I launched my 24th startup (SaaS)

Summary

In this video, the creator shares their journey of launching a software with 1.6k users in just 20 hours after release, achieving 'Product of the Day' status. They reveal their unconventional approach to finding startup ideas by building solutions to personal problems, which often resonate with a broader audience. The video showcases a 7-day development process using Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and MongoDB, emphasizing rapid prototyping and minimalism. The creator advocates for quick product launches to gather genuine feedback and assess viability. They also detail their launch strategy, leveraging platforms like Twitter, Product Hunt, and Reddit to maximize exposure and user engagement.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The speaker's software gained significant traction, acquiring 1.6 thousand users within 20 hours of launch and being selected as the 'Product of the Day'.
• 🌱 The idea for the software did not exist two weeks prior to the launch, highlighting the rapid development process.
• 🛠️ The speaker emphasizes the importance of building solutions to problems encountered rather than just brainstorming for startup ideas.
• 🔍 The concept for the software originated from the speaker's own need for a simpler feedback management tool as a solopreneur.
• 📈 The speaker used a feedback management tool called 'Kenny' but found it too complex and expensive for solo users, leading to the creation of a more streamlined alternative.
• 🛑 The speaker's development process involves making trade-offs, such as removing non-essential features and avoiding certain software engineering tools, to speed up the product launch.
• 💻 The technical stack for the software includes Next.js for the frontend and backend, Tailwind CSS, Daisy UI for components, MongoDB for the database, and NEX OAuth for user authentication.
• 📈 The speaker's launch strategy involves leveraging platforms like Product Hunt, Twitter, Hacker News, and Reddit to create momentum and attract traffic.
• 🎥 The use of humorous and engaging videos on Twitter is part of the speaker's launch strategy to attract attention and potential users.
• 📊 After two days, the product attracted 7,000 visitors and 1.5 thousand sign-ups, receiving positive feedback and recognition from industry peers.
• 💰 Currently, the product is offered for free with no immediate plans for monetization, allowing for widespread adoption and feedback collection to inform future development.

Q & A

How many hours had passed since the launch of the software when the speaker recorded the video?

20 hours had passed since the launch of the software when the speaker recorded the video.

What achievement did the speaker's software receive shortly after launch?

The speaker's software was selected as the 'Product of the Day' and received a badge for this recognition.

What was the speaker's approach to finding startup ideas before the change in strategy?

Initially, the speaker spent hours and sometimes days brainstorming startup ideas, hoping to come up with something magical, but these ideas did not work out as expected.

How did the speaker's approach to finding startup ideas change over time?

The speaker shifted from thinking about ideas to building things, which led to encountering problems and subsequently finding startup ideas to solve those problems.

What is the name of the feedback management tool the speaker used and found issues with?

The speaker used a feedback management tool called 'Kenny' but found it to be cluttered and too expensive for solopreneurs.

What specific problem with Kenny inspired the speaker to create a new product?

The speaker identified two main issues with Kenny: its complexity for solo users and the high cost for managing multiple products, which inspired the creation of a simpler, more affordable alternative.

What is the name of the new feedback management tool created by the speaker?

The new feedback management tool created by the speaker is called 'Inso'.

What is the main difference between the speaker's approach to building software and that of traditional software engineers?

The speaker focuses on making trade-offs by removing non-essential features and avoiding certain engineering tools to ship products faster, rather than focusing on traditional best practices like using TypeScript, extensive testing, and complex branching strategies.

What is the speaker's current revenue after changing their mindset and focusing on shipping fast?

The speaker's revenue increased significantly, ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 per month after adopting a faster shipping approach.

What was the speaker's launch strategy for the new product?

The speaker's launch strategy included creating a funny video for Twitter, posting on Product Hunt, Hacker News, and Reddit simultaneously to create momentum and attract as much traffic as possible.

Why is the speaker offering the new product for free initially?

The speaker is offering the product for free to get it into as many hands as possible, understand its stickiness, and identify power users who might benefit from future paid plans and additional features.

What was the outcome of the product launch in terms of visitor numbers and user sign-ups?

After two days, the product had 7,000 visitors from various platforms and 1.5 thousand people signed up for the product.

What badge did the speaker receive from Product Hunt as a result of the launch?

The speaker received the 'Product Hunt of the Day' badge as a result of the launch.

Why did the speaker decide to make a video during the launch?

The speaker made a video during the launch to create interest and leverage the popularity of videos on social media, as well as to express their own enjoyment in making them.

What was the speaker's initial mistake during the launch, and how was it resolved?

The initial mistake was a wrong link on Twitter. It was resolved with the help of a friend, who provided a computer to fix the issue during the launch.