10 years ago, I built a chatbot called Myra that could handle restaurant recommendations, grocery orders, and even Uber bookings—all through WhatsApp. Excited by its potential, I decided to turn it into a company. Over the next five years, I went on an incredible journey, learning hard lessons about technology, business, and myself.
I hope sharing these 3 mistakes I made can help founders avoid some major pitfalls.
Focusing on the tech instead of the problem
I was so excited about what Myra could do that I didn’t stop to think about whether it solved a real customer problem. We built features that were cool but not valuable enough for anyone to pay for.
I learned that technology is a tool, not the destination. Start with the customer problem and let the tech follow — it’s the only way to build something people truly need.
Underestimating the importance of business development
I spent too much time obsessing over the product and not enough on how to sell it. I assumed that if we built something great, customers would naturally show up.
But the reality is, building the product is only half the battle. Understanding your market, creating a go-to-market strategy, and building relationships are just as critical — if not more so — than the tech itself.
Sticking too closely to the original vision
When we created the machine learning systems as part of Myra’s backend, I didn’t explore its potential as a standalone product. I was too attached to the idea of a chatbot assistant, even though the market wasn’t ready for it.
By failing to adapt to what customers actually wanted, I missed opportunities that could have led to better outcomes. This taught me to stay flexible and let the market guide the direction, rather than holding too tightly to a single vision.
Ultimately, success isn’t only about great technology — it’s about solving real problems, staying close to your market, and being flexible enough to pivot when needed.
What lessons have you learned in your journey?
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If you have any questions or thoughts, don't hesitate to reach out. You can find me as @viksit on Twitter.