100 questions builders ask, and where The Build Nation fits

The Build Nation is a free, real-time network for builders, investors, mentors and businesses: people who are making things and the people who back, guide and hire them. It's live in San Francisco. You can use it on the web today, and the iPhone app is coming to the App Store soon.

It connects people in person, by physical proximity. You open a map and see quick meetups happening near you and good places to work from. You find people worth meeting, ask to join a meetup or start your own, and end up at the same table. Where other networks rank people by likes, followers and how much they post, The Build Nation looks at demonstrated output: what you've shipped, what you've launched, and meetups that actually happened. You can read exactly how on how ranking works.

Today it includes a live map of meetups and recommended spots, quick meetups you can start or join, Meet (who to meet, ordered by field and stage), connections and messages, events with RSVPs and reminders, a way to list Luma events you're going to, a community board, and public builder profiles.

Below are 100 questions people search for when they're building something, grouped by topic. Each gets a short, straight answer: how The Build Nation helps, or, where it doesn't, what to do instead.

Co-founders and people to build with

1. How to find a cofounder in San Francisco

Most cofounders come from building something small together first, not from a matching site. On The Build Nation, Meet suggests builders in your field and at a useful stage, and you can co-work with people for a few weeks before anyone talks about equity. Our guide on how to find a technical cofounder goes deeper.

2. Where to find a technical cofounder if you can't code

Engineers want proof you can do the non-code work: customers, a waitlist, a prototype, a pre-sale. Bring that proof to places engineers already build, like co-working sessions and hackathons. On The Build Nation your profile shows what you've shipped, which helps more than a pitch.

3. Is YC cofounder matching worth it

It works for some people, and it costs nothing to try. But strong candidates are often picked up quickly by people they already know, so use it alongside meeting builders in person, not instead of it.

4. How to know if someone would make a good cofounder

Build something small together for two to four weeks before deciding. Watch whether they keep commitments and how you handle disagreement. On The Build Nation, a profile's 18-week proof-of-work grid shows someone's recent pace at a glance.

5. How to meet engineers in person in SF

Go where they build: co-working sessions, hackathons, demo nights and small technical meetups. On The Build Nation you can see meetups near you on the map and ask to join, or start a pair-programming session at a café yourself.

6. How to split equity with a cofounder

This is outside what The Build Nation does. Read a few founder-written guides, talk to a startup lawyer, and use vesting so nobody keeps a large stake after leaving early.

7. How to find people to work on side projects with

Start a quick meetup: pick a café, choose "Co-work" or "Pair program", and nearby builders can ask to join. The people who come back two or three times are your likely collaborators.

8. Solo founder or cofounder: which is better

Both can work. Paul Graham observed that most of the big successes have two or three founders, but plenty of solo founders do well with a strong circle around them. If you go solo, read how to stop building alone.

9. How to find a cofounder outside your network

Your network grows fastest when you show up to the same small builder gatherings repeatedly. On The Build Nation, "Want to meet" lets you signal interest to someone, and if they want to meet you too, a chat opens.

10. Where do startup founders meet in SF

In coworking spaces, cafés with good wifi, libraries, demo nights and hackathons. The Build Nation's map shows recommended spots (cafés, coworking spaces and libraries) and the meetups happening near you right now.

Investors and fundraising

11. How to meet angel investors in person

Meet founders first, since an intro from a founder an investor backed is one of the most trusted. Then go to demo nights and hackathons where investors judge. The full guide is how to meet investors in person in San Francisco.

12. How to get a warm intro to a VC

Ask founders the firm has funded, and earn the intro by being useful to them first. Don't ask investors who passed on you for introductions; Paul Graham warns that this can work as an anti-recommendation.

13. Should you cold email investors

As a last resort, yes. Y Combinator's seed guide suggests a brief but compelling summary of your business; two or three sentences, one real number and a link to the product is plenty. It works better after you've crossed paths, even briefly.

14. Where do VCs hang out in San Francisco

At demo nights, pitch events, hackathon judging panels and talks. Rather than hunting for them, make your progress easy to see. Investors on The Build Nation see the same output-based profiles as everyone else.

