Virtuals Teaches You How to Start Your AI Agent Business

Author: ehwangah, Virtuals Ecosystem Developer

Translation: Ismay, BlockBeats

Editor's Note: As a leading project in this AI cycle, Virtuals grew from zero to a $2B market cap—not just by riding the wave of the cycle, but through precise control over startup pacing, product refinement, and market operations. This article, written by ehwangah, a member of the Virtuals ecosystem team, explains why "launching immediately and building in public" is currently the optimal strategy. It not only addresses the most common concerns new projects face but also offers practical advice for founders seeking their rhythm in the fast-moving crypto market.

Below is the original text:

Let me be clear upfront: in crypto, your market cap is the primary measure of success. That doesn’t mean innovation, fundamental value, or product-market fit aren’t important—but when it comes to delivering outsized returns for your team, investors, and token holders, soaring market cap is what truly matters. So how do you achieve that?

Launch now and iterate publicly—this beats over-polishing or endlessly delaying your launch.

And to ease your mind, the success of your initial launch accounts for only 10%-20% of your long-term success. Don’t overcomplicate it. Here’s why, simply put:

• Hype without substance: Results in a massive pump-and-dump.
• No hype, no substance: Death at launch.
• Hype with strong fundamentals: Rocketship trajectory to success.
• Low-key launch with strong fundamentals: Steady growth, inevitable momentum.

Notice the pattern? The key lies in building solid fundamentals (covered in detail elsewhere, but in short: team, product, community). A true test of strength: Will your inner circle buy in, hold, and believe in your project first? If they don’t, no one else will either.

Why Launching Now Matters

1. Validate Your Idea Before Spending Over $100K on Development

Rather than spending three months—or more—and hundreds of thousands of dollars perfecting your product, launch early to validate your concept.

This mirrors the lean startup approach: propose a compelling idea to your target audience, validate its viability, then refine and iterate along the way. You might think this unconventional, but it’s one of the fastest and most effective ways to cultivate your first 1,000 true believers. These early supporters become catalysts for momentum—accelerating growth across network effects, resources, and price action.

The core point: validate whether your idea works *before* investing excessive time and capital—not after.

2. Leverage the Lindy Effect to Secure a Top-50 Position

Why do the same top 50 projects consistently appear across market cycles? It’s not just about quality—it’s about time and positioning, known as the Lindy Effect. Launching early helps establish deep roots within the holder community, weed out “weak hands” or skeptics, and attract loyal advocates. In this case, time is your ally.

If you wait too long, weaker projects may seize your market position. Once others capture your narrative, funding, or user mindshare, catching up becomes extremely difficult. You’ve likely seen the PvP battles on X—once investors are all-in, convincing them to switch to a “better” project is nearly impossible.

In today’s AI agent race, getting an early start isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s essential. Everyone is rushing to launch AI agents. The earlier you stake your claim in this space, the more you can grow organically with the community while others scramble to catch up.

Whether we like it or not, launching in crypto means entering an attention economy. Product-led growth is important, but usually comes later. Early attention and community formation are critical. Moreover, token issuance remains the best tool for distribution and aligning incentives, while building in public is a close second.

Launching within the Virtuals ecosystem gives you added advantages—the cultural signal of being a high-quality project attracts capital, which naturally flows toward quality.

3. Instantly Build a Day-One Community and Distribution Network

A launch generates buzz. Suddenly, users on X are writing threads about your project, summarizing “3 Reasons to Buy and Hold.” This isn’t just about potential price gains—it fuels community formation. They’ll help you iterate, run alpha tests, and even contribute development resources. From day one, you’ll have passionate advocates.

4. Get Ahead of the 2025 Wave of VC-Backed Token Generations (TGEs)

In 2025, expect a trend: many teams delayed launches based on advice, reasoning that 2024’s prolonged bear market meant poor liquidity and low risk appetite—few were willing to commit big. Then, they’ll follow a predictable playbook:

• Raise large sums from VCs;
• Build products, then launch GTM campaigns—points, quests, KOL partnerships, data farming, etc.;
• Then conduct TGE.

What’s your edge? Fair launch, decentralization ethos, organic community accumulation. Market dynamics have shifted—they now favor your approach.

But What About Focusing on Product First?

Sure, a solid product provides an advantage—but it’s not the only path to success. For early-stage projects, especially in crypto’s still-immature landscape, team pedigree matters. It builds external confidence that the team will persistently create value. The reality? If crypto valued only utility or product, “air projects” wouldn’t raise funds. I’m not endorsing air projects—I’m saying that launching early gives you a strategic advantage in community building and narrative shaping.

Besides, no product launches perfectly. Bugs, server overloads, concurrency issues—they’re inevitable. But these shouldn’t dominate focus. Through continuous iteration, the product will prove itself over time.

Building in Public

People love seeing a small, capable team build something meaningful. Narrative matters. Users don’t just buy from faceless brands—they care about founders and the story behind the project. Building in public makes your journey more relatable and human.

You don’t need to present a polished image on day one. Start early, stay authentic, and build openly.

Look at the top 20 projects in the Virtuals ecosystem—they won user affection by publicly showcasing their efforts.

Addressing Common Concerns

Worried about snipers?

Snipers exist on any chain. But within Virtuals’ ecosystem, unique community culture and robust systems improve user retention. We also have solutions and recommendations for sniper issues. (Details coming soon.)

How to design tokenomics, Agent launch structures, etc.?

We’ve observed over 100 launches and can share optimization strategies to help you reach your goals. (Coming soon.)

Is the G.A.M.E framework customizable? Do I own the full tech stack?

Absolutely yes! We’re preparing more content and building our own projects transparently. We offer open-source SDKs that integrate flexibly into your architecture. For deeper insights, connect with us on Telegram.

I don’t want to launch just another speculative AI agent—I have a real business model.

No problem—we have solutions for that too. (Coming soon.)

How can I maximize visibility while building in public?

We have resources and checklists available. Reach out on Telegram for details.

What if I already have an existing token?

We’ve got answers for that as well. (Coming soon.)

Won’t people think it’s a scam if I launch without a product?

Kickstarter campaigns launch without finished products. Landing pages collecting emails don’t have products. Even MVPs aren’t final forms—especially in fast iteration environments. Plus, your first 1,000 fans will give you invaluable feedback on your idea.

What’s Next?

Launch now. Build in public. Don’t overthink it. If you need support, let us know—we can help amplify your journey. Message me on Telegram (@ehwangah); I’ve got a toolkit ready to help you get started fast.