Most founders romanticize the startup journey. Krishna's story with Alai reveals the messy reality: three pivots in weeks, brutal feedback from YC partners, and a launch strategy that went far beyond Product Hunt's 24-hour window.
The Pivot That Changed Everything
Krishna and his co-founder Anmol didn't start with presentation software. Their first idea was a meeting assistant with communication coaching. YC's Michael Siebel (Twitch founder) called it "complete garbage."
Instead of defending their work, they rebuilt in 24 hours creating an AI project manager. That got them the interview. But even after getting into YC Winter 2024, they pivoted again when they realized senior engineers and product managers shared a common pain: great ideas were losing to better presentations.
The lesson: YC's mantra is "make something people want" not something hundreds kind of like, but something 10 people absolutely love. Krishna tested this by building on Google Slides first, realized even they didn't love it, then rebuilt from scratch.
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Cracking Product Hunt: The Real Strategy
Alai hit #2 on Product Hunt with 700+ votes. Here's the framework Krishna used:
Pre-Launch (Critical): Contact Product Hunt's support team weeks before. Confirm you'll be featured in the top 10. If not, delay your launch. Being featured is non-negotiable most users only see the top 10 products.
First Four Hours (Make or Break): Launch at 12:01 AM PST. Your ranking in the first four hours determines your final position. Krishna activated close friends and family, but here's the catch: accounts must be "warmed up." Fresh signups don't count. Half of Alai's votes were discarded because supporters created accounts that day.
Engagement Over Numbers: Comments matter more than votes. Genuine discussions signal quality to Product Hunt's algorithm. Krishna's team encouraged detailed feedback, not just upvotes.
But the real win came after Product Hunt. Superhuman's newsletter (1M subscribers) featured Alai organically. A Saudi Arabian influencer tweeted about it, driving thousands of unexpected Arabic-speaking users. The takeaway? Product Hunt is a launchpad, not the destination.
The Unconventional B2C Playbook
Alai converted 20-30% of genuine users to paid accounts which is exceptional for B2C SaaS. Krishna's secret? He personally emails every user who creates five slides and offers a one-on-one call to help with their deck.
This high-touch approach is unusual for consumer products, but it builds trust and ensures users experience the product's full value. Many users who hop on calls convert immediately because Krishna helps them create something they're proud of.
Competing Against Giants
Gamma recently raised $70M at a $2.1B valuation. Instead of panicking, Krishna focused on what they validated: the market exists. Alai differentiated on quality offering four design options per slide, granular customization, and presentations that don't scream "made with AI." While Gamma decks are instantly recognizable, Ally decks reflect individual personality.
The Numbers That Matter
Krishna obsesses over one metric: users who create at least five slides. Not signups. Not page views. Genuine engagement. This north star keeps the team focused on building something users actively use, not just try once.
Final Thought: Don't compare your day-one product to a competitor's 10-year legacy. Find your niche, nail it for a small group who loves it, and expand from there. That's how you compete and win.