The product/website itself is interesting as a founder who believes heavily in implementing simulations to rigourously test complex systems. However I noticed lots of screenshots and less substance about how it actually works. If your ICP is technical, the frontend and marketing shouldn't be overdone IMO.
I need substance and clear explanations of models, methodology, concepts with some visual support. Screenshots of the product are great but a quick real or two showing different examples or scenarios may be better.
I'm also skeptical many people who are already technical and already using AI tools will now want to use YOUR tool to conduct simulation based testing instead of creating their own. The deeper and more complex the simulation, the less likely your tool can adapt to specific business models and their core logic.
This is party of the irony of AI and YC startups, LOTS of people creating this interesting pieces of software with AI when part of the huge moat that AI provides is being able to more quickly create your own software. As it evolves, the SaaS model may face serious trouble except in the most valuable (e.g. complex and/or highly scalable) solutions already available with good value.
However simulations ARE important and they can take a ton of time to develop or get right, so I would agree this could be an interesting market if people give it a chance and it's well designed to support different stacks and business logic scenarios.
OP here - I appreciate the feedback and you taking the time to look at the product/website beyond my personal blog post and learnings!
> If your ICP is technical, the frontend and marketing shouldn't be overdone IMO.
Great point. The ICP is technical, so this is certainly valid.
> I need substance and clear explanations of models, methodology, concepts with some visual support. Screenshots of the product are great but a quick real or two showing different examples or scenarios may be better.
We're working hard to get to something folks can try out more easily (hopefully one day Show HN-worthy) and better documentation to go with it. We don't have it yet unfortunately, which is why the site is what it is (for now).
>I'm also skeptical many people who are already technical and already using AI tools will now want to use YOUR tool to conduct simulation based testing instead of creating their own.
Ironically, we'd first assumed simulations would be easy to generate with AI (that's part of why we attempted to do this!) but 18+ months of R&D later and it's turned out to be something very challenging to do, never mind to replicate.
I do think AI will continue to make building SaaS easier but I think there are certain complex products, simulations included (although we'll see), that are just too difficult to build yourself in most cases.
To some extent, as I think about this, I suppose build vs. buy has somewhat always been true for SaaS and it's a matter of cost versus effort (and what else you could do with that effort). E.g. do you architect your own database solution or just use Supabase?
> However simulations ARE important and they can take a ton of time to develop or get right, so I would agree this could be an interesting market if people give it a chance and it's well designed to support different stacks and business logic scenarios.
I appreciate this, and it's certainly been our experience! We're still working to get it right, but it's something I'm quite excited about.
I need substance and clear explanations of models, methodology, concepts with some visual support. Screenshots of the product are great but a quick real or two showing different examples or scenarios may be better.
I'm also skeptical many people who are already technical and already using AI tools will now want to use YOUR tool to conduct simulation based testing instead of creating their own. The deeper and more complex the simulation, the less likely your tool can adapt to specific business models and their core logic.
This is party of the irony of AI and YC startups, LOTS of people creating this interesting pieces of software with AI when part of the huge moat that AI provides is being able to more quickly create your own software. As it evolves, the SaaS model may face serious trouble except in the most valuable (e.g. complex and/or highly scalable) solutions already available with good value.
However simulations ARE important and they can take a ton of time to develop or get right, so I would agree this could be an interesting market if people give it a chance and it's well designed to support different stacks and business logic scenarios.