From 2 Failed Projects to a Winning Business

Two failed startups, months of wasted effort, and zero customers…

Felix Heikka: We spent months building and marketing these products with no success.

For most, this would spell defeat…

For Felix and David Heikka, it was the spark that led to their best idea so far — Buildpad: a platform to create products people actually want.

Their Product Hunt launch earned 500 upvotes, and 475 new users in just one day. A couple days later, that number almost grew to a thousand.

Felix Heikka: The launch was crazy! In the last two hours, we went all in, messaging our followers, asking for upvotes.

What made Buildpad so popular? Addressing the very issue that killed their previous endeavors. It turns out, they weren’t alone.

Felix Heikka: People spend months building tools that no one wants. With Buildpad, we make sure that doesn’t happen.

With community-driven feedback and AI-powered development, Buildpad’s story is all about turning failure into fuel. And they’re just getting started.

Felix Heikka: We’re excited to add more ways for users to gather real-world data and use AI to make smarter decisions for their projects.

Curious how two brothers turned startup struggles into a tool that’s changing how entrepreneurs build?

Welcome to the Buildpad story — it just might change how you build your next big idea.

From Failure to Innovation

Picture this: months of coding, late nights fueled by caffeine and hope, only to launch… crickets. Now imagine this happens not once, but twice.

That was Felix and David’s reality.

Felix Heikka: We spent months building and marketing these products with no success.

But instead of giving up, they realized: What if their failures weren’t just bad luck? What if they missed something?

1. The Lightbulb Moment

It suddenly hit them: There has to be a better way to build products. One that ensures you’re creating something useful. A way that will make you succeed if you follow it properly.

Based on their own failures and the successes of others, they developed a 10-step system designed to help you build a successful product. They’d call it “Buildpad”.

2. The Missing Piece: Validation

So, what did they do differently this time? They validated the idea by going straight to the people they wanted to help — indie hackers, solopreneurs, and small teams building businesses.

They went on Reddit, offering feedback on others’ projects in exchange for thoughts on their own.

The response? Comment after comment, sharing stories of products built with passion but launched to crickets.

And that’s when it hit them: People need something like Buildpad.

3. From Concept to Code

With validation in hand, it was time to build. But how do you build a product that helps others build products? It’s like inception but for business.

David, the coding genius of the duo, jumped in. And in just one month, the MVP was ready.

But don’t let the short timeline fool you — it was a month of intense development, problem-solving, and a loooot of technical challenges.

Felix Heikka: Technical challenges are just part of the process. You have to put in the time, read tutorials, and use AI to figure things out.

And figure it out they did.

4. The Launch

Launch day arrived, and the brothers chose Product Hunt as their platform. To their surprise, Buildpad quickly gained traction.

Users loved it, and the product climbed up to 4th place. By the end of the launch, they had over 500 upvotes and signed up almost 1000 new users.

Let’s just say it was a promising start for the former “failed” entrepreneurs.

5. Building More Than Just a Product

Getting customers is one thing, but keeping them is another. The Heikka brothers knew this well, so they focused on delivering value beyond the product itself.

Their strategy: Building a community.

Through Twitter, Reddit, and their own Discord server, Felix and David aren’t just selling a tool; they’re creating a space for like-minded entrepreneurs.

“Talking to our users on X has been a great way to build relationships,” Felix explains.

And it’s more than just talk — they actively listen, gather feedback, and use it to make Buildpad better. This ongoing conversation has turned their product into something that evolves with its users’ needs.

Felix Heikka: We’re learning as much from our users as they are from us. Every conversation, every piece of feedback helps us refine Buildpad and make it more useful.

This community-focused approach may not be revolutionary, but it’s effective.

By staying connected and responsive, Felix and David are steadily building a loyal user base.

6. Lessons from the Trenches

If the Buildpad journey teaches us one thing, it’s this: validation isn’t just important — it’s everything.

Felix Heikka: Skipping idea validation is a mistake you don’t want to make, no matter how tempting it is to just start building.

7. The Blueprint for Future Innovators

So, what’s the takeaway for aspiring AI entrepreneurs? Felix is straightforward: “If I were starting from scratch today, I’d use Buildpad to build my AI project.”

But his advice goes deeper: “Know that it takes time. It took us seven months of hard work and two failed projects before we got our first paying customers. You have to stay consistent, even when you’re not seeing results. Eventually, you’ll get there.”

And there you have it — the Buildpad story. A tale of two brothers who turned failure into fortune, not just for themselves, but for countless entrepreneurs following in their footsteps.

It’s more than a success story: It’s a blueprint for innovation, persistence, and the power of learning from mistakes.

So, the next time you’re on the verge of giving up on your big idea, remember Felix and David Heikka. Remember Buildpad.

And most importantly, remember that sometimes, the best way to build your dream is by helping others build theirs.

Talking about building your dreams, make sure to read more success stories like this.