zero to one: building a community platform from the ground up
At Chance, we faced a unique challenge: how do we connect people who are eager to make a difference with those who need it the most, all while fostering authentic, meaningful interactions? The answer became our first community-driven product, 3 minutes to make a difference.
This article takes you on a journey from the initial concept to the development of a platform built to empower our community. I’ll share the strategic steps we took to validate our vision with a no-code MVP, the challenges of scaling from idea to execution, and the lessons learned in bringing a community product to life. From early ideation to a robust launch, this is the story of how we turned a simple yet powerful idea into a reality—making a real difference in just three minutes at a time.
The Problem: Lack of Professional Connections and Access to Expertise
For individuals in economically vulnerable situations, career progress is often limited by a lack of professional networks. Studies show that having a broad network, even with "weak ties," significantly increases access to diverse job opportunities. However, these are typically the connections that economically disadvantaged individuals lack, which can hinder career growth. Recognizing this challenge, Chance aimed to address this gap by facilitating meaningful professional connections within its community.
We noticed that Chance members frequently posted requests for advice from professionals in specific fields on social media, especially within our Facebook group. A review of the last 200 posts revealed that 75% of messages were requests for help, but only 30% received any response. Our coaches corroborated this finding: members often struggled to get advice from industry experts, which was a major obstacle in their career journeys.
Chance members, however, were eager to help each other. Many expressed willingness to “give back” by answering questions about their own careers. This reciprocal support network inspired us to create a structured platform to enable and scale these interactions.
Concept Development: A Week to Design and Test a Solution
To transform this insight into a product, we launched a design sprint with a diverse team that included our VP of Product, community builders, and customer success experts who understood member needs. Initially, ideas gravitated towards a directory where members could search for and contact professionals. However, we found this approach unoriginal and complicated for users, requiring them to navigate and filter through entries.
Instead, we embraced a simpler, more proactive solution: an automatic matching system. Rather than having users search for help, we would connect them directly with members whose expertise aligned with their needs. This way, helpers could review a weekly selection of people they could support, spending only three minutes a week to make a difference—no need to coordinate availability or manage a directory.
The design sprint ended with a prototype, which we tested with seven users. Their feedback confirmed the appeal of simplicity and reinforced our focus on a low-commitment, highly impactful experience.
Testing the Concept in the Real World: A No-Code MVP
To validate our assumptions, we built a no-code MVP using Webflow and Mailchimp. Members could quickly sign up with their name and email, and each week they received a random selection of people to help. Despite the MVP's limited functionality—no tailored matches yet—the response exceeded expectations. We grew from 77 to over 7,000 testers, with a weekly open rate between 65% and 70%. Over 80% of those seeking help reported receiving valuable responses, confirming that the community was willing and able to assist each other.
The MVP’s success underscored the need for this product and gave us confidence in moving forward with a more robust, automated version to offer tailored matches based on members’ professional backgrounds.
The Vision for the Future
Today, with over 10,000 members, “3 Minutes to Make a Difference” has become a vital part of the Chance ecosystem. The product aligns seamlessly with our mission of equal opportunity, helping individuals find meaningful professional connections, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds. With around 100 help requests each week, we’re now focusing on expanding this community through organic growth and referrals. The long-term vision is to transform "3 Minutes to Make a Difference" into a cornerstone of professional support for people who need it the most.