Introducing Build In Public Issue #1

Hello everyone,

I’m KP — welcome to the very 1st edition of Build In Public, a newsletter about how makers and founders are building an audience for their products by building in public. Each week, I interview one prolific creator and unpack insights, strategies, and actionable advice that can be helpful in your own journey.

Today, for the inaugural edition, my guest is someone who’s been a close friend of mine and a rising star in the VC/founder community.

His 5-month-old newsletter is growing at a blazing rate with thousands of raving fans and supporters on Twitter. Each week, through his reports, he inspires ambitious creators to bet on interesting markets, uncovers hidden opportunities within upcoming trends.

“My reports are for those of us who see possibilities in the darkest of times,” he quipped in a report written in the middle of the pandemic giving hope to readers. His work inspires people to take action, offers exposure to niches many might ignore and gives you a glimpse of the future before it is here.

He is a trend spotter, a trendsetter and I genuinely hope you already know who I’m talking about.

It is none other than Dru Riley, the creator of Trends.vc.

Want to read the full interview on the site instead? Click here.

My main project wasn’t getting traction. Trends was a way to blow off steam. When it started getting more attention than the original project, I switched gears. Writing an essay on this right now.

Trends.vc gives founders and investors weekly reports on new markets and ideas. Usually less than 1K words. High signal-to-noise.

I shared the idea with ZT1. And the report with Twitter.

I had a small list from a book I released chapter-by-chapter. The B2B SaaS Marketing Playbook. I didn’t use the list for Trends. Some of them found Trends organically.

Focusing on quality and surrounding myself with great people.

It’s not advertised. But I have calls with Trends Pro members. Email replies also help. And Twitter. There’s no shortage of feedback.

There were two stages.

It’s storytelling. And stories are powerful.

The B2B SaaS Marketing Playbook. I did daily stand ups organized by Janice on Indie Hackers.

Not sure. I knew that social accountability was effective. Perhaps that’s why I initially avoided it.

Pieter Levels. He inspired a lot of us.

It may not be for you if you don’t have a moat. Or if your prospective customers or employees don’t care.

Trends #0015 — Open Startups breaks this down

Community is up next. Then a fund. Both will be unique.

Going to an Indie Hackers Atlanta meetup. That night:

These people changed my life.

‍How can people reach you on the Internet?

I’m @DruRly on Twitter. If you’re subscribed to Trends, reply to get in touch.