1175
5 years, 30+ failed projects… and finally one that’s growing
r/SideProject
8/15/2025
Content Summary
The post discusses the journey of an indie hacker who built over 30 failed projects before finally achieving success with Refgrow, a tool that simplifies adding referral programs to SaaS apps. The author emphasizes the importance of consistency, learning from failures, and persistent iteration. He also highlights the value of building products that solve personal pain points and the role of free marketing strategies in growing a SaaS business.
Opinion Analysis
Different Viewpoints and Debates
Mainstream Opinions:
- Most users agree that persistence and consistency are key to long-term success in SaaS.
- There's a strong belief that many indie hackers fail before achieving success, and that it takes time to find the right product-market fit.
- Many commenters emphasize the importance of launching quickly and iterating based on feedback.
Controversial Opinions:
- Some debate whether the term 'failure' should be used at all, suggesting that it's more productive to think of these experiences as 'learning' rather than 'failure'.
- A few users question the effectiveness of certain tools or products mentioned, wondering if they truly fill a gap in the market or are just variations of existing solutions.
- There is some discussion about the role of marketing and how much effort should be put into it versus product development.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refgrow | https://refgrow.com | Affiliate/Referral Program | Simplifies adding affiliate/referral programs to apps in minutes |
| Replyguy | N/A | Email Marketing | Used for scheduling LinkedIn posts |
| Painkillerideas | N/A | Idea Generation | Platform for generating product ideas |
| Mentiontools | N/A | Social Media Management | Tool for managing social media mentions |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Difficulty in consistently shipping products and maintaining motivation after multiple failures
- Challenges in finding the right product-market fit
- Struggles with marketing and promoting products effectively
- Frustration with the long time required to achieve success in SaaS
Problems to Solve:
- How to build and launch multiple projects without getting discouraged
- How to identify and validate product ideas before investing significant time
- How to market products without large budgets
- How to maintain consistency and avoid burnout
Potential Solutions:
- Launching products quickly and iterating based on feedback
- Focusing on solving personal pain points or using domain knowledge
- Leveraging free marketing channels like Product Hunt, Reddit, and LinkedIn
- Building a portfolio of small projects to gain experience and learn from failure
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Consistently launching and iterating on multiple projects
- Focusing on solving real-world problems and validating ideas early
- Using free marketing methods and leveraging community platforms
- Emphasizing persistence and learning from repeated failures
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Launching products on platforms like Product Hunt, Reddit, and IndieHackers
- Utilizing organic promotion through social media and online communities
- Sharing product launches and experiences to build credibility and attract attention
Monetization & Product:
- Starting with simple MVPs and scaling based on user feedback
- Focusing on niche markets where referrals and word-of-mouth can drive growth
- Maintaining a lean approach with minimal upfront investment
User Engagement:
- Engaging with communities like r/SideProject to share experiences and learn from others
- Encouraging transparency by documenting failures and successes
- Building trust through consistent delivery and open communication with users