Vinny McCauley’s Post

From Zero to $29K/Month: The Journey of Building a Must-Have Shopify WhatsApp Plugin In the bustling world of Shopify, amidst a sea of 3,000+ apps, two caffeinated brains, Preetam Nath and Sankalp Jonna, decided that the world desperately needed another one. Because, what’s better than sifting through thousands of apps? Launching your own. Enter SuperLemon, a brainchild born not from the halls of academia but within the caffeine-infused walls of a Chai Point café in Bengaluru. Their Eureka? Let’s make WhatsApp and Shopify talk. Because if there’s anything shop owners need, it’s another chat option. Fast forward through weeks of what they affectionately termed "hellish uncertainty" with Shopify's gates, and voila, SuperLemon sprang to life, swiftly moving from a fledgling idea to raking in $29,000 MRR and charming 20,000 merchants across 50+ countries. Their journey, laden with lessons from past ventures and a relentless focus on customer service (because let’s face it, who doesn't rate their customers’ happiness on a scale of 1-11?), stands as a testament to the art of turning the lemonade dream into a slightly tangy reality. Armed with a spreadsheet of potential ideas and an uncanny ability to focus on solving real, tangible merchant woes, the duo didn’t just create a business, they created a beacon for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere - demonstrating, with a dash of luck and a sprinkle of customer obsession, it's indeed possible to carve out your own slice of the digital bazaar. Now, who said you need a billion-dollar idea when you’ve got WhatsApp, Shopify, and a dream? ↓ Interested in solo-entrepreneurship? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gDAFaGnB

Wondering what’s new for developers on Shopify? Well, there's definitely some stuff worth checking out!😎 First off, let's talk about the update on unpublished apps. In May 2022, Shopify announced that unpublished apps would no longer be supported🧩 Now, all apps need to pass a review process to make sure they meet merchant trust and security standards. This covers everything from branding to functionality. If you've got unpublished apps, you'll need to either make them public and meet Shopify App Store requirements or retire them☝️ Next up, we've got network access for Shopify Functions available in early access. This is a game-changer, especially for big-time Shopify merchants. It lets them integrate Shopify with their own commerce ecosystem and fetch info from external services. Right now, it's available for functions: ✅ Cart and Checkout Validation ✅ Local Pickup Delivery Option Generator ✅ Pickup Point Delivery Option Generator Now, let’s talk about Pickup Points, a new feature in early access for Shopify Plus shops. This lets developers build custom apps offering pickup points during checkout, like post offices or parcel lockers. You can integrate third-party pickup locations, tweak delivery info based on business needs, and even set location-based pricing🚚 Pretty nifty, right? But remember, it's only for Shopify Plus merchants. And check this out – new GraphQL product APIs are here! As of April 2024, these APIs support up to 2000 variants per product, which is a big jump from the previous limit of 100. It's about time! Last but not least, we've got preloaded Cart and Checkout Validation configuration in Admin UI extensions🛒 This means you can access validation records and metafields without needing a fetch call. Just keep in mind that the Validation API will soon require a new 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱_𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 access scope, so make sure to update your extension. And that wraps it up for now! But hey, knowing Shopify, there's bound to be more cool updates coming our way soon. Keep an eye out!😋 #ecommerce #business #ecommercebusiness #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #shopify

One of the most critical factors in the success of any business is achieving product-market fit. I saw this firsthand as the co-founder of Magento, and it’s something Sean Rad spoke about during his journey with Tinder (link in the comments). Both companies thrived by truly understanding their audiences and building products that resonated with them. When we built Magento, our focus was clear: empower merchants to create highly customized e-commerce experiences. We didn’t just guess what the market wanted—we listened. We spoke and worked with thousands of businesses, from small shops to large enterprises, and paid close attention to their needs. The result? A platform that grew into a cornerstone for e-commerce worldwide. Sean Rad shared a similar experience with Tinder. When they started, dating apps weren’t new, but Tinder understood the shift happening in how people wanted to connect. By honing in on their target audience—millennials, the mobile-first generation—they created a product that felt natural, easy, and accessible. That deep understanding of user behavior led Tinder to exponential growth. Here’s the key takeaway for early-stage founders: product-market fit isn’t about having a product you think will work; it’s about having a product your customers can’t live without. It’s the moment when your product solves a pain point so effectively that the market pulls it from you, rather than you having to push it out. As an investor, I always look for startups that have done the work to deeply understand their audience’s pain points and have built products that solve real problems. The best founders are those who continuously engage with their market, iterate based on feedback, and adapt quickly to meet evolving needs. When a startup hits this sweet spot, it’s not just about selling a product anymore—it’s about scaling something that the market is hungry for. That’s where real growth happens.

