After the initial launch, we found ourselves in a mixed situation: disappointing results from our first try—largely due to the chaotic launch—but with enough money in the bank to rethink the product and try again. We had learned a lot. We trimmed down the team to the essentials and gathered plenty of user feedback. That’s when Phase 2 kicked off. Chris and Jacopo worked day and night to overhaul everything. We pivoted from “social media in service of real life” to slow social media. The key was to prioritize quality content over quantity—less time spent online, but with better results.

The solution? Scarcity. Users could post highlights from their lives only once every 10 days, and the rest of the time, they’d see the best from their friends. It was like giving each person their own special day to shine.

Our acquisition strategy also changed drastically. Thanks to an idea from Charles, we used photographers to attract users. We hired a team of photographers, including the founders, to attend every event on campus and take free photos of attendees. To get their pictures, people had to download the app the next day and retrieve them from their profile. It was a simple but effective hook link

For nearly two months, we lived on campus, working non-stop until the end of the semester. Despite a few technical glitches, results started to roll in. Posto-Cal had a solid, active user base, and the platform was beautiful and fully functional. Engagement was high, and with that momentum, we immediately began preparing for a fundraising round.

We set a deadline for June to secure investor commitments, and within a week, we had already raised €150k, aiming for a total of €500k. Momentum was finally on our side.