'My Idea Was Stolen' – A Startup Founder Tried 'Building In Public' But Things Took A Turn After He Did This

If you're in the startup world, you've probably heard about "building in public." It's when founders share what they're working on, including their progress, struggles and successes, so others can see how things are going. They usually do this on social media like Twitter or LinkedIn. The goal is to get people excited, gather feedback and attract users. But what happens if you share too much?

Building in Public Gone Wrong

One founder recently shared his experience on Reddit's r/startups community and it's a cautionary tale for anyone thinking about revealing too much. Here's what happened.

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This iOS app creator started by sharing design sketches and prototypes, hoping to get feedback and engage with potential users. At first, it worked. People chimed in with suggestions and he felt like the transparency was helping his project grow. 

But then, he decided to share revenue numbers, growth metrics and even details about his business model. That's when competitors started copying his app. Some only took a few ideas, but others made almost exact copies. Instead of helping his app, all the sharing gave his competition a head start.

After seeing his idea copied, the founder started questioning his approach. “Did I err in being too transparent? Should some aspects not have been made public?” he asked himself and others. While he's not giving up on his app, he's rethinking what "building in public" means for him. 

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As commenters suggested, sharing general progress updates is fine, but sensitive details like revenue, designs or backend metrics should stay under wraps. Building in public works best as a marketing tool, focusing on stories about the founder's journey, wins and losses or interesting features – not as a blueprint for competitors. 

Although seeing a concept replicated is annoying, the true difficulty lies in execution. You will remain ahead if you can stay ahead of the competition and innovate. As one user pointed out, “There is a reason for trademarks, patents and copyright. Someone is just waiting to steal your idea and hard work.” 

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Despite the risks, many entrepreneurs swear by building in public. Done right, it can build a loyal community of supporters, help founders connect with customers who care about their product and create accountability and momentum for the project. 

However, it requires a careful balance. Sharing too much can result in competitors swooping in, while sharing too little might not create the engagement you're looking for. As one Reddit commenter put it, "Tell others you're going to have a baby (the what), but don't tell them how you made the baby (the how)."

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