As your web3 startup evolves from the idea stage into a tangible proof of concept (POC) or minimum viable product (MVP), you’re now ready to transition into the pre-IDO stage. At this point, you’ve gathered early supporters, built a foundation for your community, and have an initial product. Now, it’s time to refine your strategy and prepare for a successful IDO launch by focusing on community growth, testing demand, and finalizing the technical infrastructure. The pre-IDO phase is critical because it sets the tone for your project’s market entry. This is where you start engaging with early contributors and angels while building out more advanced technical solutions. Below, we’ll explore the tools and services that will guide you through this stage, providing the best execution and delivery to ensure a seamless transition to IDO.

Essential Pre-IDO Products

1. SAFT (Simple Agreement for Future Tokens)

The SAFT tool allows you to create vested, tradable token allocations specifically for your community members and early contributors, including VCs. By utilizing SAFTs, you can offer flexibility with vesting schedules while broadening access to a diverse range of contributors. These allocations can be sold during the pre-IDO phase to test market interest, offering transparency and liquidity through tradable wNFTs.

2. Launchpad

A Launchpad is your central hub for conducting token sales and initial funding rounds. During the pre-IDO stage, this platform is crucial for running small-scale sales, which help you gauge demand from your community and early backers like angels and VCs. This kind of «test sale» gives you valuable insights into the appetite for your token and prepares you for the main IDO sale.

3. SBT (Soul Bound Tokens)

To identify your most valuable supporters and separate them from bots, flippers, and drop hunters, SBTs can be incredibly effective. As non-transferable tokens, they serve as proof of participation and loyalty, helping you reward your true supporters and build a trusted, engaged community.

4. wNFT Tickets

Build deeper engagement by offering wNFT tickets that grant exclusive access to events, conferences, or community activities. These tickets give holders special privileges, such as early access to project updates or collaborative events with other projects, making your community feel valued and part of something larger. This approach is also an opportunity to explore co-marketing activities.

5. Subscription Module

As your project matures, exclusive content and opportunities become more important. The Subscription Module is an EVM-compatible tool that allows you to offer paid subscriptions for members to access premium content, special allocations, and exclusive marketing events. This builds recurring revenue and strengthens the bond between your project and its most loyal supporters.

Key Pre-IDO Services

1. Marketing

Now is the time to ramp up your marketing efforts. Building and warming up your community ahead of the IDO launch is essential. Marketing efforts should focus on both retaining early adopters and attracting new, high-quality community members. Effective campaigns during this phase should emphasize value, educate potential contributors, and build anticipation for the upcoming IDO.

2. Development

Your development team will be busy at this stage, ensuring the technical backbone of your project is ready. Key tasks include token emission, customizing your launchpad, creating liquidity farming solutions, and fine-tuning the minting of SBTs and other tokens. Ensuring these systems are secure and ready for scale is crucial as you move closer to IDO.

3. Legal

Legal services at this stage focus on ensuring compliance and mitigating risks. This includes incorporating a legal entity, securing legal opinions on your token’s structure, and ensuring compliance with regulations. This step is vital to safeguard your project against future legal complications and to establish credibility with both contributors and the broader market.

Why Professional Support Is Crucial

At this stage of your project, time is a valuable resource, and small missteps can have long-term impacts. Choosing the right professional services to guide you through the pre-IDO phase not only saves time but also mitigates risk, ensuring your project is compliant and competitive. Here’s why engaging professional support is so important:

• Expert Guidance: While your team might have great ideas, external professionals bring a fresh perspective and specialized expertise that helps avoid most common "kid" problems
• Efficiency: Handling token creation, legal structuring, and development on your own can drain valuable time and energy. By leveraging expert services, you can focus on the strategic aspects of your project, while technical and operational tasks are handled by professionals.
• Competitive Edge: Partnering with experienced service providers means you get access to the best industry practices, helping you avoid mistakes and giving your project the edge it needs to stand out in an increasingly crowded market.

Conclusion: Ready for the Next Step

The pre-IDO stage is your project’s first true test in the real world. It’s the moment where your ideas start to meet market reality. With the right tools—such as SAFTs, Launchpads, SBTs, wNFT tickets, and subscription modules—and the right services like marketing, development, and legal support, you’ll be well-positioned to execute a successful IDO. The decisions you make during this phase will determine not only the success of your IDO but also your project’s long-term viability.

By the time you move into the IDO stage, your community will be engaged, your technical foundation will be solid, and your legal and operational frameworks will be ready to scale. Success is built in stages, and the pre-IDO phase is where you lay the groundwork for everything that follows.