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Ask Marc
About Ask Marc
Ask Marc is a startup decision engine designed to mimic the decision-making style of Marc Lou, a well-known indie hacker. It evaluates startup ideas, landing pages, pricing, and other critical factors by applying a set of 31 rules derived from Marc’s public playbook. Users submit their startup’s details—such as revenue, customer count, or distribution strategy—and receive a verdict, a roast, a launch plan, or a kill recommendation. The tool emphasizes actionable outcomes, including deadlines and experiment tracking, rather than motivational feedback. Responses are delivered in Markdown format for easy sharing and integration into workflows. The service operates on a subscription model, with a free initial verdict and a $19/month plan for unlimited access to various decision types. It also includes features like launch calendars, kill certificates, and founder experiment tracking.
Key features
- Verdicts on startup ideas, pricing, and distribution
- Launch plans with 7-day calendars and deadlines
- Roasts based on a 31-rule scoring system
- Kill certificates with reasons and deadlines
- Markdown-formatted responses for easy sharing
- Experiment tracking for founders
- API access for developers
- Public Wall for indie hackers to share decisions
Use cases
- Evaluating whether to build a startup idea
- Determining optimal pricing for a product
- Deciding whether to launch or kill a project
Pros
- Provides data-driven verdicts instead of generic advice
- Delivers actionable plans with deadlines and experiment tracking
- Uses a structured set of 31 rules for consistent evaluation
- Markdown-formatted responses for easy sharing and integration
- Offers a free initial verdict to test the service
Cons
- No free tier beyond the initial verdict
- Requires subscription for full functionality
- Limited to startup decision-making use cases
- No mobile or desktop app; operates entirely through a web interface
Frequently asked questions about Ask Marc
What does Ask Marc do?
Ask Marc is a startup decision engine that evaluates startup ideas, landing pages, pricing, and other factors using a set of 31 rules derived from Marc Lou’s public playbook. It provides verdicts, roasts, launch plans, or kill recommendations based on user-submitted details.
Who is Ask Marc designed for?
The tool is designed for indie hackers, startup founders, and entrepreneurs who need data-driven, actionable feedback on their projects rather than motivational advice. It suits those looking for critical evaluations of their ideas or strategies.
How does the pricing model work?
Ask Marc offers one free verdict. After that, access is available for $19 per month, which includes unlimited verdicts, launch plans, roasts, and other decision tools. The pricing is structured to cover specific actions rather than just access.
What types of decisions can Ask Marc help with?
Users can ask for decisions on whether to build an idea, validate a concept, set pricing, plan a launch, determine if they should kill a project, or distribute their product. The tool also offers audits of landing pages and other assets.
Can I integrate Ask Marc with other tools or workflows?
Yes, responses are delivered in Markdown format, making them easy to share and integrate into workflows, group chats, or documentation. The tool also provides an API for further integration.
How do I get started with Ask Marc?
To get started, paste your startup’s details, such as revenue, customer count, or distribution strategy, into the tool. It will then generate a verdict, roast, launch plan, or kill recommendation based on Marc Lou’s playbook.