diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 93a98b7..e463988 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ description](#commands).
 
 ### Getting started
 
+Nix is a very powerful tool for building code and setting up environments. `niv` complements it by making it easy to describe and update remote dependencies (URLs, GitHub repos, etc). It is a simple, practical alternative to [Nix flakes](https://nixos.wiki/wiki/Flakes).
+
 This section covers common use cases:
 
 * [Bootstrapping a Nix project](#bootstrapping-a-nix-project).
diff --git a/README.tpl.md b/README.tpl.md
index a9d1f88..72ab6ff 100644
--- a/README.tpl.md
+++ b/README.tpl.md
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ description](#commands).
 
 ### Getting started
 
+Nix is a very powerful tool for building code and setting up environments. `niv` complements it by making it easy to describe and update remote dependencies (URLs, GitHub repos, etc). It is a simple, practical alternative to [Nix flakes](https://nixos.wiki/wiki/Flakes).
+
 This section covers common use cases:
 
 * [Bootstrapping a Nix project](#bootstrapping-a-nix-project).