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I Launched 39 Startups Until One Made Me Millions. This Is What I Wish I Knew.
r/SaaS
7/7/2025
Content Summary
The post advocates a 'validate first' approach for SaaS startups, recommending founders create landing pages with payment integration to test demand before building full products. The author shares his experience of launching 39 projects, with only 2 succeeding using this method. Key strategies include 1-week intensive marketing campaigns, refundable payments for validation, and focusing on problem validation through direct customer outreach. The approach sparked debate in comments regarding ethics, with some supporting the lean methodology while others advocate for more transparent pre-sales and product quality focus.
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream opinion supports lean validation methods but debates ethics:
- PRO: Rapid validation through landing pages/payments is crucial for avoiding wasted development
- CON: Deceptive practices damage trust; prefer transparent pre-sales
- DIVERGENCE: Builders vs validators - some argue polished products attract loyal users
- DEBATE: Whether 1-week validation period is sufficient for complex products
- CONSENSUS: Market research and customer understanding remain fundamental
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magic UI | Not specified | UI Library | Free UI library for landing page design |
| Rivin.ai | http://rivin.ai/ | E-commerce Analytics | Analyzes Walmart sales data, used by billion-dollar brands |
| Stripe | Not specified | Payment Processing | Checkout integration for demand validation |
| Next.js | Not specified | Web Framework | Used with TypeScript for landing page development |
| Vercel | Not specified | Hosting | Platform for deploying landing pages |
| Pulse for Reddit | https://usepulse.ai | Social Media Monitoring | Tracks Reddit threads and alerts for relevant discussions |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Wasting time building products with no market demand
- Difficulty validating product ideas efficiently
- Challenges in acquiring initial customers
- Ethical concerns about demand validation methods
Problems to Solve:
- How to validate product-market fit quickly
- Effective customer acquisition strategies
- Balancing speed vs product quality
- Legal/ethical aspects of pre-selling
Potential Solutions:
- Landing page validation with payment integration
- Transparent pre-sales with discounts
- Intensive social media marketing campaigns
- Building minimum lovable products after validation
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Rapid validation before full development
- Aggressive social media marketing (LinkedIn/X/Reddit)
- Iterative approach with fast failure cycles
Marketing & Acquisition:
- 80% educational content + 20% soft pitching
- Direct outreach to problem-having audiences
- Community engagement in niche platforms
Monetization & Product:
- Price 30% below market leaders for validation
- Free tier/chrome extension for product adoption
- Lifetime pricing for early adopters
User Engagement:
- Building trust through transparency
- Using customer feedback for co-creation
- Slack/Discord community engagement