Building in Public: How Transparency Fuels Trust and Growth

In partnership with

Once upon a time, startups operated in stealth. Founders hid their roadmaps, downplayed failures, and revealed success only when it looked perfect.

But today, a new kind of founder is rewriting the playbook — one who shares every milestone, mistake, and experiment as it happens.

This is the “Building in Public” movement — a philosophy that values transparency, community, and authenticity over secrecy and polish.

You’ll see it in open startup dashboards, behind-the-scenes threads, and real-time pivots shared on X or LinkedIn. It’s not just a social media trend — it’s a cultural shift in how trust, growth, and accountability are built in the modern startup world.

Why Transparency Works

Transparency humanizes your startup. When you share your journey — not just your wins — people root for you. They feel invested in your story.

Here’s why that matters:

1. It builds emotional investment.
   People support what they help build. When your audience sees your process, they don’t just buy your product — they believe in your mission.

2. It turns customers into advocates.
   By being open about challenges, you create a sense of belonging. Users feel like insiders, not outsiders.

3. It attracts talent and investors.
   Transparency signals confidence and culture. When people see that you share progress honestly, they trust that your numbers and leadership are real.

4. It compounds credibility over time.
   Unlike paid ads or growth hacks, transparency earns long-term trust that money can’t buy.

In short, building in public transforms audiences into allies.

The Core Principles of Building in Public

Before diving into tools or platforms, understand the core philosophy that makes this approach work:

When applied consistently, these principles turn your startup journey into a story people follow — not just a product they buy.

How to Build in Public (Without Oversharing)

It’s easy to confuse transparency with total exposure. The key is being strategically open — showing what creates trust and engagement while protecting what must remain private.

Here’s how to find that balance:

1. Share numbers, but with narrative.
   Posting revenue screenshots is common, but context matters more. Explain how you achieved growth or what you learned from a dip.

2. Show the process, not just results.
   Document feature design, early feedback, or iterations. Let people peek behind the curtain.

3. Be consistent.
   Whether you post weekly updates, monthly reflections, or live-building streams, rhythm builds reliability.

4. Protect sensitive data.
   Transparency shouldn’t compromise customer data, financial privacy, or internal IP. Be open — not reckless.

5. Engage, don’t broadcast.
   Building in public is a two-way street. Reply to feedback, celebrate others, and share learnings collaboratively.

The Ripple Effects of Openness

Startups that build in public often notice something unexpected: transparency doesn’t just drive marketing — it shapes company culture.

Teams become more accountable. Communication improves.
Every milestone feels collective.

Take examples like Buffer, Plausible, or ConvertKit — all grew communities through openness. Their founders shared salaries, revenue, and even decision frameworks publicly. The result? Loyal audiences and strong internal trust.

For early-stage founders, this transparency can double as free market validation. Every tweet or post becomes a micro-feedback loop that refines your product faster than stealth testing ever could.

The Stoic Lens: Embracing Vulnerability

From a Startup Stoic perspective, building in public isn’t about showing off — it’s about embracing vulnerability as strength.

Marcus Aurelius wrote, “If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.”
Transparency in startups embodies that principle.

It forces founders to be brutally honest — with the world and with themselves.

When you strip away the façade of perfection, what remains is authenticity. And authenticity is magnetic.

Closing Thoughts: From Audience to Allies

The founders who build in public don’t just sell products — they invite participation.

They turn curiosity into conversation. Followers into testers. Early adopters into evangelists.

In a landscape flooded with noise, truth cuts through.

So the next time you’re tempted to wait for perfection before posting an update, remember — your audience doesn’t want flawless. They want real.

Show them the messy middle. Share the lessons. Celebrate the small wins.

Because in the long run, the startups that grow fastest are not the ones who hide the process — but the ones who have the courage to share it.

Until next newsletter,

— Team Startup Stoic