What Are Your Thoughts On My Growth Options? I Have Chickens, But No Eggs. I Will Not Promote

I have a chicken-and-egg problem. I built a marketplace for people who have ignored or abandoned apps they want to sell, but I literally can't find devs that want to even think about that. With that said, I am still getting sign-ups.

So far, I'm realizing that some people still have no desire ever to build or vibe-code an app, and would prefer just to buy it turn-key. I have been running ads targeting the USA and Canada on Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, and Google, and as of today, I have 194 users. Not much, but I don't have it in me mentally or spiritually to shamelessly spam forums or post-jack users on Reddit. Running ads is the best way I know how to reach new people fast.

I got an email today asking me when the site will have more options. Of course, I half-lied and said soon. But aside from the 2 apps I personally listed, only one other user has posted something for sale.

I had 4 ideas:

1. Mutual Partnership - Try to build a small team of devs. Instead of asking them to sign-up. Ask them to join me as a partner. List your app(s), and as an early adopter, pay only the processing fee (Stripe 2.9% + $0.30) on all sales. It would be a small group of people, but we would still help create initial social proof. Lifetime offer as long as I'm alive. - Feels desperate.

2. Cash incentive milestones - What about if I offered $X milestones? Like 1. get $X when you complete onboarding and list your first app for sale. 2. Get $X when you sell your first app. 3. Get $X when you recommend a friend who completes step 1. - Could invite bad actors to abuse this deal.

3 . Self-Builder - The worst, but at the moment, flirting with the option, is to just build them out myself. Host an EC2 instance and just build multiple app ideas until I get to like 20 or 30. I can do it, but I just feel like that's more time spent in the fun and safe bubble of development. I need to get out, get punched in the face and stomach a few times with hate and criticism. Also, this will definitely lead to a lack of creativity and diversity in the selection.

4. Pay people - Just put up the money. They build it, I own it, and list it. Until something organic starts to build. This way, I won't be stuck trying to be a developer and a business owner and can just focus on distribution and relationship building. The most expensive likely.

E-commerce in general relies heavily on social proof. If you went to a fitness store and saw only one treadmill, you'd be like "WTF?". I know there is money to be made, but it feels like the mentality of the people I interact with is, "I'd rather lose and see you lose than help you win and win myself."