Forge

Forge launched with an MVP focused on a single, high-value use case: helping mid-market importers file duty drawback claims without manual paperwork. ​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌Their initial product was deliberately bare-bones—a data intake system paired with template-based claim filing that eliminated the most time-consuming administrative work. They shipped within four months, intentionally excluding features like real-time claim tracking, multi-currency support, and integration with major ERP systems that competitors offered. This constraint forced them to deeply understand their core customer problem: companies were leaving billions unclaimed simply because the process was too tedious. Early validation came quickly when their first ten customers recovered an average of $180,000 each within sixty days. That signal—immediate, quantifiable ROI—proved the market would pay for simplicity over feature completeness. By staying narrow, Forge could iterate on what actually mattered: accuracy and speed in claim processing. This execution discipline became their competitive moat as they scaled.