Achin Kumar

Yesterday I asked Balaji how to get to $10-20k/month solo (without too many clients). These are the 4 most important lessons from our call. And what I'm doing wrong right now. 1# Get paid, don't chase I'm charging 50% deposit and 50% final payment as everyone else. The problem is that projects can take long with rounds of client feedback, that makes cash flow unpredictable. I'm not charging in full because I thought it's a stretch for most people. Solution → Ditch the limiting beliefs and get paid in full. → Offer payment plan only if its necessary. → Have set date for second payments. 2# Seek bigger impact I know the value of my service, but there will be a limit to how much as I can charge with my audience. Even at a higher rate, I need way too many clients to hit my goals, which I don't want because it compromises work quality. Solution → Find a segment of my audience who can benefit most ($$$) from my help. → Provide the same service but now have a bigger impact for those clients. → The more I can make for clients the more my service is worth. 3# Clear expectations, strict deadlines Client feedback can take forever, going back and forth makes project length unpredictable. If I'm booked but have to wait for a project to start, I'm burning my time. Solution → Set a clear start date, no longer than 1-2 weeks into the future. → Set clear expectations on how I work and what's needed from clients. → Set and be strict with deadlines as its needed to deliver my best work. 4# Keep client-result delivering tasks Some parts of my work I thought about outsourcing, so I can focus on the things I enjoy and want to get better at. But these bits are important for client results and bringing a person in would mean more complexity. Solution → Keep tasks that affects client results to myself. → Outsource menial duties that doesn't need me. → Admin work, project management, comments. All this is super helpful to me to have a clear plan. Now all I need is time to implement all this. Hope this helps you too, and if it does... Show some love to Balaji in the comments :)

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Experimenting with mid journey and Shadcn comps! I've observed startups leaning heavily on pre-built libraries like Shadcn to speed up their product launches. The advantage? They can prioritize functionality over aesthetics. Once the backend is figured out, you can always go for a redesign and invest more in UI. Getting validation for your idea is always more important for a new startup.

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Excited to share my latest article featured by Artium on the transformative power of pairing in design. In this piece, I explore how pairing isn’t just for developers but can enhance collaboration across all departments, including design. Read more about how we can use this approach to stay ahead in the era of AI. Your thoughts and feedback are welcome! #pairprogramming #productdesign #AI #innovation

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𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝟑𝐃 𝐖𝐞𝐛 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧! 𝐈'𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞! 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬: 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝟑𝐃 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨: Craft a unique first impression with a dynamic planet model that adapts to your needs. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Engage with mesmerizing animations powered by Framer Motion, keeping users captivated throughout. 𝟑𝐃 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞: Explore my 3D expertise with interactive geometries built using Three.js and React Three Fiber. 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 & 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬: Discover my work and client feedback brought to life with captivating animations. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐌𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝟑𝐃 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦: Reach out directly using the integrated email form within a stunning 3D solar system model along with generated stars at random positions using Three.js for background display. 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Experience consistent animations and responsive design for a smooth journey across all devices. 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤: React.js, Three.js, React Three Fiber, React Three Drei, EmailJS, Vite, Tailwind CSS 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐞𝐛 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧? 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭! Deployed Website:- https://lnkd.in/en5Mw6Jy GitHub Repository :- https://lnkd.in/eHCKdMAu #𝟑𝐃𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 #𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 #𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐨 #𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐉𝐒 #𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐉𝐒 𝐏.𝐒. I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback!

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🚀 Startup Realities: Mentorship or Monetization? 🤔 At Fahdu India, we've faced a deluge of 'mentorship' offers lately—each one more inventive than the last. Proposals roll in requesting substantial equity, sales royalties, even commissions on fundraising, all without a dime of investment. Sounds less like guidance and more like a stakeout! Is this the new normal for ambitious, non-pedigreed startups striving to grow while bootstrapped? Are genuine mentors for growth-stage startups a myth, especially for those outside the typical 'elite' founder circles? Let's discuss: Are these terms of 'mentorship' becoming a predatory practice in our ecosystem? Have you faced similar experiences? Share your stories. #StartupChallenges #EquityForAdvice #BootstrappedRealities

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One of the most important jobs of a founder is capital allocation. The number one reason why most startups don't make it is because they over invest in vitamins (good to have), rather than painkillers (must have). Only founders and teams that go in depth can differentiate between the two. Tune in to learn more from the best, Dheeraj and Amit who have seen and done it all.

