Building a social app in Berlin: how would you test the first users?
Hey everyone,
We’re working on an early-stage Berlin-based social app around friendship and small group plans.
The basic idea: not dating, not networking, but small meet-ups where people can meet others with a similar vibe / life stage and hopefully build something more continuous than a one-off hangout.
The reason we’re interested in this is that Berlin feels very social, but also quite individualistic. There are endless events, parties, bars, chats, Bumble BFF, etc. But it still seems hard for many people to build an actual friend group rather than just separate friendships or random social contacts.
We’re still early and trying to figure out the smartest way to test this?
If you were starting from zero in Berlin, what would you test first to acquire first users.
Offline test events?
Student / dorm / university communities?
Instagram / TikTok content?
Curated first test groups?
Bars/cafes collaborations
I’d especially love to hear from anyone who has built or tested social, community-based, event-based, or consumer-facing products here.
What worked? What failed? What would you avoid?
And what usually kills these kinds of products?
Not trying to advertise, mostly looking for honest advice and lessons before we build the wrong thing.
Happy to share more context in DMs if relevant.