15. Do you need a pitch deck to raise a pre-seed round

Most investors will eventually ask for one, but it rarely does the convincing. Lead with a one-page summary, a live demo and one number you track weekly, as described in showing traction without a pitch deck.

16. What traction do investors want to see at seed

Growth usually matters more than size. Paul Graham's benchmark for a startup in YC is 5 to 7 percent growth a week, measured in revenue or, before you charge, active users. Track one number weekly and show the trend.

17. How to write a monthly investor update

Keep it to a few lines: your number, what shipped, one problem and any specific ask. Send it to investors you've met, including ones who said no, because they're often your warmest future leads.

18. Is The Build Nation a place to pitch investors

No. There's no investor list to pitch and no deal-flow feature. It's a place to meet people in person and let your work be visible, and "Want to meet" works the same way for investors as for everyone else.

19. How to find investor scouts

Ask founders who've raised recently; they usually know who scouts for which firms. A coffee near the scout's office is a reasonable first ask, but treat it as learning how a firm thinks, not as your fundraising pipeline.

20. How do investors find startups

Mostly through referrals from founders and investors they trust, plus demo days and events. Paul Graham put it simply: "The Valley basically runs on referrals." Being known for real progress by the founders around you is how you end up in those referrals.

First users and customers

21. How to get first users for my startup

Go and get them one by one: find where they spend time, ask for five minutes and set them up on the spot. The step-by-step version is how to find your first 10 users near you.

22. How to find beta testers for an app

Ask people who have the problem directly, in person if you can, and sit with them while they try it. If your testers are builders, host a "Demo / show & tell" meetup on The Build Nation and let nearby builders ask to join.

23. How to get feedback on a startup idea

Talk to people who have the problem, not just friends, and ask about the last time it happened rather than whether they'd use your product. Co-working sessions with other builders are a good place for blunt product feedback.

24. How to run customer interviews in person

Keep them to twenty or thirty minutes, ask about real past events, and write down what people say in their own words. Meeting at a café near where they work makes it easy for them to say yes.

25. How to launch a product with no audience

Expect a broadcast launch to be quiet, and plan direct outreach instead: thirty names, ten conversations, ten users. On The Build Nation, post a "Shipped:" update on the community board so builders around you can see what you made.

26. Where to find early adopters in San Francisco

For tools aimed at builders, early adopters are at co-working sessions, demo nights and build nights. For anything else, go where your specific users work. The Build Nation is a good channel only if your early adopters are builders themselves.

27. How to get first customers for a B2B startup

Walk in or get introduced, ask for five minutes, and show a short demo. Pilots with a start date and a clear success measure turn early interest into evidence.

28. Is it ok to promote my product in founder communities

Be a useful member first, and share your product only when it genuinely answers someone's question. Communities quickly tune out people who join just to self-promote.

29. How to demo a product to strangers

Have a sixty-second version on your phone that shows the one thing it does best, then hand it over and watch. A small show-and-tell meetup gives you a table of people who expect demos.

30. How many users do you need before raising money

There's no fixed number. What matters is that people use it repeatedly and that usage is growing. Ten users who come back every week can say more than a thousand signups who don't.

Mentors and advice

31. How to find a mentor for my startup

Ask specific people specific questions, then come back with what you did with their answer. That follow-through is what makes mentors keep helping. On The Build Nation, members can set "Here to" on their profile to show they mentor others.

32. How to ask someone to be your mentor

Don't ask for "a mentor". Ask for twenty minutes on one problem. If it goes well, report back with results and ask again; that's how most mentoring relationships actually start.

33. Free startup mentorship in San Francisco

Many experienced founders and operators help for free when asked well and in person. The Build Nation is free, and its meetups and Meet suggestions are ways to find people a step or two ahead of you.

34. How can I mentor startup founders

Decide what you're good for, cap how many people you help, and filter by what founders have shipped. Our guide for mentors is how mentors can find founders worth helping.

