January: Clocked In. Locked In. Comics Cooking.
Hi gang. The sun has returned to Oakland and we are fully turbo-charged. First big news: right before the holidays, we received our first VC check. No shock there. It was a confirmation of the methodology. Still, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t extremely stoked to see that first check hit.
TL;DR
First VC check secured and fundraising momentum is carrying into January.
Design team kept cooking through the holidays, shifting focus from storefront to reader experience.
Engineering conversations are underway as we prep for the next build phase.
Budget deep dives sharpened the roadmap for the year ahead.
Since then it’s been a steady run of calls, follow-ups, and focused conversations, with several shaping up well as we move into the new year. The end-of-year slowdown was happening in other timelines. OUr end of the multiverse stayed in build mode. Fewer distractions meant more shipping. Think Rocky in the Russian wilderness. We used that stretch to move the app forward, tighten the system, and turn concepts into working product.
Product and Design 💫
We’ve shifted focus from the storefront to the **reader experience** for now, digging into how make the phone experience lovely and addictive. Navigation, pacing, flow, delight. The system is starting to click in that very satisfying “oh yeah, this works” way. Momentum here is real and
Creative Development System 🚀
I’m especially excited about our next-gen creative development system. The comics production model hasn’t meaningfully changed since the late 90s. What we’re building removes friction and cuts the unfun parts so collaboration feels faster, smoother, and more joyful. We’re adding things like 3D models and improved format previewing so stories travel cleanly across platforms. The goal is simple: better work together without killing the magic. Every channel should feel intentional and cared for, like a beat-up, over-read copy of Uncanny X-Men #225 that’s been passed around because it matters.
Fundraising and Network 💵
Post-holiday, conversations picked right back up with angels and operators who see comics plus modern tech as leverage, not nostalgia. A recent pitch pushed us to go deeper on budgets and resourcing, which sharpened our plan for the year ahead. We’re also applying for grants and expanding the network. Bootstrapping continues, but the right intros and capital help this hit warp speed. If you’ve got smart, well-resourced friends who like big swings, we’d love to connect.
Targets remain steady, and momentum is stacking in a real way.
Engineering & Team 🔧
I’m actively interviewing engineers and technical folks as we think about the next phase of build. If you know any great devs or product-minded engineers who love storytelling, comics, or ambitious platforms, please send them my way. Warm intros are gold.
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Next Up
Product: Reader experience deep dives and iteration
Creative: First tests of the accelerated creation system
Fundraising: Carry momentum into committed capital
Team: Engineering conversations continue
Now that everyone’s back online, we’re are balling out and kicking things to the next level. More soon. Appreciate the support, the intros, and the belief. It’s all adding up.
Onward,
Mark