Should you still build in public? Peldi (Balsamiq) and Jay Clouse (Creator Science)

Key takeaways

Building in public originated as a genuine sharing of experiences and processes, which has now shifted towards a more superficial sharing style that often overlooks the value of community engagement.
Authenticity in community interactions is vital; participants should focus on meaningful connections rather than promotional announcements.
Using wireframes and mockups to gather user feedback early in the design process can lead to more successful product iterations.
Publicly sharing personal struggles can enhance community bonding but must be balanced with maintaining professional integrity.
Creating cohorts for mutual learning can foster deeper connections and support structures for founders, enhancing the building in public experience.

Summary

The Evolution of 'Building in Public'

In this episode, the guests discuss the original concept of building in public and how it has transformed over the years. Peldi shares his nostalgic journey of blogging in 2007 when the term wasn't even coined. He emphasizes the importance of sharing process and story over mere revenue numbers. The conversation reflects on how building in public has shifted towards a more superficial and boastful sharing format rather than a genuine exchange of ideas and experiences.

Exploring Authentic Community Engagement

A significant focus of the episode revolves around how to authentically connect with and engage communities. Jay Clouse provides insight into creating a productive community environment for creators, emphasizing the importance of peer interactions and communal learning. The concept of 'building in public' is examined through the lens of fostering true conversations rather than just announcements, which appear to dominate current social media discussions.

Product and User Feedback Mechanisms

Peldi shares his experiences with using Balsamiq for wireframing and obtaining user feedback early in the design process. The conversation explores the dynamics of how feedback can help in product iteration, making suggestions to improve features, and validate ideas before full development. The guests suggest integrating wireframe sharing into the broader context of community interactions to enhance collaborative feedback.

The Balance of Personal and Public Sharing

The hosts discuss the tension between personal vulnerability and professional transparency in the process of building in public. They touch on how much to share about struggles and successes while balancing the narrative to avoid envy culture and maintain integrity. Peldi reflects on still sharing revenue numbers, but acknowledges the complexities and potential drawbacks inherent to that practice.

Cohorts and the Future of Community Building

A proposal arises for creating cohorts or fellowships to reinvigorate authentic community engagement around building in public. This structure aims to support younger founders by pairing them with experienced mentors to facilitate knowledge transfer and accountability. Both Peldi and Jay enthusiastically brainstorm potential designs for these cohorts, which could help make building in public more meaningful and insightful.

Show notes

Peldi is the founder of Balsamiq and pioneered transparent business building in 2007. In this episode, he came to the Panel looking advice on "build in public." We invited Jay Clouse, of Creator Science, on to share his wisdom. Jay had tons of practical suggestions for SaaS founders looking to build community and build in public in an authentic way.

Chapters:

(00:08) - Introduction of The Panel
(04:24) - Why is Peldi interested in build in public in 2025?
(09:32) - Build in public has become brag in public
(20:44) - Can Peldi give back in some way?
(28:25) - Could you teach people how to build in public again?
(35:13) - How much work is it to maintain community?
(40:46) - Sharing your struggles in public
(47:57) - Why does Peldi still share revenue numbers?
(51:46) - Could Balsamiq sponsor a community?
(56:34) - What do current founders need to know?

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