From Vision to Reality: The Journey in Building Photopea, the Ultimate Free Online Photo Editor.
Company profile
Company business details
Motivation to build the product
The founder, Ivan Kutskir, was motivated to create Photopea to provide a powerful and accessible alternative to expensive graphic design software. The idea was sparked by the need for a tool that could handle various file formats and be used directly in a web browser without installation.Problem that their product solves
Photopea solves the problem of needing expensive software for graphic design by providing a free, web-based photo editor. The end users include casual users and professionals who require a versatile tool for image editing without the high costs associated with traditional software. This is important for users who need quick and efficient editing solutions without the burden of software fees.Their unfair advantage
Photopea's unfair advantage lies in its ability to run entirely in a web browser, allowing users to edit files in various formats without the need for installation or high system requirements, making it accessible to a wider audience.Strategies
Idea Validation Stage
Pre-Selling for Validation
Although not directly mentioned in Ivan's journey, the concept of pre-selling as a validation strategy is highlighted in Failory's offerings. They provide a course on how to validate startup ideas through pre-selling, which includes a consultancy call. This method allows entrepreneurs to gauge interest and secure funding before fully developing their products.
Pre-Launch (Product Development & MVP)
Initial Idea Development
Yvonne started Photopea with a simple idea to create a website that could open Photoshop files (PSD files) in a browser. This was during his studies in computer science, where he spent his free time developing small web-based projects. The original concept was to allow users to drag and drop PSD files to view their contents without needing Photoshop, which was the only tool capable of opening such files at the time.
Initial Promotion on Online Platforms
In the early days of developing Photopea, Ivan Kier actively promoted his web-based photo editor across various online platforms, including Reddit and Hacker News. Despite facing challenges with self-promotion flags on about 90% of his posts, he persisted in sharing his project to build awareness. This consistent effort, although labor-intensive, gradually helped him gain his first few hundred users.
Launch Stage
Gradual Feature Expansion
After launching the initial version of Photopea, Yvonne dedicated about five hours a week to improve the tool. He began by adding features incrementally, starting with the ability to open PSD files and gradually evolving it into a full-fledged photo editor. This approach allowed him to respond to user feedback and enhance the tool based on what users found useful.
User-Centric Feature Development
After launching Photopea, Ivan focused intensely on solving user problems by responding to their feedback. Each new feature added to the application was a direct response to user needs, ensuring that the product evolved in a way that was genuinely useful. This approach exemplified product-led growth, where satisfied users became natural marketers for the tool.
Learn more about Photopea
#51 Ivan Kutskir: Solo Creator of Photopea Takes on Adobe Photoshop Giant | Establishing Your Empire
He Spent 11 Years Building a FREE Photoshop Alternative (Ivan Kutskir's Story)｜Photopea, Photoshop
Developing the best free photo editor - Ivan KUCKIR - Web2day 2019
