When you build for a marketplace, you skip a whole layer of distribution work

As a founder, when you build for a marketplace — an iOS app, Android app, Shopify app, Chrome extension, plugin…

You can skip a whole layer of distribution work.

It’s like opening a boutique on a crowded avenue. People are already walking by.

Your job? 👉Figure out what they’re looking for. 👉Understand their problems. 👉Offer quality. 👉Convert them when they step in.

Sometimes, all you need is solid research, build something useful, publish it — and it works.

But building a standalone SaaS or web app? That’s a different game.

You’re opening a boutique in the middle of nowhere. No street, no foot traffic. Just silence.

You have to bring people there yourself. Without distribution, no one sees your app. No marketing = no traffic, no customers, no growth.

You can build the perfect product — but if no one finds it, it’s like it doesn’t exist.