Welcome Nurturers

I’m Nev Santana, the Founder of Nurtured, and I’m thrilled you’re here!

At Nurtured, our mission is to empower businesses by providing the tools, insights, and strategies needed to convert prospects into loyal customers

Nurtured is specifically tailored for people who are either looking to start their first business or are in the middle of growing their business, and would like tactical insights to help with their go-to-market (GTM) plan.

Don’t know what GTM means? That’s exactly why you’re here. We’ll get you up to speed with everything you need to know to grow your business. From terminologies, tech tools, and strategies. We’ve got you covered.

In our GTM Guide section, you’ll gain actionable insights on how to think and operate like a GTM operator.

You’ll receive one fast, usable tactic you can apply right away in our Quick Win section.

Built Not Hired is a weekly podcast spotlighting entrepreneurs, indie hackers, solopreneurs, and creators who’ve chosen to build instead of job hunt. It unpacks the gritty reality behind launching and growing something from scratch. No safety net, without institutional backing, and often without a traditional roadmap.

Lastly, stay sharp by checking out the technology we recommend in Growth Stack.

Have questions, or just want to chat? Hit me up on LinkedIn, or feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected].

Cheers!!

TODAY’S LINEUP

• Sell It Before You Build It

• Quick Win - Social Post Template

• How I Started Nurtured With No Clients, Just A DM

• 3 Tools To Help You Get Started

GTM GUIDE

Sell It Before You Build It

A common mistake people make is waiting too long to start selling.

You focus on polishing the perfect offer. Spend weeks building a website. Write and rewrite pitch decks no one’s even asked for. All with the hope that once it’s ready, customers will line up.

Here’s the reality: you don’t need a finished product to start selling, you need a real problem worth solving.

High-leverage growth doesn’t start after launch. It starts when you start talking to people about the outcome you can deliver.

Let’s break down how to do that.

Step 1: Sell the Outcome, Not the Deliverable

People don’t buy pages, decks, or features. They buy results.

You’re not selling a website redesign. You’re selling more conversions. You’re not selling a Notion workspace. You’re selling better organization and clearer focus.

So instead of framing what you offer as what it is, frame it as what it helps with.

Try this:

That’s a clear outcome. And it’s much easier to sell in real conversations.

Step 2: Talk to People Before You Launch Anything

Growth starts with conversations, not campaigns.

You only need 5 to 10 useful interactions to start validating whether your idea or service resonates. Here’s how to get them:

1. DMs & Direct Messages – Reach out to people in your network or niche. Mention a problem you’re exploring and ask if they’d be open to giving feedback.

2. Quick Calls – Offer 15–20 minute chats to understand what tools, services, or help they’ve tried before, and what’s still broken.

3. Use a Google Doc Instead of a Website – Explain your offer in plain English. Include a headline, problem, promise, and how to get started. Share it manually.

Step 3: Prototype the Sale

Selling is the real test, not building.

You don’t need a fancy sales page or automated flow. You just need a way to clearly explain what you can do and who it’s for.

Say something like:

If someone says yes, you’re in motion. If not, you adjust your message and try again.

You’ll get more insight—and momentum—from 10 honest conversations than from 10 weeks of quiet prep work.

So don’t wait.

Pick a problem, talk to real people, and offer to help. You can build the rest after someone says yes.

QUICK WIN

Post to Validate - Use This Social Post Template

If you’re not ready to send cold DMs or book calls yet, here’s a low-pressure way to test your offer in public, without looking like you’re selling.

Use this fill-in-the-blank post format on LinkedIn, Twitter, or your newsletter:

Why this works:

• Low-friction: It doesn’t feel like a hard sell.

• Validation: You’ll see if the pain point resonates based on engagement or replies.

• Leads: It invites private conversations, which is where early sales actually happen.

BUILT NOT HIRED

Starting Too Late Almost Stopped Me From Starting at All

Video

Audio

Summary

I’ve wanted to start my own business for years. I’d start Google docs, buy domains, sketch out ideas, even purchase LLCs, but I never really launched anything.

I kept waiting.

Waiting to feel ready.

Waiting until I had a polished offer.

Waiting for the right logo, the right copy, the right website.

And while I was waiting, nothing happened.

Then I got laid off.

No income. No plan. Just a choice: either start building for myself or keep waiting for the “right time” again.

That’s when I created Nurtured.

Not as a polished brand. Not with a full deck or site, or onboarding flow.

Just as an offer I believed in, and a commitment to talk to people instead of hiding behind planning.

What changed everything wasn’t a product. It was momentum.

I stopped writing long Google Docs that no one would see.

I stopped worrying about how my pitch sounded.

I just started reaching out to people and asking: “Hey, I’m building something, can I help you with [specific problem]?”

The first client came through a LinkedIn DM.

The second one came from a referral.

No lead magnets. No funnels. No perfect pitch.

Just a decision to get started.

GROWTH STACK

3 Tools Every Early-Stage Builder Should Know

• Tally.so - The easiest free form tool to collect feedback, validate offers, or build a waitlist page without touching code.

• Fireflies.ai - Free video call recorder that auto-summarizes notes, action items, and follow-ups for your sales or validation calls.

• Figma Jam - Quick whiteboard to sketch your GTM funnel, offer ideas, or onboarding flow before spending hours building. Shareable with clients or collaborators.

FEEL STUCK?

Do you still feel stuck when it comes to getting customers? Reach out to us and speak to one of our GTM Consultants. Whether you want free guidance or a deep dive, we’re here to help.

Book A Call Now