If you're considering Shopify for your online store, you might be wondering which Shopify plan is best for you and most cost-effective. ⠀ Each Shopify plan is different in price and offers different features, making it challenging to decide what's essential and what's not. Beyond the subscription cost, you should take into account other expenses, such as Shopify apps and varying transaction fees.  ⠀ So, how do you choose the best Shopify plan for your business?  Our guide at https://lnkd.in/dMQpV8mc  breaks down Shopify's 5 pricing plans, from key features and transaction fees to additional expenses and long-term commitments, to help you make your choice easily.  ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #scrumlaunch #software #softwarecompany #webdevelopment #appdevelopment  #mobileapps #mobiledevelopment#startupbusiness #startupsupport #ai #software #Shopify #ecommerce #ShopifyPlans #DigitalCommerce #SmallBusiness #Startup #OnlineStore #Shopifyapps

These entrepreneurs faced risk in their platform-dependent business. So they opted to sell their Shopify app: Canadian entrepreneurs Derek Morin and Bogdan Radu knew there was a risk to building apps for someone else’s platform. In 2016, they launched Tabarnapp to enable automatic discounting in Shopify. Their metrics by 2022: • Over $1 million in annual revenue • 80% net margin • 60,000 downloads of their flagship app, Automatic Discount • 2,500 recurring clients paying $10 to $1,000 monthly But they recognized the risk. “We realized that at any point, because we were platform-dependent, we could go bankrupt or we could be disrupted by Shopify,” Morin said. Changes to the platform — plus an increased competitive landscape — sparked the idea to sell the company. They sold Tabarnapp to software company Staytuned in November 2022 in a mid-7 figure deal. All the details in our story... https://lnkd.in/eUGEB9K5

VCs have lost the plot. Had a chat with one recently - loved our product, model, team, and traction but held back investment because our app is ONLY on #Shopify. LOL, loser. 🤦♂️ Shopify has 2.1 million daily active users on average. 4.8 million online stores use Shopify. Shopify accounts for $444+ billion in global economic activities. I think there is some space to scale a bit... #vc #investment #startup

Shopify enables anyone to create a store and sell products online in just an hour. You can start with a free trial to explore features, then continue for just $1 in the first month. But the real question is, which Shopify plan is right for you, and which one offers the best value?⠀ ⠀ There are no completely free plans on Shopify Plans. Each plan provides different features and comes for a subscription fee. Except for the subscription fee, you need to consider additional costs, such as those for Shopify apps, and different transaction rates applicable for different plans and payment methods.  ⠀ In our blog available at https://lnkd.in/dMQpV8mc , we break down 5 Shopify plans, features they offer and discuss hidden costs you have to consider. From the starter plan to the enterprise-level solutions, we’ll provide a clear roadmap to help you choose the best plan for your business needs⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #scrumlaunch #software #softwarecompany #webdevelopment #appdevelopment  #mobileapps #mobiledevelopment#startupbusiness #startupsupport #ai #software #Shopify #ecommerce #ShopifyPlans #DigitalCommerce #SmallBusiness #Startup #OnlineStore #Shopifyapps

🔨 One more stint at a side project, this time in the 🛒Shopify space. ⭐ Shopify has had an impressive year, with about 25% year-over-year growth in the last quarter. This surge means more merchants and shoppers are rushing to the platform. ⭐ For independent app developers, this opens up exciting opportunities, as the demand for innovative and useful apps to enhance store operations and aesthetics is on the rise. ⭐ This growth not only boosts potential earnings for entrepreneurs but also challenges developers to stay ahead with creative solutions and challenge incumbents in the space. Let's see if we'll be able to stir up the nest a little 🐝 🍯 #ShopifyGrowth #EcommerceInnovation #AppDevelopment #TechOpportunities #FutureOfCommerce

🚀 Exciting News for Shopify Users! 🚀 🎉 We've got some great news for you about the SwipeUp application pricing on Shopify! 🎉 📉 We're really excited to announce that the SwipeUp app has revamped its pricing policy, making it even more accessible for entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes to leverage its powerful features. We're so excited to announce that with the new pricing plans, you can now enjoy the benefits of SwipeUp at a reduced cost, without compromising on functionality or quality. 💡 What does this mean for you? ✅ Lower Costs: Say goodbye to hefty subscription fees! The new pricing structure ensures that you get maximum value for your investment without breaking the bank. ✅ Enhanced Flexibility: We've got you covered, no matter where you are in your business journey. Whether you're just starting out or scaling your business, there's a plan tailored to your needs. Choose the option that aligns perfectly with your goals and budget, and let's get started! ✅ Seamless Integration: Integrate SwipeUp seamlessly into your Shopify store and elevate your marketing efforts with ease. 🌟 Are you ready to take your Shopify store to the next level? Now is the perfect time to unlock the full potential of SwipeUp and transform the way you connect with your customers 👉🏻 https://swipeup.app/ #Shopify #SwipeUp #Ecommerce #DigitalMarketing #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #BusinessGrowth

Day 2: Tackling E-Commerce Challenges I'm excited to share today's progress on building my new e-commerce store! Issue #1: Theme Update 🎨 I struggled to update the default theme but discovered I needed to upgrade my Shopify plan. After upgrading, the update went smoothly. Policy and Shipping Updates 📄🚚 I also updated our policy page, shipping rates, and delivery plans to ensure everything is clear and accurate for our future customers. Issue #2: Cash on Delivery App 💳 I faced issues installing the Cash on Delivery app. I'm currently working with Shopify support to resolve it. Every day brings new challenges and learning experiences. Thanks for your continued support! ❤️ #Ecommerce #StartupJourney #Entrepreneurship #Learning #Challenges #NewBeginnings