Product StrategyEmerging Pattern

Build every customer-requested feature to be generalizable across your entire user base

Q: How many founders have validated "build every customer-requested feature to be generalizable across your entire user base"?

1 founder has proven this pattern works. Examples include David Hsu (Retool).

When building features in response to individual customer requests, design them as general-purpose capabilities that serve many customers rather than one-off customizations. This turns every customer interaction into a product improvement for all users.

When to use

When early customers request features that could be designed as generalizable components rather than custom implementations

Don't do this

Building bespoke features for individual customers that create maintenance burden without benefiting other users

1 Founder Who Did This

Retoolby David Hsu

When DoorDash requested audit logs, Retool built it as a general feature. When first YC customer needed API integration, built overnight as a general connector

Result:DoorDash's audit log became used by 50-60% of customer base. API integration became second most popular feature across all customers

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