35. What do mentors look for in founders

Follow-through: founders who've shipped something, ask specific questions and come back having tried the advice. Paul Graham calls determination the most important quality in startup founders.

36. How to run office hours for founders

Pick a regular slot at a café, ask each founder to say in one line what they're stuck on, and keep sessions short. On The Build Nation, a quick meetup with a question people answer when they ask to join, plus reviewing each request, does exactly this.

37. How to give useful feedback to founders

Be specific, give one suggestion they can act on this week, and check back later. Advice someone can try tomorrow is worth more than a framework.

38. What's the difference between a startup advisor and a mentor

An advisor usually has a formal role, sometimes with equity and a written agreement, while mentoring is informal. The Build Nation doesn't handle advisor agreements, so get those drawn up properly.

39. How to find a mentor who's been where you are

Look for people one or two stages ahead of you in the same field. In Meet, "For you" orders builders by field and stage, and you can filter by stage.

40. How to keep a mentor engaged

Report back. A short note on what you did with their advice, and what happened, is the best thank-you there is.

Meetups and co-working

41. Free coworking meetups in SF

Many co-working sessions in cafés and libraries are free; you just buy a coffee. The Build Nation is free too: you can see meetups near you on the map and ask to join, or start your own.

42. How does a quick meetup work on The Build Nation

You pick a spot and an activity, set an end time and a group size, and nearby builders ask to join. You accept who you want, and accepted guests can chat with you to sort out details. The full walkthrough is co-working with strangers.

43. Best cafes to work from in San Francisco

Look for outlets, reliable wifi and a laptop-friendly attitude. The Build Nation's map recommends cafés, coworking spaces and libraries near you, so you can find somewhere to work and see whether anyone's already meeting there.

44. How to cowork with strangers safely

Meet only in public places, tell a friend where you're going and leave whenever you want. The Build Nation's safety page sets out its rules: public places only, members 18 and over, and approximate locations.

45. What is body doubling

It's the idea that working next to another person helps you start and stay on task. The research is still thin, but many builders swear by it, and a two-hour co-working session is the easiest way to try it.

46. How to host a coworking session

Pick a public spot, time-box it to two hours, keep it to two to six people and open with a round of goals. More in how to host a meetup people actually show up to.

47. How to meet other developers in San Francisco

Join small technical meetups, hackathons and pair-programming sessions. On The Build Nation, choose "Pair program" when you start a meetup, or look for one on the map.

48. Can I host a meetup at my own spot

Yes, as long as it's a public place where people already meet: a café, library or coworking space, never a home. If you name your own spot, others see only an approximate area, and only the people you accept see the exact place.

49. Why don't people come back to meetups

Usually because the meetup was too big, too vague or too irregular. Keep it small and specific, and hold it at the same time and place.

50. How to find builders working near me right now

Open The Build Nation's map to see live meetups nearby. Or use "Near you" in Meet to see builders around you who've chosen to be visible, by rough area only.

Events

51. Best tech events in San Francisco this week

Most are listed on Luma, event sites and community calendars. On The Build Nation you can add the Luma events you're going to and see which other members are going too.

52. How to see who's going to a Luma event

When the host shows the guest list, Luma's help center says hosts and approved guests can open the full list. On The Build Nation, paste the Luma link and mark yourself going to see other members going and who you should meet there. See before a Luma event.

53. How to network at a tech event without being awkward

Arrive early, pick three people to talk to before you go, and ask what they're building. Leave with one or two concrete next steps rather than a pocket full of contacts.

54. Are networking events worth it for founders

They are when you go with a goal and a few people in mind, and usually aren't when you walk in cold. Small, repeated gatherings tend to produce more real relationships than big one-off events.

55. How to host an event with RSVP approval

On The Build Nation you can let guests RSVP or request to join, approve requests, keep a waitlist and add co-hosts. Guests get a confirmation and email reminders 24 hours and 1 hour before, with a calendar invite.

56. How to check in guests at an event

The Build Nation lets hosts check guests in at the door by QR code or by name, so you know who actually came.

