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Quit my $250k VP of Product job to work on a startup making $38/month
r/SaaS
8/15/2025
Content Summary
The post is about a former VP of Product who left a $250k/year job to focus full-time on a startup that currently generates only $38/month in MRR. He believes that focusing on his passion and using his decade of product experience will help him build something successful. The post sparked a discussion in the SaaS subreddit, with many people sharing their own experiences of leaving stable jobs to pursue startups. Some users shared their own SaaS products, while others offered advice on marketing, customer acquisition, and product development. The conversation also included debates about the risks of quitting a well-paying job to start a business.
Opinion Analysis
Different Viewpoints and Opinions
Mainstream Opinion:
- Many users supported the decision to leave a stable job for a startup, seeing it as a bold and inspiring move.
- There was general encouragement for the founder to keep going and focus on building a great product.
- Some users shared similar stories of leaving high-paying jobs to pursue their own ventures.
Conflicting Views:
- Some users questioned the financial risk of leaving a well-paying job with only $38/month in revenue, especially for those with families.
- Others argued that the founder should have validated the business model more before making the leap.
- A few comments suggested that the founder's wife might not be supportive of the decision, highlighting the personal sacrifices involved.
Debates:
- A debate emerged about whether the founder had enough runway and if he was taking unnecessary risks.
- Some users emphasized the importance of financial stability and advised waiting until the startup generated more revenue before quitting a job.
- Others believed that happiness and passion were more important than financial security, even if it meant taking a big risk.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WhereTheyTalk | https://wheretheytalk.com | Lead Generation | Finds conversations of future customers online |
| PlayMix | https://playmix.ai | Game Creation | Allows users to create games with characters |
| PeerPush | https://peerpush.net | Product Discovery | A community-driven directory for founders to gain visibility |
| Supabase | - | Backend Development | Open-source alternative to Firebase |
| Vercel | - | Web Hosting | Fast deployment for React apps |
| Stripe | - | Payment Processing | Used for handling payments, but faces international issues |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- High risk of failure when leaving a stable job to start a startup
- Difficulty in converting website traffic into paid subscriptions
- Challenges in scaling a product effectively
- Competition in the SaaS space
- Need for effective marketing and user acquisition strategies
Problems to Solve:
- Finding leads or potential customers online
- Creating engaging games or content
- Building a sustainable revenue model
- Improving user retention and conversion rates
- Managing the balance between personal life and work
Potential Solutions:
- Focusing on building a unique and high-quality product
- Leveraging social media and public development for visibility
- Using SEO and AI tools to improve discoverability
- Engaging with communities like Reddit for feedback and support
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Building in public on platforms like LinkedIn to gain traction
- Using programmatic SEO and AI-SEO to increase visibility
- Focusing on user engagement and feedback to improve the product
- Testing multiple channels quickly and doubling down on what works
- Leveraging existing networks and communities for support and feedback
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Posting on LinkedIn to attract early users and feedback
- Using referral and community-based platforms like PeerPush
- Dogfooding the product internally to generate initial users
- Engaging with relevant subreddits and forums for visibility
Monetization & Product:
- Starting with a free trial model to attract users
- Introducing a paid version after initial traction
- Addressing international payment issues (e.g., Stripe limitations)
- Prioritizing product quality and user experience over rapid feature additions
User Engagement:
- Encouraging user feedback through direct communication
- Maintaining an active presence on social media and forums
- Creating a sense of community around the product
- Continuously iterating based on user input and behavior