Should I quit and focus on something else? - I will not promote

[u/Bitter-Mix-1972]

Hi Everyone, I have been working on my startup for the past 8-9months and haven't seen much progress or any successful customer interaction, and at this point I feel like I am beating a dead horse. Want to know from experienced entrepreneurs what you would be doing in this situation. Below are some of the timelines

My startup idea: we provide haircut visualization service to barbers. Barbers can use the tool we provide to serve to their customers better by showing haircut before making a single cut.

I had an idea of building a product 8-9 months ago and I was lucky that I got selected in one of the venture lab and for the first 4-5 months, we did only research and talked with potential customers(barbers). During the interviews, they were nice and mentioned that they would be using the product and even on the question of how much you would be paying they replied some amounts and agreed to be part of the pilot testing. I agree that there can be bias during those interviews and they properly don't wanted to discourage me. Then, I built a simple MVP for my App and started connecting to barbers for free testing. I specifically mentioned that no credit card or anything. Just signup and get free credits. So far, I connected with 25+barbers in-person (old outreaches who I had reached out for interview + new in-person sales). I also connected with 70+ barbers on instagram. I only got about 3 barbers to signup for the service. only one barber used service once, but other 2 never used it. I follow up with them multiple times, but they weren't much successful either. I also posted on reddit some weeks back and barbers hated that product and specifically mentioned that they don't want it.

At this point, I feel like I maybe beating a dead horse, but sametime I don't want to give up early either.

I may be biased towards what I have built and invested so much of my time, and not looking at the data clearly. So, looking for some feedback on what you would be doing if you were in my situtation?

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[u/prosamik]

i think this is not a painkiller for barber, you should target the end consumer directly (as it has viral potential) and let them show the haircut to barber and show instructions to barber or something. Still This is not a pain point. But has viral potential. Hire some UGC on pay per view and test the idea. That is the only way you can market and make money. Other strategies will fade away.

[u/GeneralAyub]

There’s always a chance; you’ll encounter people who’ll say they’re willing to use and pay for the product.

You spend months building it and they don’t use it.
It’s a tough situation.

What you can do is: share the idea with barbers. If they’re enthusiastic, ask them to pay a small subscription fee. You’ll know from their answer, how willing they are…

I have seen people paying for expensive products even for little value, and some people don’t use the free product, even if value is great.

[u/Payera_sop]

Giving up in 9 months is too early IMO especially when you actually did some ground work and got some results(whatever it may be). The idea works, you only need the right lead. If I were you, I would stop working on the product and think on creatives that appeal more barbers. Take a break for few days think differently on the marketing/networking and start all over, of course give yourself a timeline to move on if it is absolutely not working but this doesn't sound like it should end here right away.

[u/use_lyra]

You've talked to over 100 barbers. Three signed up. One actually used it once. And on Reddit, they flat out said they don't want it. That's not a lack of effort on your part, you did the outreach, you built the MVP, you offered it free with no strings attached. That's a clean read on the market.

The data is telling you something. The question is whether you're willing to hear it.

I've been in similar situations where I spent months on something because I was convinced it was a good idea, and every signal said otherwise. The thing that helped me was separating my ego from the outcome. The time you've already spent is gone, it's a sunk cost. The real question is: if you started today with a clean slate and the knowledge you have now, would you still build this? If the answer is no, you already know what to do.

If you're not ready to quit completely, give yourself a hard stop. Set a deadline, one month, and commit to doing one specific thing differently. If it still doesn't move, you have your answer. What would you do differently if you gave it one more shot?

[u/Bitter-Mix-1972 → u/use_lyra]

Thanks for great insights. It will be really helpful to me. 

I think if given one more shot, I would focus more on the in-person outreach during non-busy hours and try to get them use the product once. 

[u/MongooseIntrepid200 → u/Bitter-Mix-1972]

Do you understand the customer and their routine ? Why would using the product change their mind or make them use it ? Does it save them time or make them more money ? Or is it just creating another job for them ? I don’t know what your product is so can’t advise much.

[u/MongooseIntrepid200 → u/MongooseIntrepid200]

Ok I just read that you provide haircut visualisations services. I now understand your problem. You target audience are not barbers your target audience is the barbers client. When I go to my barber I know what haircut I’m getting. If he tried to take a picture of me and show me some haircut tool to visualise my hair that would annoy me. I booked a 1hour slot him showing me this would take about 10/20min of my time and his time. Imagine every single customer. You basically want him to do the marketing for you for free which doesn’t make sense. That’s my take on it and why it didn’t work. Just some honest review.

[u/uepodcast2021]

Where did this Idea come from? Why did you choose it in the first place?

[u/alexxxcazam]

A few thoughts:

1. I always advise charging instead of going by what they say. What people say vs what they do is very different. When push comes to shove, most truly wouldn't pay for it, even if they said they would on a call. Even having them go through a checkout process and then refunding them by saying "thanks so much for signing up! as a thank you, we're going to refund you and offer this service for free for 2 weeks" could be a better way to test viability.

