Nate Ritter
@nateritter.com
Helping SaaS founders get unstuck, 3 exits, startup advisor, fCTO & founder
→ Knowledge: https://writings.founderlabs.io
→ Community: https://founderlabs.io/community
→ 1-on-1 to get unstuck: https://nateritter.com
→ Knowledge: https://writings.founderlabs.io
→ Community: https://founderlabs.io/community
→ 1-on-1 to get unstuck: https://nateritter.com
Pinned
The 0 to 1 work is some of the hardest work there is.
I can’t believe I’ve been doing this stuff fo 25+ years.
The biggest wins I’ve had though have been optimizing. Revenue, tech, whatever. Give it to me. I’ll make it fly.
I can’t believe I’ve been doing this stuff fo 25+ years.
The biggest wins I’ve had though have been optimizing. Revenue, tech, whatever. Give it to me. I’ll make it fly.
I know deep AI/ML devs and researchers who have been in the space for a decade or more are giving up.
They are all going to physical products - automating the creation of them and running AI-first service companies. But we're talking lawn care, wood working, and metal work!
Calling this the top.
They are all going to physical products - automating the creation of them and running AI-first service companies. But we're talking lawn care, wood working, and metal work!
Calling this the top.
February 7, 2026 at 3:45 AM
I know deep AI/ML devs and researchers who have been in the space for a decade or more are giving up.
They are all going to physical products - automating the creation of them and running AI-first service companies. But we're talking lawn care, wood working, and metal work!
Calling this the top.
They are all going to physical products - automating the creation of them and running AI-first service companies. But we're talking lawn care, wood working, and metal work!
Calling this the top.
I am 99% convinced 99% of the people working on AI fever type projects will wish they would have kept their data to themselves and then figure out how to leverage it for the right audience, rather than building horizontal products.
Don't @ me.
Don't @ me.
February 7, 2026 at 2:48 AM
I am 99% convinced 99% of the people working on AI fever type projects will wish they would have kept their data to themselves and then figure out how to leverage it for the right audience, rather than building horizontal products.
Don't @ me.
Don't @ me.
February 6, 2026 at 8:00 AM
With all this #OpenClaw and skill related vulnerabilities out there, I wrote a #Claude plugin and skill that also uses an MCP fallback to check any new skill for vulnerabilities with VirusTotal.com before installing or enabling it.
Happy to share if interested.
#Anthropic
Happy to share if interested.
#Anthropic
VirusTotal
VirusTotal
VirusTotal.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:47 AM
With all this #OpenClaw and skill related vulnerabilities out there, I wrote a #Claude plugin and skill that also uses an MCP fallback to check any new skill for vulnerabilities with VirusTotal.com before installing or enabling it.
Happy to share if interested.
#Anthropic
Happy to share if interested.
#Anthropic
I’ve reached that point of being sick where you can’t sleep at night even though you are absolutely knackered, as they say.
February 6, 2026 at 7:09 AM
I’ve reached that point of being sick where you can’t sleep at night even though you are absolutely knackered, as they say.
instantagent.app - The AI assistant that actually does things (for non-techies).
InstantAgent — Your AI Assistant That Actually Does Things
Clear your inbox, build websites, research anything, manage your calendar. All from WhatsApp, Telegram, or any chat app you already use.
instantagent.app
January 31, 2026 at 7:31 AM
instantagent.app - The AI assistant that actually does things (for non-techies).
Don’t have product-market-fit yet? The question to help you focus is “what’s the thing that’s holding you back from having customers at your door?”
Similar to “what’s your riskiest assumption” or “where is th bottleneck in the funnel”, but more direct.
Get that next customer.
Similar to “what’s your riskiest assumption” or “where is th bottleneck in the funnel”, but more direct.
Get that next customer.
January 30, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Don’t have product-market-fit yet? The question to help you focus is “what’s the thing that’s holding you back from having customers at your door?”
Similar to “what’s your riskiest assumption” or “where is th bottleneck in the funnel”, but more direct.
Get that next customer.
Similar to “what’s your riskiest assumption” or “where is th bottleneck in the funnel”, but more direct.
Get that next customer.
Decided to set my AI bot loose trolling on X.
Fun times.
Fun times.
