uh_what

Stripe Atlas: https://stripe.com/atlas

I'm looking into forming an LLC, and while I am a big fan of Stripe, I can't really understand the value proposition of using Stripe Atlas to form an LLC. Forming a Delaware LLC costs about ~$200 online through some other services. While Stripe Atlas does provide Azlo (https://www.azlo.com/) for LLC's, Azlo is free regardless. So what am I getting for the additional $300 I am giving to Stripe?

Has anyone here formed their LLC through Stripe Atlas and was it worth it?

We all know that the best way to get connected to a VC is through a trusted mutual acquaintance, but of course not everybody has the network. So to the VC's on here: do you actually read every cold pitch email and, if so, how much time on average would you say you dedicate to every email?

My company sells a product in a space where there are 2-3 incumbents that capture 99% of the revenue. So far, our customers LOVE our product's primary feature, but I'm afraid that once we actually become popular enough to register on our competitors' radars, they will simply copy our feature and we'll be toast.

Our product is not nearly as feature rich as our competitors, but we manage to consistently obtain customers by targeting a niche demographic for which our core feature is of the utmost importance.

Has anyone here been in a similar position, and if so, what did you do and how did it turn out?

It seems like the answer should be an obvious yes, but nobody I know (myself included) has ever paid for one. I think I've got a great idea for a chat app, but I really can't see anyone paying for it when there are great alternatives that are free. It seems like even if my app were to go viral, the endgame would be to either get acquired (like WhatsApp) or become an entire platform (like Snapchat).

Has anyone here had any success monetizing a messaging/chat app?