Lessen Text

How Akash Panchal Built A Text Summarization Tool

Built in

42 days

Founders

Profitable

Yes

Days To Build

Year Started

2023

Customer

B2B & B2C

Founders

Profitable

Yes

Days To Build

Year Started

2023

Customer

B2B & B2C

Who is Akash Panchal?

Akash Panchal is a former Amazon software engineer from India with expertise in natural language processing, who left his role to bootstrap Lessen Text, leveraging his technical skills and leadership experience to build and validate the product.

What problem does Lessen Text solve?

LessenText makes text summarization quick and customized, so you don't have to waste time sifting through long articles or boring summaries.

How did Akash come up with the idea for Lessen Text?

Akash Panchal, a software engineer with a passion for natural language processing and a love of reading, saw a gap in how existing tools handled text summarization. His experience as an avid reader led him to feel the pain of sifting through long articles to find key insights, something he wished could be simplified. This personal need inspired him to create a solution that was not only efficient but allowed for user control over summaries, unlike other tools on the market.

Before diving into development, Akash validated his idea by building a simple landing page to gauge public interest, which resulted in 100 beta signups without much promotion. This early validation confirmed the demand for a summarization tool and sparked his determination to design a user-friendly experience that addressed the lack of customization in existing solutions. He leveraged his background in software engineering and insights from his time at Amazon to iterate on his idea, ensuring that it tackled real user problems effectively.

Embarking on developing LessenText, Akash faced the challenge of building on a bootstrap budget, necessitating frugality and smart use of available resources. He focused on crafting a minimum viable product (MVP) that could grow over time, incorporating feedback from early users to refine functionality. This iterative process was crucial in overcoming obstacles and highlighted the importance of balancing technical capabilities with an intuitive user experience, leaving him with invaluable lessons about aligning a product closely with user needs.

How did Akash build the initial version of Lessen Text?

Akash Panchal built LessenText, a text summarization tool, through a focused and intensive development process. Utilizing his background in Web and Android app development, he leveraged technologies such as Python for the natural language processing algorithm, and JavaScript frameworks, including ReactJS and NextJS, for crafting intuitive user interfaces.

The first prototype, developed in just six weeks, was driven by a single-person effort incorporating Amazon's leadership principles like customer obsession and frugality. Initial challenges included brushing up on newer frontend technologies and handling the infrastructure without a dedicated DevOps team, leveraging platforms like Vercel, PlanetScale, and Railway to remain cost-effective. The process was demanding, with many late nights, but ultimately rewarding as the MVP was successfully launched within the desired timeline.

How did Akash launch Lessen Text and get initial traction?

To validate the demand for Lessen Text, the founder Akash Panchal created a simple landing page using yep.so. This page served as a basic introduction to the product and allowed interested visitors to sign up for a beta version. Over the course of about 3 to 4 months, Akash was able to collect 100 beta signups from minimal promotion. This approach helped gauge interest and provided a pool of potential early users who were interested in trying the product once it was ready.

Why it worked: By creating a landing page, Akash could measure genuine interest without a fully developed product. The beta signups served as initial validation and a ready customer base for when the product was officially launched.

Leveraging Personal Network for Feedback

Once the MVP version of Lessen Text was developed, Akash involved friends and family to test the product. This not only helped discover hidden bugs but also provided valuable perspectives and user feedback. Early testers were crucial in identifying areas that needed refinement before a broader rollout.

Why it worked: Engaging a trusted personal network ensured early feedback came from people who genuinely wanted to help improve the product. These insights helped Akash make necessary adjustments and enhancements to better meet user needs.

Frugality and Strategic Use of Free Resources

During the MVP development phase, Akash adhered to a strategy of frugality, leveraging free resources and tools like Vercel and PlanetScale as much as possible. This allowed him to keep operational costs low during the initial stages, validating product-market fit without significant financial outlay.

Why it worked: By minimizing costs, Akash could focus on perfecting the product without the pressure of high financial risk. This approach ensured sustainability while allowing for iterative improvements based on user feedback.

What was the growth strategy for Lessen Text and how did they scale?

Lessen Text used an email newsletter as a core part of their growth strategy. During the initial validation phase, Akash built a simple landing page to capture emails from beta signups. By driving 100 beta signups over 3–4 months, he gauged interest and collected potential customers’ contact information. Capturing emails allowed Lessen Text to engage directly with interested users, keeping them informed about new features and updates, thereby nurturing this initial interest into future loyal users.

Why it worked: Email newsletters are a direct and efficient way to reach potential customers who have already shown interest. It helps in maintaining a line of communication through which updates and promotional content can be shared, fostering a community and building anticipation around the product.

Networking and Word of Mouth

Akash utilized his professional network and personal contacts to gather initial feedback and drive user interest. He leveraged his professional experiences at Amazon and other organizations to gather insights and spread the word about Lessen Text. The feedback from friends and family also helped reveal hidden bugs and offered interesting perspectives that facilitated early improvements.

Why it worked: Personal networks are invaluable for early-stage businesses, providing a pool of users who can offer honest feedback and spread the word about the product. Word of mouth through trusted connections can enhance credibility and attract more users.

Free Tier Offering

Lessen Text provided a free tier to attract users to try out the product. By offering a no-cost option, especially targeting students and researchers with a minimal profit discount, the business could entice a segment of the market that values affordability.

Why it worked: Having a free tier lowers the barrier to entry, allowing potential users to test the product without any financial commitment. This strategy helps in user acquisition by increasing exposure and encouraging trials, which can lead to paid subscriptions if users find value in the offering.

What's the pricing strategy for Lessen Text?

Lessen Text offers a free tier with limited runs and provides discounts for students and researchers; premium plans start at roughly $7.99 monthly.

What were the biggest lessons learned from building Lessen Text?

Validate Before Building: Before investing time and resources into Lessen Text, Akash validated demand with a simple landing page, securing beta sign-ups which confirmed the need for his product. Validate your idea early to ensure there's a market for it.
Focus on User Experience: Akash differentiated Lessen Text by addressing existing gaps in user experience with tools like ChatGPT. Keep your product's interface intuitive and centered on user needs to stand out.
Leverage Free Resources Wisely: While developing the MVP, Akash used free tiers of various online tools to minimize costs. As a founder, utilizing free resources can help manage expenditures before achieving product-market fit.
Gather and Use Feedback: Post-launch, Akash collected and acted on feedback from early users to refine Lessen Text. Continuously engage with users to improve your product based on their experiences and needs.
Persevere Through Challenges: Building Lessen Text involved late nights and intense work, yet seeing it come to life was rewarding. To succeed, embrace persistence and remain motivated through the tough phases of product development.

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