January 29, 2026 at 4:10 AM
Decided to set my AI bot loose trolling on X.
Fun times.
Fun times.
I’m exhausted.
I need to work on just optimizing something already working.
Got a working project that’s plateaued?
I need to work on just optimizing something already working.
Got a working project that’s plateaued?
January 29, 2026 at 3:59 AM
I’m exhausted.
I need to work on just optimizing something already working.
Got a working project that’s plateaued?
I need to work on just optimizing something already working.
Got a working project that’s plateaued?
Someone should hack this app/service already. DDOS it with a bot farm.
www.wired.com/story/mobile...
www.wired.com/story/mobile...
Here’s the Company That Sold DHS ICE’s Notorious Face Recognition App
Immigration agents have used Mobile Fortify to scan the faces of countless people in the US—including many citizens.
www.wired.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:41 AM
Someone should hack this app/service already. DDOS it with a bot farm.
www.wired.com/story/mobile...
www.wired.com/story/mobile...
Chanting this today:
Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together.
~ Marcus Aurelius
Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together.
~ Marcus Aurelius
January 26, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Chanting this today:
Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together.
~ Marcus Aurelius
Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together.
~ Marcus Aurelius
Reposted by Nate Ritter
You know you should be working on Marketing, not features.
You build new features anyway because (a) it's fun and (b) you know how.
Whereas the business usually needs you to learn marketing and get another customer today.
You build new features anyway because (a) it's fun and (b) you know how.
Whereas the business usually needs you to learn marketing and get another customer today.
Put down the compiler until you learn why they’re not buying
Technical founders, step away from the code. Gather insights from non-buyers, rather than just adding more features.
longform.asmartbear.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:33 PM
You know you should be working on Marketing, not features.
You build new features anyway because (a) it's fun and (b) you know how.
Whereas the business usually needs you to learn marketing and get another customer today.
You build new features anyway because (a) it's fun and (b) you know how.
Whereas the business usually needs you to learn marketing and get another customer today.
Claude Code just became my home.
Not for code.
Not for code.
January 23, 2026 at 5:02 AM
Claude Code just became my home.
Not for code.
Not for code.
This thread is on point.
If you’re not talking to customers, it’s either because you’re too scared to hear the truth about your offering, or you’re unable to reach potential customers at all.
(1/4)
(1/4)
January 21, 2026 at 6:19 AM
This thread is on point.
Reposted by Nate Ritter
you now have the power to build anything you want
this doesn't mean that you should...
this doesn't mean that you should...
January 15, 2026 at 9:26 AM
you now have the power to build anything you want
this doesn't mean that you should...
this doesn't mean that you should...
apps.apple.com/us/app/bitch...
This is the new way to communicate when the internet goes down.
Thanks Jack.
This is the new way to communicate when the internet goes down.
Thanks Jack.
January 16, 2026 at 7:55 AM
apps.apple.com/us/app/bitch...
This is the new way to communicate when the internet goes down.
Thanks Jack.
This is the new way to communicate when the internet goes down.
Thanks Jack.
The symptoms are more marketable than your SaaS (or other solution).
Your customers don't even care about their own problem - they care about their symptoms.
So? Map the symptoms experienced by someone with the problem.
Post content addressing 1 at a time where your ICP is.
Your customers don't even care about their own problem - they care about their symptoms.
So? Map the symptoms experienced by someone with the problem.
Post content addressing 1 at a time where your ICP is.
January 15, 2026 at 7:55 PM
The symptoms are more marketable than your SaaS (or other solution).
Your customers don't even care about their own problem - they care about their symptoms.
So? Map the symptoms experienced by someone with the problem.
Post content addressing 1 at a time where your ICP is.
Your customers don't even care about their own problem - they care about their symptoms.
So? Map the symptoms experienced by someone with the problem.
Post content addressing 1 at a time where your ICP is.
