Alex Sipkevich’s Post

In 2021, I started brainstorming and building what became Sersha, a social media safety game for pre-teens. Over the last couple of years, as a solo founder, I’ve hit some big milestones— leaving full-time employment, securing funding, getting a huge amount of feedback and traction from customers, and even launching the product. It’s been an incredible ride filled with highs and lows! When we launched, I quickly realised the game wasn’t as ready as I wanted it to be, and the market isn't quite there either. Right now, most parents and schools are leaning towards just banning phones and social media—which, while I don’t agree with, seems to be where things are at for now. Other founders often talk about pivoting, and of course, that’s always an option (Sersha originally was conceptualised as a photorealistic avatar therapy app!) But I also think there’s a lot of power in knowing when to pause and step back. Saying that, I’ve decided to take a step back from Sersha for now. Startups can take a toll on your mental health, and for me, it’s been a tough but important decision. I'm taking this time out now to focus on my personal life (which I’ve neglected for way too long) and dive back into non-work activities that really energise and inspire me. For those interested, Sersha’s website is still live, and the game is free to play for families and schools: https://game.sersha.ai 🦊 Looking ahead, Sersha is searching for a new home. The software is built around two main components: (A) A ready-made game focused on social media safety. (B) A customisable platform powered by our game engine, allowing education companies to gamify their own curriculum using our admin panel. If this resonates with you or your business, I’d love to hear from you. On a personal note, I’ll be exploring part-time and full-time opportunities starting in 2025. If you’re hiring and think my skills align, please feel free to reach out—I’d be delighted to connect. Lastly, to anyone else who’s been riding the rollercoaster of building something from scratch, here’s a gentle reminder to breathe, remind yourself of how far you’ve come, and remember what really matters in life. For me, it’s been a journey of learning not just how to build, but how to pause, and it’s been a great life lesson to learn. Wishing everyone Happy Holidays! 🎄

I began as nothing more than a simple hobby that spiraled out of control. A small online forum and handful of followers. One day I created a challenge a competition between me and another user.That single challenge grew my forum from 26 members to 3k in under a year. Out of the blue, a well known organization contacted me to host challenges for them using the format I’d developed.Their sponsorship helped ignite something bigger. Over the next year, we rocketed to 18k members.But there was a catch. Hosting on a free forum came at a cost. The forum, overwhelmed by traffic, told me I had to start paying for the space. Expansion wasn’t cheap. To handle the demands of our growing community, I had to invest in automation and build a proper website at a staggering cost of $150k. All of this on a site that, at the time, generated no revenue. But I didn’t back down. I found a way to monetize the site by offering challenge based content, and from this effort, TCS was born a centralized hub for online challenges. Sponsors came onboard, funding the platform, and we grew from zero to 500k users in just a few years. Then, the unthinkable happened.Our platform couldn’t handle the traffic, and everything came to a halt and Revenue stopped.That’s when we were noticed by Microsoft.They stepped in with grants, blueprints,and ideas that helped us move forward but at an enormous cost. But life had more challenges in store.COVID hit,all of our sponsors vanished overnight. Every sporting event in the world canceled,and with them went our investments. It was devastating,but I refused to give up.I rebranded, rebuilt, and adapted to a new world where mobile platforms reigned supreme.Ironically,this shift redefined me.No longer was I running an operational corporation I had become something I’d never considered before:a STARTUP.It was humbling to go back to basics, stripping down to the essentials to rebuild from scratch. Reinvention hasn’t been easy, VCs, Many are sharks circling for their next target, ready to consume more than they give under the guise of investing. The hardest part has been learning to step backward,to start over, to grow again with intention rather than momentum. Here I am, years later, launching Duelly.Now being reborn as an MVP mobile app. The alpha stage revealed our first set of challenges and bugs. Beta testing is on the horizon, where real users will help us refine what sets us apart.I now understand why so many entrepreneurs don’t make it. The system isn’t designed for the dreamers, for those who dare to believe they have the next unicorn. Many give up when the initial spark fizzles out, while others watch their plans fall apart when met with real-world challenges.But the true entrepreneurs? They’re different. They’re the ones who nickel and dime every decision, who invest everything they have not just in money, but in belief. Weathering every bump and curve in the road,knowing one misstep could end it all.Duelly is ready to launch its beta.