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Enhance Your Fintech App with SigmaUI (Fintech Icons) Boost your fintech app's user interface (UI) with SigmaUI (Fintech Icons), a premium collection of 100 meticulously crafted icons designed to elevate your app's user experience (UX). Our icon pack blends style and functionality, providing a fresh and personalized look for your fintech applications. Key Features: 1. Unique Icons:** Discover a diverse range of unique icons tailored for fintech apps, ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing experience. 2. High-Quality Design:** Each icon is meticulously crafted with attention to detail, offering crisp and clear visuals on any device. 3. Regular Updates:** Stay ahead of design trends with regular updates that introduce new icons and enhancements to keep your app's UI fresh. Transform your fintech app into a personalized masterpiece with SigmaUI (Fintech Icons). Upgrade your visual experience today! Icon Pack Details: - Format: Zip file containing 2 variants (1px and 0.75px outlined strokes) in SVG format. - Content: Each variant includes 50 icons, totaling 100 icons. Easy Access Instructions: 1. Download the Figma file after purchase. 2. Go to your Figma files history and find the import button. 3. Click on it and select the downloaded Figma file. 4. You're all set! We value your honest feedback to continuously improve our products and services.Thank you for your trust and support! Click on the link below 👇 right now to get started! https://lnkd.in/dKMQEb6Q #UserInterface #UserExperience #FintechIcons #FintechUI #SigmaUI #UIUX #UI #Iconpack #Iconset

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Are you on the hunt for product/market fit? If so, you might enjoy my discussion with Fareed Mosavat on how today's product builders find it. In this discussion, we cover: 😥 Shortcomings of the Lean Startup methodology 👂 Better customer discovery techniques to quickly validate your riskiest hypotheses 💡 The concept of exploring the idea maze & why it's so important 📈 How to rigorously measure product/market fit If you are looking for a modern approach to reaching product/market fit, I'd encourage you to check this out

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After hosting 150+ founders in Mumbai, we are back in Namma ‘luru to host 400+ founders in a single day. Yes, you heard that right - 400+ founders under a single venue👇🏼 As we try to impact 1,000 founders outside the GrowthX community this year, the revenue impact on their companies is insane - a single day of masterclass plus panel discussion setting has an extremely high ROI for founders solving pure DHANDA. So what should you expect? 1/ Intense learning session (120 mins) You will design a low CAC distribution channel for your product. Followed by a session where you will learn how to build, retain and run growth teams & attract top talent. 2/ Founder focused fireside chat (60 mins) Growing revenue is a lonely battle, hear from Saurabh, Sudarshan, Arvind & Rasik who’ve overcome the struggle and built a sustainable revenue pipeline for their respective companies. Listen to their wins, losses & exchange notes in this in-person episode of "Off the record" 3/ Founder exclusive networking mixer. Speak to a diverse selection of Seed to Series B+ founders. Learn how they are cracking revenue led growth and exchange notes on actionable frameworks that have worked for them. Get priceless advice from founders who have been in the trenches & tried things. If you are a founder struggling to plan the revenue roadmap for the next 1 year, don’t miss out on this one. This is going to be a game changer. Link to register is in the comments 👇🏼

