SayNext
Voice-powered PDF page turner for musicians - my lesson in market validation
The Inspiration
As a hobby pianist, I knew the frustration well - manually turning pages while playing interrupts the flow and diminishes the joy of making music. The idea seemed obvious: create an app that turns PDF pages using voice commands. No more breaking concentration, no more stopping mid-piece. It felt like a problem worth solving.
Personal Pain Point
Solved my own problem as a pianist
Voice Technology
Hands-free page turning via voice commands
Cross-Platform
Available on both iOS and Android
The Development
Excited by the idea, I hired a developer to bring SayNext to life. The app was successfully launched on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Friends and acquaintances validated the concept with positive feedback and encouragement. Everything seemed to be on track for success.
Concept to Development
Hired a developer to build the app. The costs were quite high for such a simple application, but I believed in the idea.
App Store Launch
Successfully deployed to both Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The technical execution was solid and the app worked as intended.
User Acquisition
Reached approximately 100 users total. While some people downloaded and tried the app, engagement was limited.
The Reality
Zero revenue generated. Despite the positive feedback from my circle, the market simply didn't need this solution. No market research had been conducted beforehand.
What I Learned
SayNext was a costly lesson in the importance of market validation. I spent money without knowing if there would be any return on investment - and there wasn't. The experience taught me fundamental lessons about product development and market research that I carry with me to this day.
Market Research First
I conducted almost no market research before building. Just because I had a problem didn't mean thousands of others did too. Always validate demand before investing in development.
Build It Yourself
For a simple app like this, I should have learned to code it myself. The development costs were too high relative to the complexity and potential return.
Friends Aren't The Market
Positive feedback from friends and acquaintances doesn't equal market demand. They're being supportive, not necessarily indicating they'd pay for your product.
MVP Mindset
Start with the simplest possible version to test the market. A basic prototype would have revealed the lack of demand before significant investment.
The Silver Lining
While SayNext didn't generate a single cent in revenue, it provided invaluable education. It pushed me to learn about app development, deployment processes, and most importantly, the critical importance of market validation. Every successful product I've built since has benefited from these hard-earned lessons.
The app still exists as a reminder: great ideas aren't enough. Success requires understanding your market, validating demand, and building efficiently. SayNext taught me to be a better entrepreneur by showing me exactly what not to do.
Have an App Idea?
I've learned from my mistakes and can help you avoid them. Let's validate your idea before you invest in development.
Let's Validate Your Idea