57. How to reduce no-shows for free events

Dave Kiss, who ran a tech meetup for five years, expects around 30 percent of free RSVPs not to show. Send reminders, ask one question at sign-up and plan for the dropoff. Events on The Build Nation send reminders 24 hours and 1 hour before automatically.

58. Can I hide my name from an event guest list

Yes: turn on "Hide me from event guest lists" in Settings. You're still counted, but your name isn't listed or suggested to other guests, though hosts always see who's coming.

59. Who can see the guest list for an event on The Build Nation

People going can see who else is going, unless the host keeps the list to hosts only. Signed-in members who aren't going see the count and an anonymous summary, and signed-out visitors see only the count.

60. Does The Build Nation replace Luma

No. For Luma events, sign-ups stay on Luma, and The Build Nation is where members going to the same event can find each other. You can also host events on The Build Nation directly.

Hiring and partners

61. How to hire engineers in San Francisco without recruiters

Meet builders before you need them, judge them by what they've finished, and run a small paid trial project. The guide is how businesses can find builders to hire.

62. How to find a freelance developer near me

Ask builders you've met for recommendations, and look at work people have actually shipped. On The Build Nation, profiles show what someone is building and has shipped, so you can see their work before you reach out.

63. How to evaluate a developer's portfolio

Ask them to walk you through one thing they shipped: the problem, what they chose not to build and what broke after launch. Don't penalise people with nothing public, since a lot of good work lives in private repositories.

64. Where to find designers for a startup in SF

Demo nights, design meetups and co-working sessions let you see designers' work in person. Look at shipped products, not just polished portfolios. Profiles on The Build Nation show what members have built, whether they design or write code.

65. How to find early employees for a startup

Early hires often come from people who've already seen you work. Host regular co-working sessions or demo afternoons so builders get to know you before you have a role to fill.

66. Paid trial project or take-home test

A short, paid, well-scoped trial is usually fairer to candidates and tells you more. Keep it to a day or two of real but self-contained work.

67. How to find business partners in San Francisco

Go where the people you'd partner with already meet, and look at what they've actually delivered. On The Build Nation, businesses can host meetups and events and meet builders nearby.

68. Can businesses use The Build Nation

Yes. Everyone joins the same way, for free: set "Here to" on your profile to hiring builders, then host meetups and events like any other member. There are no recruiter tools or paid job listings.

69. How to find a technical contractor you can trust

Ask people you know for references, look at finished work and start with a small paid project. Meeting in person once before you sign anything helps both sides.

70. How to get hired at a startup in San Francisco

Build and ship things people can see, and get to know founders before they post a job. On The Build Nation you can set "Here to" to getting hired, and your proof-of-work grid shows your pace.

Moving to San Francisco

71. How to build a network after moving to San Francisco

Work from the same places on the same days, find one weekly thing, host something small and give before you ask. Our thirty-day plan is new to San Francisco as a founder.

72. Is it worth moving to SF for a startup

It depends on your stage and what you need. The case for it is density: Paul Graham argues startups gain from chance meetings with people who can help them, and those need lots of startup people around. If you go, put yourself in the path of those meetings.

73. How to make friends in the San Francisco tech scene

Go to the same small thing every week instead of a different big event each time. Familiar faces turn into friends.

74. Where do startup founders live in SF

The Build Nation doesn't help with housing. Ask founders you meet in your first weeks; most are happy to tell you what worked for them and what they'd avoid.

75. Best neighborhoods to work from in San Francisco

Pick a few work spots near where you live rather than chasing a neighborhood, because regulars meet regulars. The Build Nation's map shows recommended cafés, coworking spaces and libraries near you.

76. How to meet founders in your first week in SF

Open The Build Nation's map to see meetups starting near you, and check Meet for builders in your field. Join one meetup in your first week; it's the quickest way to have a familiar face in the city.

77. Tips for founders visiting San Francisco for a week

Plan a few meetings in advance and leave gaps for what comes up. Join a co-working meetup on day one, because people there usually know what else is happening that week.

78. How to meet people in tech when you work remotely

Co-work in public a few days a week, and host a small session of your own. A café co-working session is full of people working on their own things who'd like some company.