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Google Gemini App is available in India in 9 languages. This is one of the big launches in the tech world about Gemini's brilliant app launch in India and several other countries. This strategic rollout offers valuable lessons for app founders on timing launches perfectly. Why did Gemini's launch happen now? Why not earlier like they did in other countries? Because if Google wants its app to be successful in India it needs to make sure to install some features such as: 1️⃣ Meeting Regional Needs - By supporting Indian languages from day one, Gemini ensured its app was accessible and relatable to millions across the subcontinent. Launching with a localized experience was crucial. 2️⃣ Multi-Platform Availability - The app rolled out on both Android and iOS simultaneously, letting users on any smartphone easily discover and download it. 3️⃣ Integrated Experiences - Gemini didn't just launch a standalone app. It integrated experiences like file uploads, data analysis, and in-app conversation capabilities from the start. 4️⃣ Celebrity CEO Promotion - Having Google CEO Sundar Pichai himself promote the launch on social media amplified visibility and credibility immensely. So when is the best time for founders to launch an app? 📍Start by understanding your core user's needs, preferences, and platforms 📍Build an experience tailored to those needs from day one 📍Integrate your app with relevant services/platforms people use 📍Get influential voices to generate buzz around your launch With a thoughtful, user-centric approach like Gemini's, you'll be primed to make a big splash when you release your app to the world. What strategies did you find effective for your app launch? Picture credit: Internet #google #gemini #AI

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Pro Tip: The UI/UX Design market is saturated quite alot these days. Try exploring newer design based niche roles, One thing I would predict would be in most demand the next 2 years or so will be conversational UX. What is conversational UX? you ask! - Conversation UX, or User Experience, refers to the design and functionality of conversational interfaces, such as chatbots, voice assistants, and messaging platforms, to optimize user satisfaction and engagement. - It involves aspects like natural language understanding, flow design, feedback mechanisms, and overall usability to create smooth and effective interactions between users and systems. One drawback is you need to be very good in talking and performing conversation based tasks and integrations. Excellent communication skills are a must to be able to lead this domain. ------- Follow me here - Mohammed Noor G #ux #ui #design #conversation #talk #chatbots #assistant #ai #voice #x #marketing #promotion #feedback

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TLDR: launched a new #sustainable #denim collection: https://silkrevive.co/ --- About us :) We believe in: the transformative power of sarees, #sustainability, and the strength of intergenerational connections between women Our mission is to #repurpose and upcycle donated sarees into new #apparel and #accessories, creating a unique and meaningful journey that connects women of different generations and honors the rich cultural heritage of sarees Brand story: In a world where fast fashion dominates, we felt a deep yearning to revive the beauty and stories hidden within discarded sarees. Inspired by the timeless elegance and artistry of these traditional garments, we embarked on a path to weave sustainability and intergenerational connections into every thread. Each saree carries a story. Passed down through generations, these intricately woven fabrics bear witness to the experiences, celebrations, and triumphs of women who came before us. We saw an opportunity to honor these stories, breathe new life into forgotten sarees and create something extraordinary. Our process starts with the generous donations of sarees from women who wish to see their cherished garments embark on a new journey. These sarees become the vibrant tapestry of our creations. Each piece is carefully handpicked and transformed, infusing it with new purpose and a contemporary twist. We work diligently to uphold our commitment to sustainability. By repurposing and upcycling donated sarees, we reduce textile waste and contribute to a circular fashion economy. Through meticulous craftsmanship, we ensure that the essence and legacy of each saree shines through, respecting the artisans’ labor and the memories embedded within. But we are more than just a sustainable fashion brand. We are passionate about fostering intergenerational connections between women. We believe in the power of shared stories, wisdom, and experiences that transcend time. Our creations bridge the gap between generations, enabling women to embrace and celebrate their shared heritage. With each garment and accessory we create, we honor the past while embracing the future. Our designs blend traditional techniques with contemporary styles, embracing the diversity of women’s tastes and preferences. The result is a collection that embodies elegance, uniqueness, and the spirit of empowerment. cc: Natasha S.

