The Cold Start Problem
A book about how to start and scale network effects
The Cold Start Problem launched on December 8, 2021 with 353 votes, #35 of 2,707 launches that month and more than 95% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 4 years on.
In plain words
The Cold Start Problem is a book by Andrew Chen that examines how successful technology companies overcome the challenge of launching products that rely on network effects. Drawing on interviews with founding teams from companies including Twitch, Tinder, Uber, Airbnb, and Pinterest, the book explores strategies these companies used to build initial user bases and scale their platforms. It focuses on the practical approaches to solving the cold start problem that founders encounter when building network-dependent businesses.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Based on 100s of interviews with founding teams at Twitch, Tinder, Uber, Airbnb, Pinterest, and many more, Andrew Chen explores how tech’s most successful companies solved the dreaded "cold start problem” using network effects to launch and scale.
🇺🇸 Buy the book Amazon · Bookshop (support local bookstores!) · Featuring interviews from the founders/teams behind Slack, Clubhouse, Zoom, Twitch, Tinder, Reddit, Uber, Airbnb, PayPal, andfrom coldstart.com
Does a similar job
all alternatives →
The Product Hunt Effect2015 · kickstarter.com · ▲591A book about the impact of community-driven startups
ProblemHuntOct 2025 · problemhunt.pro · ▲552Hi HN, I’m a solo founder. I built ProblemHunt after noticing a common pattern: many founders start with ideas and solutions, but don’t spend enough time understanding real problems. ProblemHunt is a simple place where people share problems they actually face in work or life. Developers and founders can browse these problems and use them as a starting point for building products. So far: – ~5,000 users – 150+ real problems submitted – 100% organic growth This is still early, and I’m trying to understand if this is genuinely useful. I’d really appreciate feedback: – Would you use something…
Discovery Assist by First Round2020 · ▲337Getting early founders the customer intros they need, faster
More life & fun this month
the category →
A free city-building game in your browser. You are the mayor. You know what the city needs. Now get it past the zoning board, the neighbors, the appeals court and the next election.
Life & fun · 1d ago · permit.petercai.com
- IV
Life & fun · 14d ago · tanzaniaeducationproject.org
Turn a phone, tablet or TV into a sign. Type a message and it fills the screen: welcome signs, timers, Wi-Fi passwords and more. No app, no account, free.
Life & fun · 15d ago · bigwords.page
Play a free virtual guitar online with your keyboard or by touch. Slow songs down and see every chord, string and strum. Acoustic, classic, electric and bass.
Life & fun · 8d ago · guitoro.com
Carrier settings from iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy firmware, decoded and compared: APNs, VoLTE, 5G and Wi-Fi Calling per carrier, and what each build changed.
Life & fun · 12d ago · carrierexplode.com
Life & fun · 22d ago · space.bl2.net
Source: Product Hunt launch ↗
Launched alongside, December 2021
the whole month →
Powerful enhanced experience for Twitter
Life & fun · 2021 · blackmagic.so
A beautiful, clean, modern web UI for Wikipedia. Enhance your Wikipedia experience with a redesigned look, new features and customization.
Life & fun · 2021 · modernwiki.app
BitsForDigits▲624A partial buyout marketplace free for bootstrapped founders
Commerce · 2021 · flippa.com