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Accidentally spent 10 years doing market research - turned my Excel hobby into a SaaS in 8 days
r/Entrepreneur
7/10/2025
Content Summary
The author accidentally conducted 10 years of market research by maintaining a complex Excel-based Big Brother fantasy league system that friends wanted to purchase. Facing a deadline tied to the Big Brother 27 premiere, they built a SaaS version in 8 days using no-code tools (Lovable and Claude Opus). Key insights include recognizing hobby projects as potential businesses, leveraging existing users for beta testing, and using deadlines to overcome perfectionism. The platform (Poolside Picks) now has active leagues, uses a tip jar monetization model, and plans expansion to other reality shows. Comments praise the story and offer suggestions about monetization and UI improvements.
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream Opinions:
- Overwhelmingly positive reception of the author's journey from hobby to SaaS
- Praise for leveraging existing demand and using no-code tools effectively
- Agreement that personal projects can reveal business opportunities
Conflicting/Controversial Views:
- Some concern about UI issues (transparent background bug reported)
- Debate on monetization strategies: tip jar vs subscription models (as seen in u/phibetared's experience with spreadsheets)
- Differing opinions on niche markets: u/No_Tangerine_2903 mentions challenges with astrology app due to Reddit's skepticism
Different Perspectives:
- u/phibetared emphasizes the importance of solidifying product before PR
- u/Accomplished-Bag6197 raises concerns about customization complexity scaring casual users
- u/No_Tangerine_2903 shares similar experience with hobby-turned-business but notes niche challenges
- Several users inquire about technical aspects (payment processing, deployment)
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lovable | Not provided | No-code platform | Used for building SaaS, beginner-friendly, chat function for prompts |
| Claude Opus | Not provided | AI assistant | Used to write prompts in XML for Lovable |
| Lemon Squeezy | Not provided | Payment processing | Used for handling payments |
| Cursor | Not provided | Development tool | Mentioned as alternative to Lovable |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Complex Excel workbooks are fragile and hard to maintain
- Existing tools for fantasy leagues lack customization
- Users want to pay for a reliable solution but no easy option exists
- Difficulty in setting up and managing leagues manually
Problems to Solve:
- Creating a robust platform for Big Brother fantasy leagues
- Simplifying league management and scoring
- Providing customization options without overwhelming users
- Monetizing a hobby project that has proven demand
Potential Solutions:
- Building a SaaS platform to replace fragile spreadsheets
- Offering default rules for lazy users while allowing customization
- Using no-code tools for rapid development
- Implementing tip jar or subscription monetization models
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Leveraging existing community for organic growth
- Setting hard deadlines to force action
- Starting with minimal viable product (MVP) approach
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Zero marketing spend (relying on organic community growth)
- Built-in user base from years of market research
- Potential for viral growth through PR (as suggested in comments)
Monetization & Product:
- Experimenting with tip jar revenue model
- Planning expansion to other reality shows
- Validated product-market fit through decade of user requests
User Engagement:
- Annual recurring engagement tied to Big Brother seasons
- Beta testing with existing users for quick feedback
- Community-driven feature development based on user feedback