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if you know, you know Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures. nerd. founder. wise. man. been there done that sv. wisdom. it's missing. let's face it. it's always been missing over time. for.ever. so it's a blessing truly to have an o.g. that keeps it for reals. yes we are a fan. much like Jensen Huang Fei-Fei Li ilya sutskever ...and other good people in sv. they are the ones who make this place so special. indeed they do. here https://lnkd.in/exWqey9K we have sam i am that's all that i am sam (alt)man having a 1-1 with the man. this is a must watch to provide a foundational (no llm required here) mindset as to how sv is at it's best (and worse). caution. watch out for the truth bombs. vinod is (in)famous for this style and we <love> him for it. thank g-d he exists. if you meet the dbags in sf/bayarea your experience you will be quickly lonely, dazed and confused. best to listen to these wise words from vinod and from that determine your spot in the sv landscape. with an insight on the sv playbook from a master. well. need i say more. it's about the very spirit of sv that makes it so special. and this is indeed embodied in a few who are masters. deserve our attention. yeah. yeah. i know attention is all you need. although what happens if your attention is being distracted from building. being in the company of those who will join your mission ala brian chesky of Airbnb. missionaries. search for the good missionaries in sv. keep away and keep in mind of the mercenaries. they are there. pg. he's another gift (as opposed to the grifters) paul graham wrote about this too https://lnkd.in/eEYmQwqZ - being a chesky-esque missionary. these are good things to follow on the path of achieving escape velocity as an (ai) startup. oh. hollywood has entered the ranks of sv. yes it has. so there is a bit of performance art that is required. not enough that you've created something that's novel (truly, novel). also requires a bit of showmanship. audacious in fact. it's a well known sentiment that audacious ideas motivate people. sun microsystems. audacious. juniper. audacious. OpenAI. vinod as an early investor. audacious. Vinod Khosla was born audacious. so fitting he found a place in this world where many have benefitted from this sentiment. perhaps years ago a bit on the abrasive side. now with those white hairs. the elder statesman. non-diplomat. rules, the roost of that which allows for others to flourish. note if you manage to thread the needle of vinod means that it's a very very very good beginning. nothing is guaranteed of course. as my lawyer 'friends' like to say. * buyer beware. be aware. Vinod Khosla is. are you (ai)? are you?? perhaps yes. perhaps, non. < . >

As someone who has reviewed 200+ designer profiles, let me tell you that only 5-6 of them stood out. 1. Your skills ≠ you Don't list every tool or language. Instead, focus on the ones you enjoy most and demonstrate what you've created with them. 2. Simplify your work Your portfolio isn't a museum. Show only the work that's relevant, beautiful and engaging. 3. Be specific Design by the numbers. Share the metrics, from conversion rates to engagement, that show your designs have an impact. 4. Explain the why Don't just show the design. Explain why you made each decision, from typography to color to imagery. 5. Prioritize user experience Don't just show a pretty UI. Prove that your design improves the user's experience and, ultimately, the bottom line. 6. Show some versatility Prove that you can tackle a wide range of design challenges. 7. Demonstrate long-term impact Showcase a project that you worked on from start to finish and how it evolved over time. 8. Write well Good writing is essential. It shows that you're articulate, thoughtful and professional. 9. Self-promotion ≠ spam Promoting your work on LinkedIn or Twitter is okay, but add value to the conversation by sharing your expertise. 10. Keep it current Update your portfolio regularly and stay up to date on the latest design trends and tools. It's not easy to stand out, but with these tips, you'll be ahead of 99% of designers. #designcommunity #ux #uxdesign #uxui

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"Opinions" in design are a weird space to talk about. There are times when opinions matter a lot and there are other times when they don't matter at all. Take the case where you join a new team which is designing a new product, but the domain is something you've known for 5 years. Now, you carry some experience, which warrants your opinion to be heard in the matter (with a pinch of salt, provided you understand the new audience better). But in most scenarios, your opinion as an individual and the phrase "I like it this way" is simply irrelevant. Does your design solve the user's problem? Does it generate revenue? Did you get buy-in from stakeholders? Does it take into account necessary technical constraints? These are things that matter more. So, the answer to the question "should designers have opinions or not?" is - Yes, designers should have opinions. But if the opinion is interchangeable with personal bias, then you shouldn't. Have good opinions that contribute to the product and business.

