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Michael Novotny

January 30, 2021


No Code Projects

Lean Side Project

The Lean Side Project will help you see why Makers ship successfully. And take action, so you can too. It’s a step by step playbook and resource for making and launching.

Visit the website

He hinted at the product in a Twitter thread in August, 2020. He shared the landing page for the project on September 8. Days later, he shared the backstory for the project.  He felt overwhelmed after creating that page. He created a Twitter thread with what he did to get clarity and focus. He also shared the approaches he was using to help him write landing page copy.

He got 117 pre-sign ups in October leading up to October 29. He launched pre-orders on November 13. After four hours, he reached 90% of his launch day goal.

After 7 days, he had hit the milestone of $2000 in pre-order sales. The weekly conversion average was 5.7%, compared to the day 1 conversion of 7.9%. Within 20 days, he hit the $3k in preorder milestone.

One of the highlights of Lean Side Project was a database of no-code products. He launched this resource in December, 2020. He shared a lot of insights about the database in a Twitter thread about how creating a mega resource can save you time and money when you make and launch with no-code.

The database was that comprehensive that it was overwhelming. He experimented with creating teardown categories to solve that issue.

Lessons learned:

  • There is a time to automate and there is a time not
  • Criticism is tough, but its exactly what boosts your confidence
  • How sending landing page copy as a Notion document can save time
  • How to get unstuck when writing landing page copy

Side Project Stack

Side Project Stack as a wiki resource and tool to recommend the best no-code tools. Tool suggestions are based on successful no-code projects

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Michael launched the first iteration of Side Project Stack in June, 2019. He started the project because he wanted to change the paradigm where makers apply startup strategies to side projects.

Side Project Stack the #1 Product Of The Day Product Hunt on August 11, 2019. The first edition of the newsletter went out in November, 2019.

Get Stackd

Get Stackd is a fully automated no-code app that recommends the best stack of no-code tools to use for that thing you want to make.

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In March, 2020, the project reached 1,000 no-code tech stacks created. He created a Twitter thread to share his insights about what makers want to build with no-code. At that time, the tool (and the associated newsletter) was marketed under the Side Project Stack brand.

He launched the second version on Product Hunt in April, 2020. This update is a completely overhauled Get Stackd app. By June, over 2000 stacks had been created. The newsletter also hit 1500 subscribers.

By October 29, he had 2000 subscribers.

He bought the GetStackd.io domain in January, 2021. That same month, the project:

  • also reached the 3,000 no-code stack milestone
  • became a partner of Codemap

Past Projects

Discipely

Disciplely was a weekly newsletter targeted at busy Christians. Each week, subscribers received a new mission to help grow their faith.

He wrote more about it at Growing your faith with Disciplely.

He announced the project in May, 2018. In late May, he tweeted his concern that the project wasn’t delivering enough value.

The website is no longer active.

Project: Village Kit

Ready Bag is compact and multi-use bag. It’s design is for first aid kit, but can be used to organize other products. Michael would also send one hygiene kit to a person in Haiti for each product bought. He partnered with Mission of Hope: Haiti.

He launched the project in June, 2018. The original website is still available.

He shared more about the behind-the-scenes process at Join Us to Make and Launch on Kickstarter

He also shared more about the process on Twitter:

  • Difficulties he faced creating the product
  • A photo of the prototype

He announced the launch on Twitter in July, 2018. Quick research had shown campaigns announcing their launch an average of 11 days before.

The Follow Up

TheFollowUp is committed to positive change by recognizing companies taking action against racial injustice – and holding them accountable. The newsletter includes updates to their database, accountability to the mission and one-on-one interviews.

Visit the website

This project was a collaboration between Michael, Kieran Ball, Edmund Amoye and Ash.

Check out their Product Hunt launch.


Twitter

Threads

He did a lot of things wrong when he launched his first startup. Yet it still led to unexpected opportunities.

Need a nudge to get started? Here’s what some talented Makers love about making


Interesting facts

  • He launched an online marketplace in 2016. It got his foot in the door for a startup that launched his tech career.
  • He is an angel in Bad Unicorn.
  • He used to be a professional golf instructor
  • His first side project turned startup addressed the issue of creating better access of farmers to people.

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