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Found another one https://stashu.dev with nostr signin, lightning payments and file upload limited to 50MB.
Howdy @fauxfoe, good to hear from you again! 👊
First: Phase 1 exceeded expectations, and the client is already expanding their scope into new states. That's not just "done"; that's a compounding flywheel. You've locked in $1M+ in commitments, and they're actively growing that figure. The foundation is working as intended. As for Phase 2, while the product is currently underwater, the "free-first-year" strategy is a smart wedge. You aren't forcing a new product into a cold market; you're leveraging an existing, trusted relationship. The fact that the initial sale was smaller than expected is a proof point, not a failure. Stick to the one-year commitment—don't let being "underwater" lead you to abandon the project before the retention phase can take hold.
Now, the real question you're sitting with:
Big swing vs. medium swing.
Here's how I'd frame it: the big move isn't about whether you can handle the project; it's about whether you can survive the downside if it falls through. If the contract is smaller than expected after you've already sunk costs into it, do you have six months of runway to find your next client? If yes, take the shot. If not, go for the medium-sized project and let the bigger opportunity come to you—because a client who sees you nail a medium engagement is far more likely to trust you with the big one later. You're already over-delivering and beating the competition; that reputation is your moat.
On the day jobs and burnout.
"too much fun at our day jobs to quit them but running two companies and serving on a few boards is slowly killing me."
Take that as a signal. The day jobs are funding the optionality. The question isn't "when do I quit?" It's "what's the trigger that makes the day jobs no longer need?" For most people it's: 12–18 months of revenue that covers personal burn + operating costs, consistently. If customer #2 closes at the big number, you're probably 6 months from that line. If it's the medium number, maybe 12. Either way, you quit whenever your are comfortable with the math.
And the bird-watching comment? Made me laugh lol. But I hear you, the temptation to "just lock in customer 1 and coast" is real when you're running on fumes. The antidote is to stop doing everything at once. My suggestion would be to drop a board seat. Defer a side project. Give yourself one 48-hour block a week where you're not "on." You don't need to choose choose between all your current obligations and the ones that actually move the needle. Not between between ambition and sanity!
Keep us posted. Look forward to see next update being "We signed customer #2." I'll be here. 💪
That is a fair point; the oracle problem persists. Someone must judge disputes, and judgment is simply another form of trust. However, we only intervene when requested. Escrow acts as a filter that helps both parties maintain perspective. Knowing a third party is overseeing the trade significantly increases the success rate.
Escrow makes trust smaller, distributed, and accountable. With a 2-of-3 multisig setup, no single party—buyer, seller, or mediator—can take the funds alone. You no longer have to trust one stranger completely. Instead, you trust that two of three parties will not collude and that the mediator values their reputation. The mediator is only involved during a dispute.
In usual trades, the buyer and seller sign off, and the mediator does not touch the funds. When invoked, the mediator provides a bounded decision based on evidence rather than acting as a black box. The alternative is not "trustless" trade; it is either blind trust or no trade at all. Courts and arbitration face the same oracle problem, but they are more expensive and slower. The goal is to require less trust, place it better, and maintain a paper trail. Remember, perfect is the enemy of good.
A relevant post worth mentioning in this newsletter is Another bitcoin adoption story from the ~AGORA. A great example on using lightning to onboard merchants and their customers meanwhile creating a small community around it.
You rise a good point. It depends o which tools to use. 2-o-3 multisig can be defined "custodial", in reality with 3 parties involved no one is really having custody of the funds.
There are other tools that allow the independent escrow orchestration and we intervene as mediator only if and when there's disagreement between buyer and seller.
I suggest to have a look at the different options here in the Other Open Source Escrow Tools section and let me know if you have any further question.
While I have harvested both of these ingredients before, I'm not residing in a place where it is accessible. The chaga I have ordered from a trusted supplier. I plan on foraging again soon, though.
It's incredible that you can forage chaga in your area, legend! Is it only available at specific times of the year?
Were you able to pay your trusted supplier in sats? If not, would you consider using a proxy for your next order?
🏷️ Hey, it's Spending Sunday!
What Have You Bought with Bitcoin this Week?
Bonus sats if you found a killer deal!
Share it at #1597342
🏷️ Hey, it's Spending Sunday!
What Have You Bought with Bitcoin this Week?
Bonus sats if you found a killer deal!
Share it at #1597342
Thanks for sharing this amazing story. Are you working with Mannaah?
Best luck reaching the funding goal, and keep us posted on progress!
Congrats @The_Bitcoin_Act! You have been spotlighted :)
NOW OPEN
Welcome to this week's edition of the 🤝 SN Sellers & Business Club series!
Join the conversation #1594495
NOW OPEN
Welcome to this week's edition of the 🤝 SN Sellers & Business Club series!
Join the conversation #1594495
🏷️ Hey, it's Spending Sunday!
What Have You Bought with Bitcoin this Week?
Bonus sats if you found a killer deal!
Share it at #1601773