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To all the #jewelry brands out there, just flexing the capabilities of Krut AI Imagine creating hyper-realistic product models from a single photo of the product, without lifting a finger on post-production edits. ✨ That's the power of Krut AI! Take a look at this necklace - all we had was a single necklace image, and Krut AI transformed it into a stunning, hyperdetailed realistic model wearing it, ready for any marketing campaign or design project. Want to see what Krut AI can do for your brand? We can generate: * Models Generation for any Jewelry Product. * High-resolution images for marketing materials. * Customizable models for different lighting and settings. Get started with a free demo today and see the Krut AI difference at:- https://lnkd.in/gKz-QsgA #KrutAI #jewelryphotography #genai #productdesign #ecommerce #marketing #innovation

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🚀How Perplexity Founder Aravind Srinivas Built a $1B Startup in 2 Years🚀 Aravind Srinivas never imagined he would one day be the co-founder and CEO of a rapidly growing AI startup valued at $1 billion. But that’s exactly what happened when he and his co-founder Dennis launched Perplexity AI in December 2022. The Genesis of a Passion Arvind’s journey to founding Perplexity began in his native India, where he grew up with a deep fascination for algorithms and programming. This passion led him to win a machine learning contest, which spurred him to dive deeper into the field. Eventually, he pursued a PhD in AI and deep learning at University of California, Berkeley, a decision that would set the stage for his future success. A Pivotal Moment A summer internship at OpenAI in 2018 became a turning point for Arvind. “I went to OpenAI and I felt really bad because people were so much better than me,” he recalls. “It was a big reality check that I could improve a lot more in programming and first principles thinking.” This humbling experience motivated Arvind to double down on his AI research, dedicating his time to understanding large language models (LLMs) like GPT-1, which had just been published. Building Perplexity AI This deep dive into LLMs ultimately led Arvind and Dennis to found Perplexity AI, a conversational search engine aiming to revolutionize how people find information online. “Perplexity is trying to build a future where you can just come and ask a question, like how you would ask a friend, and that AI replies to you with the answer, complete with corresponding citations,” Arvind explains. Exponential Growth Perplexity’s unique approach, combining LLMs with robust search capabilities, resonated with users. The company launched its product on December 7, 2022, and has since experienced exponential growth. In just one year, daily queries skyrocketed from 2,000–3,000 to over 3–4 million. Overcoming Challenges Building a product as technically complex as Perplexity has not been without its challenges. Arvind describes the process as “orchestrating” various components to deliver a seamless user experience. “That’s why this is a hard thing to build. Even for a big company, playing the orchestra is hard.” Focus and Execution Arvind’s approach to these challenges has been to relentlessly focus on execution and quality. “We are still a small team, around 30 people. When you have fewer people, you can only do fewer things. So, you spend a lot of time thinking about what to do. And once you’ve decided, you just do it.” This focus on doing a few things exceptionally well is a key part of Arvind’s startup philosophy. “The best strategy for startups is to focus on very few things, even just one thing, because there’s not much time. As a startup, you’re supposed to move fast and have very few shots at failure.” Pic: Ken (Advisor at the Bay Area Founders Club) with Aravind Srinivas (CEO of Perplexity AI)

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As we look towards 2024, the evolution of the Metaverse in India is increasingly marked by the rise of innovative startups like Mayaver Metaverse. Pioneering a decentralized approach, Mayaver is setting a new standard by empowering users to take complete control of their virtual environments. This startup is not just creating a digital space; it's crafting a user-governed world where creativity and commerce flourish without boundaries. The promise of such platforms lies in their ability to merge cutting-edge technology with real-world applications, ensuring that every user can truly own a piece of the digital future. Mayaver is at the forefront, demonstrating the vast potential of a decentralized Metaverse in transforming how we interact, work, and play online. Join us as we explore these new realms in the ever-expanding universe of Web3. Visit: https://mayaver.com/ #Web3 #Metaverse #Decentralization #DigitalInnovation #StartUpIndia #TechWrapIndia #LIPostingChallengeIndia #LinkedInNewsIndia

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