Ask HN: Founders, what was the major sourcing channel for your first 100 users?

>Cold out reach via email.

In other words SPAM.

That's one point of view, but it works. Of course sender should research the audience properly, and provide one-click unsubscribe option right at the top.

My dictionary describes spam as "irrelevant or unsolicited messages sent over the internet, typically to a large number of users, for the purposes of advertising, phishing, spreading malware, etc.."

Unsolicited messages sent over the internet is exactly what @twosdai is doing.

That would mean all database providers are basically spam enablers!

I'm probably in the same category of old school internet vets with strong negative opinions about spam, but I think that well-targeted, high- or at least some-effort commercial outreach is OK if it's done well and isn't annoying. What turns email into spam isn't just what it is, it's how it's done.

I've hired people who cold emailed me - in the right way. I delete without reading cold emails that seem to be bulk sent. There is a difference.

...yes?