A founder I know had 3,000 ad views, 150 clicks, 11 signups, and 0 activations
His assumption was an onboarding problem
But, all 11 signups were Windows users & his product only works on Mac
The bottleneck wasn't activation, it was acquisition
Let data tell you where to focus
His assumption was an onboarding problem
But, all 11 signups were Windows users & his product only works on Mac
The bottleneck wasn't activation, it was acquisition
Let data tell you where to focus
January 15, 2026 at 2:32 AM
A founder I know had 3,000 ad views, 150 clicks, 11 signups, and 0 activations
His assumption was an onboarding problem
But, all 11 signups were Windows users & his product only works on Mac
The bottleneck wasn't activation, it was acquisition
Let data tell you where to focus
His assumption was an onboarding problem
But, all 11 signups were Windows users & his product only works on Mac
The bottleneck wasn't activation, it was acquisition
Let data tell you where to focus
Money is lagging indicator - create value first.
Trying to make money before you've created value is backwards.
Money follows understanding.
You have to do the work to understand what problem someone actually has, what they actually need, and how they actually want it solved.
Trying to make money before you've created value is backwards.
Money follows understanding.
You have to do the work to understand what problem someone actually has, what they actually need, and how they actually want it solved.
January 15, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Money is lagging indicator - create value first.
Trying to make money before you've created value is backwards.
Money follows understanding.
You have to do the work to understand what problem someone actually has, what they actually need, and how they actually want it solved.
Trying to make money before you've created value is backwards.
Money follows understanding.
You have to do the work to understand what problem someone actually has, what they actually need, and how they actually want it solved.
You can't buy this. ❤️
January 15, 2026 at 2:08 AM
You can't buy this. ❤️
Uganda is turning off their internet because of “risks of election fraud and incitement of violence”, etc.
Sound familiar?
Come up with a communication plan outside traditional networks, USA. You might need it.
Sound familiar?
Come up with a communication plan outside traditional networks, USA. You might need it.
January 13, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Uganda is turning off their internet because of “risks of election fraud and incitement of violence”, etc.
Sound familiar?
Come up with a communication plan outside traditional networks, USA. You might need it.
Sound familiar?
Come up with a communication plan outside traditional networks, USA. You might need it.
You don't need perfect ICP clarity to start.
Start with a hypothesis, talk to 4 people in the space, expand to find where more of those people hang out.
Each conversation refines your understanding.
Talk to 10-15 more and your real ICP emerges from what you've learned, not what you guessed.
Start with a hypothesis, talk to 4 people in the space, expand to find where more of those people hang out.
Each conversation refines your understanding.
Talk to 10-15 more and your real ICP emerges from what you've learned, not what you guessed.
January 8, 2026 at 10:44 PM
You don't need perfect ICP clarity to start.
Start with a hypothesis, talk to 4 people in the space, expand to find where more of those people hang out.
Each conversation refines your understanding.
Talk to 10-15 more and your real ICP emerges from what you've learned, not what you guessed.
Start with a hypothesis, talk to 4 people in the space, expand to find where more of those people hang out.
Each conversation refines your understanding.
Talk to 10-15 more and your real ICP emerges from what you've learned, not what you guessed.
The best thing when building a business is when the viral coefficient goes ☝️!
“Thanks so much - this is 100% of what I wanted and more. Are you opening a new cohort any time soon? I'd like to recommend my buddy to join.”
“Thanks so much - this is 100% of what I wanted and more. Are you opening a new cohort any time soon? I'd like to recommend my buddy to join.”
January 8, 2026 at 7:40 PM
The best thing when building a business is when the viral coefficient goes ☝️!
“Thanks so much - this is 100% of what I wanted and more. Are you opening a new cohort any time soon? I'd like to recommend my buddy to join.”
“Thanks so much - this is 100% of what I wanted and more. Are you opening a new cohort any time soon? I'd like to recommend my buddy to join.”
Vibe coders & first-time founders ... build a basic funnel (even if it's just 3 steps: acquire, activate, convert) and put numbers in it.
When you see 100 people came in but 20 activated, you know where to focus.
Without this, your real bottleneck will go unaddressed.
When you see 100 people came in but 20 activated, you know where to focus.
Without this, your real bottleneck will go unaddressed.
January 7, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Vibe coders & first-time founders ... build a basic funnel (even if it's just 3 steps: acquire, activate, convert) and put numbers in it.
When you see 100 people came in but 20 activated, you know where to focus.
Without this, your real bottleneck will go unaddressed.
When you see 100 people came in but 20 activated, you know where to focus.
Without this, your real bottleneck will go unaddressed.