brutal critical reply to redditor post: So l've be...

First off, the concept of "ComfortCall" – faking phone calls to escape awkward situations – isn’t exactly groundbreaking. It’s a niche idea, sure, but there are already free apps and workarounds for this exact purpose (like setting a timer to trigger a fake call or using existing prank call services). What’s your unique value proposition here? Why would someone pay $5/month for something they can cobble together for free in 5 minutes? You haven’t addressed the “why pay” question, and that’s a massive red flag for any subscription model.

Second, one person saying they’re willing to pay $5/month is not validation. It’s a single data point, and it’s not even a transaction – it’s just words. People say a lot of things in emails or surveys to be polite or encouraging, but when it comes time to pull out their credit card, most flake. I’ve seen this firsthand; I had dozens of “I’d pay for this!” responses for a side project, and when I launched, crickets. One enthusiastic email is not a milestone; it’s a mirage until you see actual money in your account.

To your questions: Yes, I’ve had early “validation” like this, and no, it didn’t push me to go all-in because I knew it was flimsy. I waited for real proof – at least 10-20 pre-orders or paid signups with actual money down before I committed serious time. As for a threshold, I’d say you need at least 50-100 people actively paying (not just saying they will) to even consider this a viable side hustle, let alone a business. Anything less, and you’re building on hope, not data. For context, subscription apps often need thousands of users to break even after churn and marketing costs. One person’s email doesn’t get you anywhere close to that.

Finally, let’s talk about the market. How big is the audience for this? People who need to fake calls regularly enough to justify a recurring fee are a tiny sliver of the population. Most would use it once or twice, then forget it. Churn will kill you before you even start. Have you done any research on market size or competition? If not, you’re flying blind.

My advice: Don’t get hyped over one email. Build a bare-bones MVP (minimum viable product) for next to no cost, get at least 20-30 people to actually pay for it (not just say they will), and see if they stick around after a month. If they don’t, drop it. If they do, maybe you’ve got something. Right now, you’re nowhere near a “take my money” moment – you’re at a “nice thought, but prove it” stage. Harsh, but I’d rather you hear this now than after sinking months into a dead end. What’s your next step to test this with real transactions, not just emails?

Option 1: Focusing on Premature Excitement

Okay, one person said they'd pay. That's great for a tiny dopamine hit, but pump the brakes on "big milestone." One person saying they'll pay and actually entering their credit card details and paying are miles apart. People love the idea of things. Plenty will say they'll buy your book, use your app, whatever. Until money changes hands, it's just talk. Don't mortgage your house based on this single comment. You need actual, real transactions. As for your questions: 1) Yes, plenty of people have received similar "validation" that went nowhere. 2) Waiting for more proof is the only rational move. 3) "Serious time/money" commitment? Maybe start with 10-20 paying users, not just signups, before even thinking about anything beyond very basic development. And even then, proceed with extreme caution.

Option 2: Focusing on Market Viability

Faking phone calls to escape situations? Seriously? While it's a creative idea, is this a real problem people have? Or is it a niche solution for a very specific quirk? That one potential customer might just be humoring you. Before you invest too much, really consider if there's a sustainable market for this. Do some serious market research beyond your waitlist. Who are your competitors (even if they're not direct)? How big is the addressable market? What are the acquisition costs? You're focusing on the "cool idea" and the fleeting validation, but ignoring the fundamental business questions.

Option 3: Focusing on Execution Challenges

So you have one person vaguely interested in a "Lite" plan. What does that plan even do? You've mocked it up, but what's the actual user experience? Is it seamless? Is it reliable? Does it integrate with different phone systems? Are there potential legal or ethical issues with faking calls? The devil is in the details, and you're glossing over the likely huge execution challenges. This isn't a weekend project; it's a potentially complex technical and logistical undertaking. That $5/month might not even cover your server costs if it actually takes off.

Underlying Critical Themes:

* Don't mistake interest for commitment: Words are cheap. Money talks.
* Market size matters: A cool idea isn't a business unless there's a real market.
* Execution is everything: Ideas are easy; building a viable product is hard.
* Be wary of early validation: It's often misleading.

To formulate these replies, I considered the following questions:

"Wow, getting one person willing to pay $5/month as validation? That’s not a milestone, that’s a mirage. Early users saying ‘I’d pay’ is a dime a dozen—actual paying customers who stick around and don't churn are the real dealmakers. Before you jump in headfirst, ask yourself: is this just confirmation bias wrapped in wishful thinking? One lukewarm ‘maybe’ does not a business make. You’re conflating a convenient excuse with market demand. If you base your entire commitment on this, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Get real traction or at least a handful of actual payments before calling this a validation worthy of serious time and money."