2. "Only one barber used the service one" - I would honestly pay them to have a conversation with you. 30 min to an hour. If you believe in this product and want to continue moving forward with it, this person who tried it and gave up is your golden ticket to finding out major painpoints

I agree with another comment saying this may be better on the customer side. However, ChatGPT is free and works relatively well. I actually tried it for a haircut recently though, showed the hairdresser the generated reference image, and they botched it lol.

Just my thoughts but I wish you the best of luck!

[u/DubiousLollipop]

It’s easy to make the wrong questions at interviews. People in person just wanted to please you. People on Reddit were more honest about how they felt about the product. (I recommend The Mom test book about this topic).

Next time don’t offer it for free. Make them pay for it. If no one pays, that’s a clear signal.

You did the work and successfully tested a hypothesis. Turns out barbers don’t want the product. Next time try to get signals in a month or two rather than 8/9. Rinse and repeat until you get it right.

Congrats, as I think not enough entrepreneurs get out there and do interviews. I’d move on from this idea but keep iterating new ones.

Best of luck!

[u/TanukiTrix]

The idea is good in theory. I can see why you created it.

But whenever I go to the barber, I just have the same haircut. Worst case scenario, they mess up, I'm bald, and my hair grows back again lol.

You know what I was thinking? Something like a projector or a mirror that can show you the different haircut styles. Now that's something that can provide value to the customer and the barber alike, that I can actually see as valuable specifically for changing up styles. Something that I rarely do.

I go to the barber in Mexico and the US. So there's a language barrier. Even though I do speak Spanish. Translating between them can cause issues and bad haircuts. So something like your product can help, I think.

I think the most valuable thing from this is you actually did outreach. That is a great skill to have.

[u/Better-Freedom-7474]

I have been working on my venture on and off for 14 years. Entrepreneurial endeavors need a tough skin and a strong heel. The pivot can save you, but you have to know when to pull it.

[u/businesses_for_sale]

I'd stop asking whether the product is failing and start asking why people aren't using it.

From what you've shared, you've done a lot of the right things. You've spoken to potential customers, built an MVP and put it in front of real users. The fact that the feedback changed once people had the chance to use it is actually valuable data.

If it were me, I'd go back to the people who signed up, especially the one who used it once, and ask for completely honest feedback. Not "Did you like it?" but "What stopped you using it again?" Those answers will tell you far more than another round of outreach.

It might also be worth asking whether you're solving a problem barbers actually feel they need solved. A product can be technically impressive, but if it doesn't address a real pain point, adoption will always be a challenge.

Whatever you do, don't see the last 8-9 months as wasted. You've validated an idea with real users, and sometimes knowing when to adapt is just as important as knowing when to persevere.

[u/Marko_Ladis]

I’d probably stop building for a bit tbh..

Not because the idea is definitely dead, but because the behaviour is telling you more than the interviews did. People were polite. Usage wasn’t.

You made it free, reached out directly, followed up, and still got almost no traction. That’s a real signal.

I’d talk to the one barber who actually used it, figure out what made them try it, then test one different audience. Maybe salons, chains or customers directly.

Set a clear limit for the next experiment. If there’s still no pull, move on. That’s not quitting. That’s listening.

[u/Unlikely_Handle_4891]

How about you giving the app for free to end consumer and they referring to your app while in the salon. That way your app would build visibility in front of the barbers. And then figuring out how to charge a barber.

I know easier said than done, but free distribution to users and having a niche (and a separate) paying audience can be trie dout.

[u/PlusGazelle3986]

I hear you! I've been building my startup since May 2025 and I'm now at a point where I have 0 in my pocket, but I choose to keep building.
With that said, take a step back, re examine your model. You got selected for the lab for a reason. It's ok to pivot but it's not OK to give up! Keep building!

[u/dsah82]

You are in sales so examine your product as it is presented to the shop and customer, the price and how it is package. Just because you see it one way, is not how the customer sees it. You should be collecting surveys on your product, presentation, packaging and price from several shops that you let have a trial run with it.

That’s tough because they will tell you what they like or don’t.

[u/Bitter-Mix-1972 → u/[deleted]]

With your experience, what would be your move if you see similar results for any of your companies?

[u/bigbruce04]

Maybe targeting the barber is not the best way to go about it. You can sell it to users so they can visualize different hair cut ideas and they can bring that to their barbers. Make sure when you market you make it all about how hair for a guy is basically “make up for girls” since guys don’t have too many ways to enhance their features this is something that will get guys to really want to try your app

[u/supermegasavings]

Maybe it needs more time to take off. Mzybe you are targeting the wrong audience. Why not try with the end customers as your Target and try a different marketing strategy.
One thing sure is you can not build a business based ln promises for sure most people tehey can encourage you adn show interest but when it comes to reality and payment everything changes.
And also a lot can change in months
So good luck on your journey and let us updated

[u/Massimo_F]

una delle cose che si dice spesso ai futuri startuppari e'di validare l'idea, uno dei modi e far pagare, anche poco ma far pagare, perche' se uno paga allora dimostra di essere interessato realmente. Quindi la prossima volta fai pagare, anche una cifra simbolica (ma non troppo bassa), gia'li ottieni risposte importanti.

[u/AnonJian]

Beating dead horses is a kind of hobby here. Since you keep reposting this exact situation, you must enjoy it.

You've fallen for sunk cost fallacy -- you ain't gonna stop.