Building GCC Match: How Would You Find Your First 10 B2B Users?

Hi fellow founders!

I'm Muhammad Mamduh Saffin, founder of TGPU Digital Ecosystem and TGPU Gulf Advisory in Malaysia.

I'm currently building GCC Match, an early-stage platform designed to help businesses discover and connect with potential partners between Malaysia and the GCC.

Our biggest challenge now isn't building more features. It's validating demand and attracting genuine business users.

I'd love to learn from founders who have built B2B marketplaces, matching platforms, or cross-border business networks.

Three questions:

1. How did you find your first 10 genuine business users?
2. What worked best for building trust between buyers and suppliers?
3. Would you recommend starting with manual qualification and introductions before scaling automation?

I'm also looking to connect with 2–3 UAE-based founders or business operators who would be open to providing feedback or exploring a small pilot collaboration.

Our platform: match.tgpugulf.com

I'd genuinely appreciate your insights and would be happy to exchange perspectives on the Malaysia–GCC market.

Thank you!