Virtuals teaches you how to start an AI Agent business

Original title: " Launch Your AI Agent Now, Build in Public Along the Way "

Author: ehwangah, Virtuals ecological development

Compiled by: Ismay, BlockBeats

Editor 's note: Virtuals, as the leading project in this round of AI cycle, has grown from scratch to a market value of 2B. Behind this is not only adapting to the cycle, but also the team's control of the pace of entrepreneurship, product polishing and market operations. This article is written by ehwangah, a member of the Virtuals ecosystem development, about why "going online immediately and building publicly" is the best strategy in the current environment. The article not only responds to the most common concerns about new projects, but also provides practical suggestions to help start a business. Investors can find their own rhythm in the rapidly developing crypto market.

The following is the original content:

Let me be clear first, in the crypto space, your market capitalization is the primary measure of success. This is not to say that technological innovation, basic value, PMF, etc. are not important, but judging from whether it can bring multiple returns to the team, investors and currency holders, whether the market value can reach the sky is the key. So what to do?

It is better to go online now and continue to iterate and improve it in the public eye than to worry too much or delay it before going online.

Also, to put your mind at ease, the success of your launch only accounts for 10%-20% of your long-term success, so don’t overcomplicate it. Why? A simple explanation is as follows:

• Over-hyped, no substance: The result is a massive pump-and-dump.

• Low-profile launch with no content: launch is death.

• Over-hype, solid content: skyrocket to success.

• Low-key launch, solid content: Steady growth will come naturally.

Do you see the common ground? The core is to build a solid core (the specific content is detailed in another article, but in short, it is the team, product, and community). The litmus test for judging whether the core is strong is: whether your close circle is willing to be the first to buy, hold and believe in your project. If they are not convinced, others will not believe it.

Why is it important to go online now?

1. Validate your idea before investing more than $100,000 in development

Instead of spending 3 months or more and hundreds of thousands of dollars polishing your product, get it online as soon as possible to validate your concept.

This is similar to the Lean Startup approach: come up with a solution that appeals to your target audience, verify its feasibility, and then iterate and improve along the way. This may sound counterintuitive to you, but it's one of the quickest and most efficient ways to build your first 1,000 loyal followers. These early supporters will become the catalyst to promote the project's potential, whether it is in terms of network, resources or price, helping to grow.

The core point is that this way, you can verify that your idea is valid, rather than verifying it after spending a lot of time and money.

2. Use the Lindy Effect to consolidate your position in the top 50

Do you know why the top 50 projects can always occupy the list in different cycles? This is not only because of quality, but also because of time accumulation and positioning, which is the so-called Lindy effect. Early launch can help you build a strong foundation in the community of currency holders, weed out the so-called "weak hands" or "non-believers", and attract loyal supporters. Here, time is your ally.

If you wait too long, a weaker project may take over your market position. Once someone else seizes your narrative, funds, or users' minds, it will be extremely difficult to counterattack. You should have seen those PvP battles on X. Once investors are full, it is difficult to convince them to switch to so-called "better projects".

Especially under the current trend of AI Agent competition, seizing the opportunity is no longer the "icing on the cake", but crucial. Nowadays, everyone is rushing to launch AI agents. The sooner they occupy a position in this ecosystem, the more they can activate and grow with the community, while others can only catch up.

Whether we want to admit it or not, being online in crypto means engaging in a “war for attention.” Product-led growth is important, but it usually happens later. Capturing attention and forming a community early on is essential. Furthermore, issuing tokens is your best tool for distribution and interest alignment, while building your project in the public eye is the next best tool.

Choosing to go online in the Virtuals ecosystem provides you with additional advantages, because the overall culture itself sends a signal of "high-quality projects" and capital will always flow to high-quality projects.

3. Instantly form first-day community and distribution network

Going online can bring popularity. In an instant, users on X start writing long articles for you, summarizing your project into "three reasons to buy/hold". That’s not just because of the potential for price increases, but because the buzz can incentivize the formation of communities. They can help you iterate on your product, conduct alpha testing, and even contribute development resources. You'll have a loyal following from day one.

4. TGE, a token supported by many VCs ahead of 2025

You may see a trend in 2025: many projects are delayed due to heeding advice, because the long bear market in 2024 has led to poor market liquidity and low risk appetite, and few people will invest big money. And then, you'll find more projects that follow predictable scripts:

• Raise significant amounts of capital from venture capital;

• Develop products and then launch GTM activities - points, tasks, KOL cooperation, data rankings, etc.;

• Then TGE.

So what are your strengths? Fair launch, decentralized spiritual creed, and naturally formed community accumulation. Market conditions have changed and are now tilting in your favor.

What about focusing on product development first?

While a solid product does bring advantages, it’s not the only success factor. For early-stage projects, especially in a market that is still in its infancy, team background is key. It can enhance external confidence that the team will continue to work hard to create value. The reality is that if the crypto industry relies entirely on utility or the product itself, those "air projects" will not attract investment. I'm not advocating for "air projects," but I'm saying that getting online early gives you a competitive advantage in community building and narrative shaping.

In addition, product launches are never perfect, and there are always bugs, server overloads, concurrency issues, etc. These should not be the focus of attention. With subsequent updates and iterations, the product will naturally prove its value for itself.

Building projects in the public eye

People like to see how a "small but strong" team creates value through hard work. The narrative itself is very important. Users are not just buying from a "faceless brand". They care more about the founder and the story behind the project. Building projects in the public eye can make your journey more engaging and human.

You don’t need to present a perfect image on day one, start early, get real, and build it among the public.

Take a look at the top 20 players in the Virtuals ecosystem who have managed to win over their users by publicly displaying their efforts.

Respond to common concerns

Worried about snipers?

No matter which chain you're on, snipers will be there. But in the Virtuals ecosystem, the unique community culture and the strength of the ecosystem can improve user retention. Additionally, we have solutions for sniping problems and can provide suggestions. (Relevant content will be released soon)

How to design the token economic model, Agent online structure, etc.?

We have witnessed more than 100 launch cases and can share some optimization experiences to help achieve goals. (Relevant content will be released soon)

Regarding the GAME framework, can it be customized? Do you have ownership of the technology stack?

The answer is yes! We are preparing more content and are building our projects in an open and transparent manner. We provide an open source SDK that can be flexibly integrated into your architecture. If you need more in-depth information, you can communicate on TG.

I don’t want to just launch a speculative AI agent project, I have a business model.

No problem, we have a solution for this situation too. (Relevant content will be released soon)

How to maximize building in the public eye?

We also have relevant resources and checklist tools for reference. Details can be communicated on TG.

What if I already have existing tokens?

We have an answer for this too. (Relevant content will be released soon)

If there is no product when it is launched, will others think it is a scam?

The Kickstarter project didn’t have a final product when it was launched, the landing page to collect email leads didn’t have a product, and even the MVP itself wasn’t in its final form, especially when iterating quickly. Additionally, your first 1,000 followers will provide the most valuable feedback on your ideas.

What’s next?

Go live now, build publicly, and don’t overthink it. If necessary, let us know and we can help you amplify your journey. Contact me on TG (@ehwangah) and I have a bunch of resources to help you get started quickly.