# How we grew Mintlify by doing things that don't scale

DevFeed: [How we grew Mintlify by doing things that don't scale](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/how-we-grew-mintlify-by-doing-things-that-don-t-scale-31101.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.mintlify.com/blog/things-that-do-not-scale>)

Author: Han Wang

Published: 2024-01-26T00:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Mintlify Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/mintlify-blog.md>)

Topics: [Documentation](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/documentation.md>), [account](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/account.md>)

Tags: [acquisition](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/acquisition.md>), [building](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/building.md>), [customer](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/customer.md>), [doing](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/doing.md>), [for-founders](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/for-founders.md>), [product](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/product.md>), [scale](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/scale.md>), [startup](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/startup.md>), [validation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/validation.md>)

## AI overview

A personal account from Mintlify's founder describes growing the company from zero to more than 1,000 customers by using labor-intensive tactics, such as manually migrating documentation and building custom documentation for cold prospects. The article argues that early-stage startups should prioritize customer acquisition and validation over perfect products.

## Source excerpt

Most people envision the process of founding a startup to play out like this: the founders brainstorm around a whiteboard, there is a lightbulb moment when a golden idea is born, users flock to the startup the day the product is launched, and then the founders ride off into the sunset to build a successful billion dollar company.