2026-01-11 12:34:28

Currently, most applications are iterating on existing models. The technical threshold is actually not high, and ordinary development teams can fully replicate them. But the capital gameplay is different——Projects like Manus can quickly gain popularity, backed by investments of around 2 billion USD, and giants like Meta are pouring enormous resources into it. Such scale is indeed beyond the reach of most entrepreneurs.

That said, our small team doesn't have to compete head-to-head with big companies. Creating a small but refined product, focusing on marketing and user operations, capturing market share, and retaining core users can still lead to a good life. The key is to find your own differentiated path rather than blindly spending money to follow trends. Differentiation plus efficient operations often create more unique features than simply throwing capital at the problem.

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GasWaster

· 22h ago

You're right, but to be honest, it's much easier to talk about differentiation for small teams than to actually do it. With such serious technological homogenization and limited marketing budgets, what can we rely on to stand out? Relying on efficient operations to create a unique feature? Sounds like a pep talk for those without money. Capital indeed changes the game, but don't underestimate yourself either. There are still opportunities if you find the right track. How to find a differentiation route? That's the most difficult question, everyone. Being small and refined sounds good, but in reality, many small projects end up marginalized. I favor projects that truly achieve core user stickiness, rather than blindly burning money.

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SelfStaking

· 22h ago

You're right, capital is indeed a crushing force. But we still need to break this curse; small and beautiful projects do have a way out. Instead of wasting money on chaotic competition, it's better to think about how to do thorough and deep work in niche areas—that's the way to survive. Capital players spend money quickly, but we can last longer—that's our advantage. Watching big companies burn through cash every day, the ones most likely to be eliminated are the ones following the trend. Differentiation is easy to say but hard to do; the key is really finding that unique point. Small teams should take a different path; after all, we can't compete with the big ones anyway. Operations > fundraising, I believe in this formula.

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MoonWaterDroplets

· 22h ago

Well said, pouring $2 billion can make anyone stand out, but the key is how to sustain it Core competitiveness is really about this, differentiation is the moat for small teams Everyone is racing model iterations, but operations and user stickiness are the real trump cards I've seen many projects that make money without burning cash, it all depends on whether the team is willing to put in the effort The path of being small and refined is indeed attractive, much more stable than head-on confrontation We can't afford to play the capital game, but projects that can't afford it often don't last long Rough words but true principles, finding a unique niche is enough

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MeaninglessApe

· 22h ago

Basically, everything is still decided by capital; technology is actually secondary. Doing well is not as good as investing well—that's the reality. Small teams focusing on differentiation sound good, but the ones that truly survive are those with money. There's no escaping the fate of burning cash. Talking about differentiation is easy, but whether the market accepts your differentiation is the real issue. The scale of capital is a completely different game with its own rules. The ideal of being small and refined is very appealing, but market reality is quite harsh. Instead of thinking about overtaking on the bend, it's better to cling to a big supporter.

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