The Hockey Stick Architect
"Zero to $50K MRR in 3 weeks (trust me bro)"
This archetype specializes in manufacturing impossibly steep revenue curves. Their growth trajectory defies basic business mathematics, featuring round numbers and suspicious timing aligned with posting schedules.
Also exhibits
Just hit $50K MRR! Been a crazy month. DMs open for those who want to learn how.
— Typical The Hockey Stick Architect claim
// Higher score = more creative fabrication
Red Flags
Documented warning signs to watch for with this archetype.
Suspiciously Round Numbers
HighRevenue always ends in $X,000. Real revenue is messy with cents.
Vertical Growth Curve
CriticalHockey stick appears instantly - no gradual build phase visible.
No Product Demonstrated
HighRevenue screenshots but no actual product or customer shown.
Growth Timing Correlation
MediumMajor milestones always hit on the same day of week (posting schedule).
Timeline Analysis
Track the evolution of claims over time. Watch for contradictions and suspicious patterns.
First tweet: "Starting my indie hacker journey today!"
Claims $10K MRR - 2 weeks after "starting"
No product URL shared, no customer testimonials
Claims $25K MRR - growth doubles in 2 weeks
Still no verifiable product or customer references
Claims $50K MRR - now offering "mentorship"
Pattern Detection
Observable patterns with educational protection tips.
The Perfect Increment
What to watch for
MRR increases by exact multiples (10K, 20K, etc.)
Why it's suspicious
Real subscription revenue grows in irregular increments
Protection tip
Ask for a live demo of their Stripe dashboard in a video call
The Compressed Journey
What to watch for
Claims of massive growth in impossibly short timeframes
Why it's suspicious
Customer acquisition, especially B2B, takes time even for good products
Protection tip
Research their Twitter history - when did they actually start?
The Echo Chamber
What to watch for
Same 10 accounts always celebrate their milestones
Why it's suspicious
Engagement pods create artificial social proof
Protection tip
Check who else the commenters follow - is it the same network?
How to Protect Yourself
Practical steps to verify claims and avoid being deceived by this archetype.
Request a live screen share of their actual Stripe dashboard
Ask for customer references you can actually contact
Check their product on archive.org - does the timeline match?
Look for the product on review sites, Product Hunt, etc.
See More Patterns
Explore our database of fake entrepreneur archetypes and learn to recognize the patterns.
Disclaimer: This archetype is a fictional composite based on observable patterns in the entrepreneurial space. No real individual is depicted. This is educational satire for entertainment purposes only.
// "Understanding the pattern is the first step to protection."