In 2021, AI and crypto were on fire. Everywhere I looked, people were talking about decentralized technology, AI-powered insights, and the future of finance.

I thought I saw an opportunity.

What if I built an AI-powered Reddit sentiment analysis tool that filtered out the noise, analyzed sentiment in real time, and provided actionable insights on crypto projects? A tool that helped traders see the truth beneath the hype?

Crypto Clamor was born.

I went all in:
✅ Hired a designer to create a cool logo and polished UI.
✅ Spent months refining and building a slick UI.
✅ Developed a real-time AI-powered sentiment analysis using BERT, thinking it would be the key differentiator.
✅ Integrated multiple data sources, believing that “more data = better product.”

I was convinced: If I built it, they'd come.

The Brutal Reality: No One Cared

After 2 years and thousands of dollars spent on design and advertising, here's what happened:

❌ No one signed up after launch.
❌ Cold outreach fell flat.
❌ Even visitors to the site didn't stick around.

The hardest realization? I built something I thought was valuable, not something people actually needed.

Where I Went Wrong

💡 Mistake #1: “If I Build It, They'll Come”

I assumed a great product was enough to attract users.
I didn't test demand before writing a single line of code.

💡 Mistake #2: “AI Will Sell Itself”

AI is exciting, but people don't pay for technology—they pay for solutions.
I focused on cool AI features instead of solving a painful, urgent problem.

💡 Mistake #3: “A Great UI = Instant Customers”

I spent months refining the interface, thinking that would drive conversions.
But beautiful UIs don't matter if the core product isn't solving a real problem.

The Hard Lesson: Build for a Real Problem, Not the Hype

🔥 The market doesn't care how long you've worked on something.
🔥 AI alone isn't a product—it's a tool.
🔥 The best way to validate an idea is to get paying customers before you build.

Had I spent even 1 month pre-selling Crypto Clamor, I would have realized:
🚫 The problem wasn't as painful as I assumed.
🚫 No one was willing to pay for AI-driven sentiment analysis.
🚫 I was building a solution in search of a problem.

How to Avoid My Mistakes (For Free)

Before you spend months (or years) building, validate your AI idea first.

✅ I put together a free AI Business Idea Validation Checklist to help you avoid these mistakes.
✅ It's the exact process I wish I had used before Crypto Clamor.

🚀 Building software with AI? Get expert insights on AI-driven development, validation, and growth by joining my free newsletter!

🔗 Join free → https://stephencollinstech.substack.com/subscribe

Don't waste years and thousands of dollars like I did. Test your idea first.

Final Thought

I failed hard. But that failure is now saving me (and hopefully you) from making the same mistakes again.

I Wasted 2 Years and Thousands on an AI Product No One Wanted—Here's What I Wish I Knew