DevHeroes joins the Ultra ecosystem! 🌐 We're thrilled to introduce devheroes.app, a cutting-edge social platform designed for developers and gamers. This platform is set to revolutionize how like-minded developers connect, collaborate, and create—all powered by Ultra's robust web3 technology. What DevHeroes offers: 🟣 DevStream: A personalized feed to connect with the community. 🟣 Guilds & Jobs: Specialized areas for collaboration and opportunity. 🟣 Messaging & Chronicles: Enhanced communication and content sharing. 🟣 Ultra’s Tech: From Single Sign-On (SSO) to UOS payments, DevHeroes is embracing Ultra’s technology to enrich the user experience and facilitate seamless transactions. DevHeroes plans to fully embrace our infrastructure, introducing features like Dev Score, subscription models, and user levels. Discover more by reading the full article here: bit.ly/3vEVzU6 #jobs #jobsportal #blockchainjobs #developers #ultra #gamedev

Reading about the voice-only social space buzzing again, I got curious about what happened to the once-viral social app - Clubhouse Here's a brief post I wrote on UX Collective about it. Hope you enjoy reading it! #product #startups #uxcollective

🚀 MYND Update: Pushing Forward & Exploring New Avenues 🚀 It’s been a busy few weeks with lots of progress at MYND! While we’ve seen some steady wins, there are still challenges to tackle, and I’m reaching out to this amazing community for feedback, collaboration, and insights. Here’s a snapshot of what’s happening: X: I’ve been actively removing fake accounts, which has surprisingly boosted real engagement! I currently have 188 genuine followers who are more engaged. I’m posting daily updates, sharing challenges, and seeking feedback. While it sometimes feels like screaming into the void, I’ve met some brilliant people offering valuable insights. Instagram: The follower count has plateaued at 177, but I’ve maintained solid reach with daily reels. Over the past 28 days, I’ve reached 36,444 unique accounts with a 1.9% CTR (695 link clicks). I started running ads 12 days ago, which were performing great, with a cost per signup averaging €0.23. Unfortunately, my ad account got blocked after 2 days without any explanation, and I’m working to resolve this. Meta’s support has been... well, challenging! 🙃 No answers, no real humans to reach — everything on hold back to pure organic. Any tips on resolving this faster would be a lifesaver. Facebook: Low engagement but steady growth. I plan to dive deeper into Facebook groups next week, trying to connect with more relevant communities. App & Website: The app design in Figma is almost complete, and I’m diving into building the MVP. It’s a steep learning curve, but I may have found a potential technical co-founder to help bring the vision to life. 💻💡 Next Steps & Help Needed: Has anyone had experience with Meta ad account bans? Any advice? I’m thinking of testing broadcast channels next. If anyone has tips, I’d love to hear them! If anyone’s looking for collaboration or feedback exchange, let’s connect! Thanks for all the support so far. The journey is far from over, and I’m excited to see where it goes! 🚀 #Startups #AI #Feedback #Collaboration #Entrepreneurship #GrowthHacking #MYND #AppDevelopment P.S. I just launched a new Instagram channel called myndreads, where I’m posting daily book recommendations on mental health, self-development, growth, mindset, and goal achievement. Each post includes key insights, a quick summary, and tips to implement them. Check it out if you're interested!📚✨

A New Social Media Platform, noplace, Aims to Revive the Social Vibe Noplace, a social media platform, has soared to the top of the App Store,. It went viral even before its public launch, thanks to its cool feature that allows users to customize their profile colors. Tiffany Zhong, the founder and CEO, is well-versed in creating hit apps. She has a track record of success with consumer social apps and even predicted the rise of Musical.ly back in 2015. According to Zhong, social media no longer feels social because everything is so personalized. With noplace, the aim is to restore that sense of community by enabling users to follow friends and find people with similar interests all in one place. The app functions like a global group chat, focusing on text-based updates without the fuss of photos or videos. One of the standout features is the customizable mini-profile, where users can share their current activities. They can add tags, or "stars," such as their astrology sign or hobbies, making it easy to connect with others who share similar interests. And yes, it even includes a "top 10 friends" section, reminiscent of the good old MySpace daysx Noplace is free to download on iOS and available in read-only mode on the web. Monetization plans are still in the works, but it's already competing with other Gen Z-targeted friend-finding apps. The startup is backed by investors like 776 (Alexis Ohanian) and Forerunner Ventures, raising over $19 million so far. # Thank you Elena Rodriguez for your submission!

