Why email startups fail

It seems Forward Email has come to the exact same conclusion I did in a blog post awhile back: https://marcoapp.io/blog/marco-an-introduction

I agree that "reinventing" email, or building a business based on "AI features" are both terrible ideas.

We began building Marco not to do either of these things, but simply because _there wasn't_ any actual cross-platform IMAP client.

Apple Mail exists (but is terrible) if you only have Apple devices. Lots of other options like Superhuman and Shortwave exist, but only support Gmail+Outlook.

All we're doing is building the app that should have existed 10 years ago: a cross-platform, offline-first "Thunderbird". Except far more lightweight and modern. And yes, we've built it from the ground up. And no, it's not Electron.

https://marcoapp.io

> And no, it's not Electron.

> it became clear that they are developing a single web application, and then wrapping it with CapacitorJs to run on native platforms.

So what's the difference? When complaining, Electron is a generic term for instantiating a whole -ing browser to display a RecyclerView (in Android terms). Not necessarily a complaint about Electron in particular.

> offline-first

Humm. Does that mean you plan to interpose your own server between the app and imap? I sure hope not.

If you mean you keep a local copy of the emails, that's about how any decent email app works. Even Apple mail can do it for gmail over imap :)

I may actually be a potential customer, I'm just pessimistic. Not a fan of "join the waitlist" marketing either.

By the way, how much is a latte where you live?

I think you're conflating Electron apps with hybrid apps. Electron literally bundles Chrome and NodeJs, resulting in apps that are 300mb+. The Marco macOS app is 3mb.

Yes, we have a server runtime between the client app and the upstream IMAP provider. As does Superhuman, Missive, and any other product that actually provides push notifications. For users that see this as a non-starter, we enthusiastically recommend local-only clients – Thunderbird, Talanoa, etc.

The waitlist is not marketing. We are in alpha right now and are genuinely not ready for GA. As soon as we are, the waitlist will disappear.

No, I do not live in the bay area, or even the US.

You may consider toning down the negativity in the future.

> Yes, we have a server runtime between the client app and the upstream IMAP provider.

I cannot see that not being a non-starter for anyone that actually understands it.