Hi Reader,

Welcome to Hal9 Weekly — insights from our founder Javier on turning AI ideas into real products.

Javier's Insights:

Building in Public: How We're Trying to Scale Without Losing What Works

Here's the honest truth about where Hal9 is right now.

What's working: posts like this one, personalized conversations, earning trust one founder at a time. Our customers love it. But it doesn't scale — and we know it.

So we're experimenting, and we're doing it in public.

For a limited time, we're offering a Fix Your Vibe-Coded App Zoom session with our team of AI experts for $20. Real humans, real fixes, real fast. The price won't stay there — we're just trying to find the right channels to get the word out.

Here's what we've learned so far:

Google Ads? Not worth it. Bots everywhere. We killed it fast.

Reddit ads? Currently testing. Early signals look more promising.

Instagram content? Also in the mix — and this is where our marketing advisor gave us a framework we think is actually smart:

Don't blow budget on LinkedIn ads until you know what video actually resonates. Test cheap on Instagram first. Find the one that connects. Then bring it to LinkedIn when you're ready to pay the premium.

It's disciplined, it's sequenced, and it keeps us from burning cash on content that hasn't been validated yet. We're following it.

The deeper question we're sitting with: how do you scale something that works precisely because it feels personal? We don't have the answer yet. But we're figuring it out — and we'll keep sharing what we learn.

If you've cracked distribution for something like this before, hit reply. We're genuinely all ears.

And if you're stuck on a vibe-coded app and need real technical help — $20, one Zoom session, our team. Link below.

Customer Success Story: HYPD

From No-Code Prototype to Scalable MVP in 30 Days

HYPD is a startup on a mission to connect people with authentic local experiences — think trivia nights at neighborhood bars, community events, and small businesses that deserve more visibility without paying for expensive ads.

They'd already validated the concept with a no-code prototype on Lovable. But to build something scalable and investor-ready, they needed real engineering firepower, fast.

That's where Hal9 came in.

In just 30 days, Hal9 delivered:

🗺️ A dynamic web app listing hand-picked local events in Seattle and San Diego, powered by real-time data integration

✨ An intuitive, minimal UX built for early user acquisition — with the architecture already in place for future AI-driven curation

📱 A polished, deployable product that became a key asset in HYPD's investor pitch deck

📈 A clear technical pathway from hand-curated content today to automated AI curation tomorrow

The result? HYPD launched with a platform that attracted early users, strengthened their fundraising story, and set the foundation for scaling into new cities.

"We proved the concept with a no-code MVP. To build the scalable, real-world version at the speed we needed, we partnered with Hal9." — Harrison Rolfes, Founder @ HYPD

Let’s Talk

Got an AI idea/building something and want to chat about it?

Book a free consultation with Javier — he’ll help you validate it before you build, so you don’t lose time chasing the wrong version.

Talk soon,

—The Hal9 Team