🚀 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭! 🚀 I am thrilled to share that I have started IT company, and we are embarking on an ambitious journey to build a groundbreaking social media app akin to Facebook/Instagram. Our vision is to create a platform that will redefine the way people connect, share, and engage with each other globally. 💡 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: We aim to develop an innovative social media platform that combines the best features of existing apps with new, unique functionalities that address current market gaps. Our goal is to create a seamless, user-friendly experience that fosters genuine connections and community building. 🌐 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐬: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞: With extensive experience in website and mobile app development, our team is well-equipped to deliver a top-notch product. Innovative Approach: We are leveraging the latest technologies and user-centric design principles to create a platform that stands out in the crowded social media landscape. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥: The demand for social media platforms continues to grow, and we believe our app has the potential to capture a significant share of this market. 🎯 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝: To bring this vision to life, we are seeking sponsors and investors who share our passion and enthusiasm for innovation. Your support will be instrumental in helping us accelerate development, enhance our features, and reach a global audience. 📈 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐬: If you are interested in being a part of this exciting venture and want to learn more about our project and investment opportunities, please feel free to reach out to me directly. Together, we can create something truly extraordinary. Let's connect and explore how we can make this vision a reality! #InvestmentOpportunity #Startup #TechInnovation #SocialMediaApp #InvestInTech #NewBeginnings

Embarking on a startup journey is no easy feat, but it can be incredibly rewarding. When we launched our innovative app, we thought we had a solid plan in place. However, we soon faced a significant challenge: gaining traction in a crowded market. Staying afloat felt tough. The competition was fierce, and outreach was proving difficult. To turn things around, we refocused our efforts on building meaningful connections with our target audience. We utilized engaging content and actively participated in industry events to showcase our app face-to-face. This approach allowed us to better understand our users' needs and foster authentic relationships. The result? Within months, our user base grew steadily. Not only did we gain invaluable feedback to improve our app, but we also cultivated a vibrant community of loyal users who believed in what we were creating. Along the way, we learned the importance of adaptability and connection in a fast-paced environment. Don't hesitate to reach out and engage with your audience personally—it can make all the difference. If you're facing challenges in your own journey, remember, persistence and connection will pave the way for your success!

Presenting my Idea for codexnovas Innovation Contest Code-X-Novas Mate: Your Hangout Buddy In today's world, people often live away from family and friends. They move to new cities to pursue better education and exposure opportunities. However, this brings the challenge of loneliness and the uncertainty of being alone in an unfamiliar city. For this problem, we're presenting our idea: "Mate: Your Hangout Buddy." Target Audience Students, working professionals, and anyone far from home seeking companionship and shared experiences. Problem Statement People moving to new cities are usually lonely and out of touch. Without knowing local places to explore, they might just stay in their rooms and miss all the fun the new city has in store for them. Solution Mate: Your Hangout Buddy is a social app connecting people based on common interests and proximity, so they can discover, connect, and thrive in a new city. How it Works 1. User Registration Authenticity ensured through basic details and government ID verification.(Preventing the generation of fake accounts) 2. Interest-Based Matching Users select interests and preferred activities, allowing the app to find compatible "mates." 3. AI-Powered Recommendations Suggestions for places to visit and activities to enjoy together. 4. Gamified Interface Badges and titles like "Newbie" (10 friends) or "Amigo" (25 friends) can be provided to the user to celebrate milestones. Unique Features Event-Specific Matching, making it different from dating platforms. One may not seek relationships all the time. Connect with users for concerts, movie premieres, or meetups. Safety Measures Features like location-sharing and emergency contacts ensure secure meetups. Knowledge Sharing Explore the city with informed locals, which allows users to better understand their surroundings. Benefits Combat loneliness through meaningful connections. Build communities through shared interests, like pop culture, sports, or hobbies. Create lifelong friendships while discovering hidden gems. Promote physical engagement and real-world connections instead of online interactions. Social Impact "Mate" reduces loneliness and promotes mental well-being as users get the support needed to thrive in unfamiliar environments. Monetization Thinking is required. These sections are currently in consideration, potential revenue streams to include subscriptions, local partnership, and in-app adverts. Conclusion "Mate: Your Hangout Buddy" is more than that app; it's a lifesaver for people navigating an unfamiliar city, turning acquaintances into friends and foreign places into memories. By solving for a problem that is often invisible, Mate has the potential for changing how people connect in odd cities.

#ProjectShowcase #Feedback #StartupCommunity #Engagement Hey there, friends! 🌟 Have you ever wanted to showcase your projects or startups and get some valuable feedback? Well, let me introduce you to **ProjectShowcase**! This web app lets you display your amazing work, but with a fun twist: you can only receive feedback after you’ve shared your own thoughts with others. 🤝 Here’s the scoop: Engagement Matters: Too often, we see users just post their projects without reciprocating feedback—a common issue I noticed in many subreddits. This platform flips that on its head! Share Before You Receive: In order to get insights on your project, you’ll first need to dive in and provide feedback to someone else. This way, we hope to foster a more active and supportive community. 💬 New Feature Alert! I've recently made some exciting updates! Now, you can view Project Statistics if you're the owner of a project. It’s super helpful to see how your project is performing—just click on... Ready to Get Real Project Feedback? What’s Your Contribution? Answers:  https://lnkd.in/gTdANVNp Let's Connect! Have you faced similar challenges? Share your insights and ...