Every Gen Z and 2000s kid I know is drinking Celsius. Beyond the lifestyle branding and “healthy energy” positioning, I’ve been curious - what’s really driving this? One underrated killer move: their unscalable, boots-on-the-ground sales strategy that I’ve learnt on my way back home today. I’m pretty sure they built the business store by store, paying local shops $500 or so just to carry the product and display the logo. Like @paulg said: Do things that don’t scale. You can’t understand business—or have that “aha” moment—until you’re actually out there doing business.

Some things aren’t meant to be easy - like doing what you love or fighting for someone you love. This isn’t about skill. It’s about whether you’re willing to put your heart into it. For these two things, working hard is easier than working with heart. Don’t take the easy path.

We will get there.

One key lesson I’ve learned recently: product features shouldn’t be driven by the product team’s vision alone - they should be driven by the understanding of users. Think features users want first and product second. Ask yourself what users want to use instead of asking what features I will need on the platform first. The most valuable asset of any internet platform is its users. In reality, users work for the product, not the other way around. It’s counterintuitive, but this principle is foundational to successful internet services. Most startups are asking the wrong questions. I have realized gradually and I am still learning.

One key lesson I’ve learned recently: product features shouldn’t be driven by the product team’s vision alone - they should be driven by the understanding of users. Think features users want first and product second. The most valuable asset of any internet platform is its users. In reality, users work for the product, not the other way around. It’s counterintuitive, but this principle is foundational to successful internet services. Most startups are asking the wrong questions. I have realized gradually and I am still learning.

We had a full day of open ceremony, talks, panels, Q&A and now it’s the time for you to shine. Let’s build!

Just 1 minute in - and already 100+ people (still growing) at the opening ceremony. It’s moments like this that make everything worth it. Huge thanks to our incredible team @Chris_PondGNN, @kevnbrr, and everyone else (wish I knew all your handles). Thank you all. This journey, this hard work - it means everything.

It’s going to be a huge two weeks for Pond. Good luck to everyone!

The two-week Pond Founder Speedrun Hackathon officially kicks off today! We’ve received over 600 sign-ups in the past week, and projects you can expect to see include: 1. Audio-powered AI applications 2. AI-driven healthcare systems 3. Swarm-based smart contract security testing tools 4. AI-powered call agents for SMBs …and much more. Huge thanks to our hackathon and community partners — let’s see what unfolds over the next two weeks! Last minute sign up:

The two-week Pond Founder Speedrun Hackathon officially kicks off today! We’ve received over 600 sign-ups in the past week, and projects you can expect to see include: 1. Audio-powered AI applications 2. AI-driven healthcare systems 3. Swarm-based smart contract security testing tools 4. AI-powered call agents for SMBs …and much more. Huge thanks to our hackathon and community partners — let’s see what unfolds over the next two weeks! Last minute sign up: