When most people think of launching a startup, they imagine starting with a blank canvas—writing code from scratch, designing the first logo, building the first landing page, and trying to get their first user. I’ve done that before. But this time, I tried something different.
I acquired a small, barely-known startup instead. And honestly? It changed everything.
The Unexpected Shortcut
I wasn’t actively looking to buy anything. I was brainstorming ideas, exploring a few MVPs, and trying to validate problems I cared about. But I kept running into the same issues—too many unknowns, too much time spent on setup, and too little real feedback.
Then I came across a micro-startup listed for sale on TinyAcquires. It wasn’t making much money. But it had something that caught my attention: a working product, a couple hundred users, and a few blog posts ranking on Google. Nothing fancy—but enough to make me pause.
Instead of building yet another MVP, what if I used this as my starting point?
Why It Made Sense
I saw four big advantages right away:
- Time saved: I didn’t need to spend weeks building a prototype.
- Real users: I had an audience from Day 1.
- Data: I could see what was working (and what wasn’t).
- Focus: The product worked—I could focus on improving it instead of just getting it off the ground.
This wasn’t about buying success—it was about buying momentum.
What Happened After the Acquisition
The first thing I did was talk to the existing users. What did they like? What annoyed them? Why were they using the product at all?
That alone was a game-changer. Instead of guessing what to build, I had direct input from people who were already using the product. Some of their feedback hurt (in a good way), but it helped me immediately improve the onboarding and UX.
Next, I updated the design, rebranded the product, fixed a few long-standing bugs, and started sharing the journey publicly. I didn’t do a massive launch or marketing push. I just kept showing up, making updates, and involving the community.
Slowly, traffic grew. Engagement improved. People started reaching out.
And most importantly—I was moving forward.
What I Learned
Looking back, I realize how much time and energy I saved by not starting from zero. But it wasn’t just about convenience. Acquiring this tiny startup gave me clarity and structure. It grounded my ideas in something real and let me build on top of it with more confidence.
Here’s what I’d tell anyone considering this approach:
- Don’t underestimate small wins. A tiny user base is still a user base.
- You’re not just buying code—you’re buying time, feedback, and focus.
- Startups don’t have to be massive to be meaningful.
There are so many indie projects out there with potential. Many of them just need a new owner with fresh energy and a clear vision.
Final Thoughts
This tiny startup didn’t have funding, flashy features, or viral growth. But it was enough to launch me into my next chapter. If you’re a solo founder or indie hacker tired of starting over again and again, maybe your next startup isn’t something you build from scratch—it’s something you acquire, reshape, and make your own.
Sometimes, all it takes is a little momentum. And for me, acquiring a micro-startup was the spark that reignited everything.