I left my high-paying consulting job to start up…..not sure if it was a good decision
Content Summary
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream opinions in the discussion emphasize the importance of sales and marketing over product development, with many agreeing that the hardest part of a SaaS business is not building the product but selling it. There's a strong consensus that cold outreach is challenging but necessary, and that building a repeatable sales process takes time. Some commenters suggest that starting a business while keeping a day job is safer, while others believe that the emotional and financial risks are worth the long-term rewards. A few controversial viewpoints mention the difficulty of standing out in a crowded market and the potential for copycats, but most comments are supportive and encouraging, highlighting the value of learning through experience.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dograh AI | https://www.dograh.ai | Sales Automation | Uses AI voice agents to simulate real customer interactions for sales script testing |
| Kandid-2 | https://www.producthunt.com/products/kandid-2 | E-commerce Sales Tool | A tool for improving e-commerce conversion rates by analyzing customer behavior and optimizing sales outreach |
| Product Hunt | https://www.producthunt.com | Community Platform | A platform where startups can showcase their products to a community of early adopters and investors |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Difficulty in acquiring customers through cold outreach
- Lack of scalable sales strategies
- Emotional challenges of entrepreneurship
- Fear of failure and uncertainty in the startup journey
Problems to Solve:
- How to build a repeatable sales process
- How to overcome the emotional swings of running a business
- How to effectively market a product in a competitive space like e-commerce
- How to balance risk and reward when leaving a stable job for entrepreneurship
Potential Solutions:
- Using AI tools like Dograh AI for sales script optimization
- Focusing on building a repeatable sales process over time
- Leveraging prior consulting experience to understand client needs and communicate value effectively
- Building a community or network for support and feedback
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Focusing on building a repeatable sales process rather than just product development
- Leveraging existing skills from consulting to improve customer communication and problem-solving
- Using platforms like Product Hunt to gain visibility and traction
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Cold outreach, despite being difficult, is still a key method for acquiring early customers
- Using AI-driven tools to test and refine sales scripts before reaching live leads
- Building a community around a product or service to generate word-of-mouth and trust
Monetization & Product:
- The post highlights that product development is often easier than marketing and sales
- Pricing models were not directly discussed, but the focus was on finding a product-market fit through repeated customer outreach
- The author mentions launching a product on Product Hunt, indicating an emphasis on visibility and early adoption
User Engagement:
- Engaging with communities like Reddit's r/SaaS for peer support and advice
- Sharing progress publicly (e.g., on Product Hunt) to build credibility and attract attention
- Encouraging others to reflect on their own journeys and learn from experiences