiring a developer makes more sense for solopreneurs than relying on agentic coding: You are busy building and need to ship many features at once as soon as possible. Outsourcing some features is technically possible, and you have a budget to spend.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
My irritation with ChatGPT and their bugs reached new levels these days. Custom GPTs don't follow the instructions which means they are useless ~20-30% of time.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
You're building a lot of product features at the same time, need to ship as quickly as possible, and have the option to outsource one feature to a developer. How do you decide? 1. Build it yourself with AI assistance 2. Pay a developer to build it with AI assistance #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
A really strong week. The client validation I got in May has been very encouraging #buildinpublic • Clear confirmation that my product solves a real problem people have
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
“Founder-led customer support” is often described as an indie startup advantage over VC-backed startups. Still, I’ve rarely seen it highlighted on landing pages. Maybe it’s not as compelling as people think, or maybe it only resonates with certain customer segments. #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
It's interesting how different industries seem to create their own archetypes of people. Physically demanding professions are often associated with blue collar workers who are seen as rough, dirty, or rude.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
It feels great talking to a potential customer on the phone and hearing her say that after doing market research, she likes our solution the best and explain why. Also, this wouldn’t have been possible without the MVP. Validation is just easier when you have something tangible to show and offer.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
There are at least two reasons why AI agents won’t replace entire markets across many niches. 1. People still trust other people more than robots, and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. 2. AI agents are still tools that need maintenance, and not everyone wants to deal with that.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Client validation takes forever and it’s definitely outside my comfort zone 😬 #buildinpublic - The email campaign started at the beginning of March. Product leads were collected throughout March.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Whenever I’m talking to someone and they start swearing at or gossiping about another person, I immediately think they’re capable of doing the same to me.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Serious question: How much business and personal information should you share on social media?
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Hard skills are easy to learn. Or they are not easy, but they are predictable. The real challenge is working with and influencing people. That’s what excites me and a big part of what keeps me motivated to keep hustling. #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
A good time to ask for customer feedback is right after they request a refund. You don’t know if they’ll share, but there’s always a reason behind the refund, and sometimes customers want to explain it. It’s a great chance to learn more about your product and the overall customer exp. #builtinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Reconnected with a childhood friend through a running app. We’re literally running the same race at the same time from different countries. It's pretty amazing how tech connects people.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
One thing I’ve learned from building software products is that you need to ship updates and new features constantly to stay competitive. Software is a competitive game to play. Or maybe I just never reached the stage where a product can grow without releasing anything for six months 😁
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
What's your most efficient activity when an agent is coding and thinking for you? #buildinpublic
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Gemini sucks at editing Google sheets. I've uploaded two sheets from Drive and prompted Gemini to structure and copy data from one file to the other, and it completely failed. Totally useless.
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Jan Builds Digital @janbuildsdigital.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
These days, we can say, “I remember when the codebase used to be a real competitive advantage that was hard to copy.” #buildinpublic
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