79. Is The Build Nation only for San Francisco

It's live in San Francisco first, and the recommended spots and the community are concentrated there today. You can name your own public spot for a meetup wherever you are.

80. How to get introduced to people in SF tech when you know no one

Ask each person you meet for one specific introduction, and make introductions yourself. In a dense city, your first few relationships compound quickly.

Building in public and showing your work

81. How to build in public without being cringe

Share changelogs, real numbers and real failures on a cadence you can keep, written for the people who use your product. More in build in public without the engagement game.

82. How to show proof of work as a builder

Keep a visible record of what you ship: launches, changelogs and short "shipped" posts. On The Build Nation, your profile shows an 18-week proof-of-work grid and a count of things you've shipped.

83. How does The Build Nation rank people

Who to meet is ordered by your field, your stage and the builders you've saved, and recent results on The Build Nation can lift a good match. Likes, comments, views and followers never count. Details are on how ranking works.

84. Do likes or followers matter on The Build Nation

No. They never count toward ranking or your proof of work, so there's nothing to farm.

85. What counts as proof of work on The Build Nation

Builds you mark as launched, updates that start with "Shipped:", "Building:" or "Win:", meetups you hosted that actually started, meetups where both you and the host confirmed you met, and event check-ins.

86. How to share what you're building

A short weekly post works: what shipped, what's next and one thing you learned. On The Build Nation, post it on the community board starting with "Shipped:" or "Building:" so it counts toward your proof of work.

87. What is a builder card

A builder card, at a link like /b/your-name, is a one-page summary of someone's public work, put together from public sources and meant to be shared one-to-one. Every claim lists its source, cards aren't indexed by search engines, and if one is about you, you can claim it or remove it without an account.

88. How to get noticed without a big following

Ship consistently and make the work visible to the people around you. Networks that rank by output rather than engagement give quiet builders a fairer shot.

89. How to find an accountability partner for a startup

Find one builder nearby who ships at your pace, and agree to four weeks of weekly check-ins plus one co-working session a week. The guide is finding an accountability partner who builds near you.

90. How to stay motivated as a solo founder

Talk to customers, look after the basics, and build a small circle of founders who meet regularly. Our solo founder guide covers what people say actually helps.

Privacy and safety

91. Is The Build Nation free

Yes. It's free to join and use for builders, investors, mentors and businesses alike. You can use it on the web today, and the iPhone app is coming to the App Store soon.

92. Does The Build Nation share my exact location

No. Other members see your rough area, about 1 km, never a live pin. If you host at your own spot, its exact place is shown only to the people you accept.

93. Is it safe to meet strangers from an app

Meet only in public places, tell a friend where you're going and leave whenever you want. The Build Nation allows meetups only at public places, requires members to be 18 or older, and lets you report or block anyone.

94. How to report or block someone on The Build Nation

On the web, open a post's menu and choose "Report post", or use the safety menu next to a person on a meetup to report or block them. Reports go to The Build Nation's team, which can remove posts, close meetups or ban accounts. More on the safety page.

95. Can I message someone without connecting first

Messages open once you're connected, or when you both choose "Want to meet". Until then, a "Want to meet" request is how you say hello.

96. Can I use The Build Nation without being visible nearby

Yes. In Meet's "Near you", turn off "Visible to others": you can still look, but you won't show up. You can also stop sharing your area entirely.

97. What does my public profile show

Work only: your name, photo, headline, role and stage, what you're building, what you've shipped, your proof-of-work grid, links you add and your community posts. It never shows your location, meetups, connections or messages.

98. Who can see the meetups I host

Meetups open to everyone appear on the live map for builders nearby, and you can limit a meetup to your connections instead. If you use your own spot, people see only an approximate area until you accept them.

99. Can I withdraw a request to meet someone

Yes. You can withdraw a "Want to meet" request, and it comes off their requests. You can ask the same person again after 7 days.

100. How old do you have to be to use The Build Nation

You must be 18 or older. It's built for meeting in person, so the age rule and the public-places rule apply to everyone.