Announcing Stack Info v2! However...?

Introducing Stack Info v2!

Almost three years since the launch of Stack Info v1, and after gathering feedback from our friends and users. We are thrilled to introduce the new version of Stack Info for you. This release is the result of several months of work (it’s so hard to work on your side project with 9-5, really hard). We are bringing you a completely refreshed platform with a brand-new design, exciting new features, and even a fresh new logo.

This new version will include the following

• A complete frontend redesign with a fresh look, improved UI, and a much better overall user experience.

• Improved company filtering experience, including the introduction of new filters, with more to come soon.

• Brand-new technology profiles that allow you to easily explore various technologies.

• A comparison feature enabling you to compare technologies based on their geographic distribution and dominance across industries.

• A smoother and improved workflow for submitting and updating company data.

• Better search engine optimization (SEO), making it easier than ever for you to find us through search engines.

With more new features to come along the way!

A Quick Look Back: The Journey of Stack Info

Looking back at the first announcement of Stack Info back in May 2022. it's amazing to see how far we've come. It started in October 2021 as my personal project to learn full-stack development, but it quickly evolved into something bigger. I realized how challenging it was to apply for internships, so I built Stack Info to help software engineers easily find companies working with their favorite tech stacks.

The very first commits of Stack Info

Remembering as well that I used to reach out directly to the companies CEOs/CTOs (All of them were extremely very friendly though) to ask them for internships, and showcasing Stack Info as well.

First screenshot of Stack Info, 22 May 2022.

Since launching, Stack Info has attracted over 150,000 users and hit an average of 20,000 Monthly Active Users (MAUs) as of February 2024. We've helped hundreds or even thousands of software engineers land jobs by connecting them with the right companies through our platform.

Even though, it’s literally a two pages platform. But, look at its impact!

I feel especially proud whenever someone shares their story about how Stack Info helped them to find new jobs that matches their skills.

One of my highest moments in life when some guy tweeted on my birthday that he prayed that I would go to heaven as Stack Info has helped him landing his first internship ever.

This project has personally impacted me in many ways. I've gotten to know new people of different ages and backgrounds through it. It amazed me to see the diverse ways people were using Stack Info, often in ways I never expected, and how it directly contributed to their personal journeys.

Thanks to Stack Info, I've met amazing people, explored various aspects of tech and business, and learned something new every single day.

My Growth Along the Way

As I will start to dump my thoughts here right now, If there's one area in life where Stack Info has helped me the most, it's definitely the connections I made. It also made me rethink a lot of things in my life. Like "Yeah, let’s try to build this," or "Let’s try to build that." Then suddenly, "Oh, we got a new idea, let’s try this too." I started looking up to real founders who built impactful products and thought, “Let’s try to be like them.”

This mindset kept changing how I viewed the project. Every now and then, I’d imagine a totally different version of Stack Info or a new product that could grow out of it.

But this way of thinking (the FOMO) really stressed me out, especially with the rise of LLMs and how everyone can build products more easily now. I constantly felt pressure to deliver a truly impactful new product that could serve millions of software engineers, while also trying to focus on improving my technical skills, studying more, keeping up with my 9–5 job, maintaining a social life, and spending time with family.

My mentor once told me that I should stop stressing about turning Stack Info into a full product, and instead focus on investing in myself during this phase of my career through studying and growing technically, and then come back to Stack Info later. I don’t regret spending the past few months rebuilding Stack Info from the ground up, but I’ve started thinking that maybe I should just focus on my own growth for now, instead of stressing about delivering a B2B SaaS product or locking in and grinding too hard.

Yeah, everyone wants to be the next Sam Altman, Paul Graham, عبد الغفور البرعي, etc. but we often forget that each one of them is actually the only version of themselves. After all, there’s only one Shehab Adel writing this article, right? Every one of them had their own story and their own circumstances.

If there’s anything I’ve learned recently, it’s that I should just focus on my own path, and that I need to stop stressing about how to force a B2B SaaS product out of Stack Info or worrying about starting my own startup at such a young age just so I can go all in, quit my 9–5, pull off a billion dollar exit, and retire at 32 (don’t ask me why exactly 32).

I can’t deny that Stack Info introduced me to a lot of people and places I never imagined I’d reach. If someone had told me back in October 2021 that I’d be where I am now, living this life and walking this path, I would’ve told them they were crazy. I’ve never been more grateful.

I’m really thankful that people actually LOVE Stack Info and NEED it, and that a simple solution to a problem I was personally facing ended up helping so many others and supporting them in their careers.

What’s Next?

At this point, I imagine that my team (Essam and Yakan) and I will keep contributing to Stack Info’s features and data whenever we have some free time. I’m not entirely sure if we’re on the right path with how we’re building Stack Info, but I’m pretty confident that something awesome will come out of it along the way.

In the end, we’re still aiming to build a strong tech community in this region. There’s huge potential here to grow and thrive in the tech space, and I truly believe we’ll be able to offer real alternatives and solutions in the future.

After all, Stack Info’s motto is still the same.

I serve the tech union.

Thanks to: Mohamed Hashem, Fady Gamil, Amr Elhewi, Amr Hafez, Youssef Sherif, and Osama Adam.

Now, let’s talk about how all of this taught me about B2B SaaS sales efficiency…(just kidding).