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- 🏔️ Bootstrapped SaaS
Hey there,
Welcome to the SaaS Hill, a weekly newsletter that tries to predict the future of SaaS.
Let's discuss Bootstrapped SaaS 🚀.
⭐️️ Intro
Andrew Gazdecki says: “Startups that bootstrap to millions in revenue without investors deserve some sort of reward or trophy.“
So let’s talk about bootstrapping a SaaS company.
Here is what we will discuss today:
8 predictions about Bootstrapped SaaS
28 trend examples
1 trend chart and ARR numbers
11 experts to follow
6 communities for bootstrappers
3 Tweets
7 useful links
🤔 Predictions
SaaS bootstrapping will continue to grow in popularity as more entrepreneurs seek to build and launch their own software products without external funding.
Other trends will strengthen Bootstrapped SaaS trend. For example, solopreneurship, no-code, async, creator economy, micro-SaaS, AI will motivate more entrepreneurs to launch profitable $10K-10mln SaaS businesses.
And vice versa: successful Bootstrapped SaaS stories will motivate more ambitious professionals to become solopreneurs and launch their own products.
Micro-SaaS + Bootstrapping + Soloprenuership is a powerful symbiosis. There are hundreds of founders who already follow this path:
Dagobert Renouf > Left a $100K dev job to bootstrap a startup with his wife
Jim Raptis > building a portfolio of SaaS products in public
The rise of no-code and AI platforms will make it easier for non-technical founders to build and launch SaaS products, further fueling the growth of bootstrapping. For example, there is a community of No Code Founders.
SaaS bootstrappers will increasingly prioritize building sustainable businesses that generate consistent cash flow over rapid growth and exit strategies. Communities like Indie Hackers and Lunadio will help their members build profitable businesses.
Marketing and customer acquisition will continue to be key challenges for bootstrapped SaaS companies, leading to a greater emphasis on content marketing, SEO, and other low-cost acquisition channels.
As a result, we will see a rise of non-traditional GTMs: building in public, communities, growth hacking, freemium, virality, AI-generated content. For example:
Simon Høiberg builds FeedHive and relies on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube as growth channels
Aleksandr Volodarsky bootstraps Lemon.io and relies on Twitter and recommendations
Ahrefs invests in SEO and content
Hotjar invested in product-led motions like freemium
Zapier invests in 1000’s of SEO-optimized landing pages (Salesforce + Calendly integration etc)
Acquire.com cooperates with Chris Diamantopoulos (played billionaire investor Russ Hanneman at the Silicon Valley show) via Cameo to record viral videos
🏢 Trend Examples
Well-Established Brands
Atlassian > Tools for teams, from startup to enterprise
Aha! > Product development software
Ahrefs > Everything you need to rank higher & get more traffic
AWeber > Email Marketing for SMBs
MailChimp > All-in-one marketing and commerce platform for entrepreneurs
Basecamp > Refreshingly simple project management
BambooHR > HR, Payroll, Benefits. The Complete HR Software
ClickFunnels > Create sales funnels that convert your visitors into leads and customers
ChartMogul > Subscription analytics platform
ConvertKit > Go-to marketing hub for creators that helps you grow and monetize your audience
GetResponse > Email marketing platform that goes beyond
Hubstaff > Spend less time tracking and more time growing
Hotjar > Maximize conversions with visual behaviour insights
Uscreen > Video monetization platform to sell, market, & manage content
Toggl > Time tracking software to boost performance
Zapier > Easily connect the apps you use for work
Zoho > Software suite to transform the way you work
Micro-SaaS
BannerBear > Auto-generate social media visuals
BrandBird > An image editor for busy SaaS founders, who build in public
Tribescaler > Make your tweets go viral
Testimonial > Get testimonials from your customers with ease
FeedHive > Create and easily manage your social media content
Tally > The simplest way to create forms
Simple.ink > Build a website with Notion
Feather > Notion to Blog in minutes
BlackMagic > Enhanced Twitter for pro tweeters
super > Create Websites with Notion
Payform > Create payment forms that convert sales
📈 Trend Chart
Bootstrapped SaaS, $ARR
👔 Services
👥 Agencies
Simple Suite > We craft minimum viable SaaS products
molfar.io > Reasonable MVP for startups
💬 Communities
Hampton > Private network for high-growth founders
MicroFounder > Build a startup as a solo developer
microsaas - Ultimate resource for building micro saas
Micro SaaS HQ > Join 500+ makers for research-backed ideas to build profitable products
Starter Story > Learn how people are starting successful businesses
Lunadio > A community of early-stage founders helping each other
📖 Experts to Follow
Andrew Gazdecki > Founder at MicroAcquire
Nathan Latka > CEO at Founderpath
Jason Fried > Cofounder at Basecamp
Dmytro Gerasymenko > Founder & CEO at Ahrefs
Wade Foster > Co-founder & CEO at Zapier
Jon Yongfook > Founder at BannerBear
Jim Raptis > Building small solo SaaS products in public BrandBird
Alex Banks > Building Tribescaler
Damon Chen > Quit his job to make Testimonial
Simon Høiberg > Creator of FeedHive
Aleksandr Volodarsky > Bootsraps Lemon.io
🔗 Useful Links
FounderBeats - Gain Insights from Founders building profitable SaaS products
Founderpath > Where bootstrapped SaaS founders get capital
First 100 Customers > Get your startup's first 100 users
Bootstrappers.com - The publication for bootstrapped startups
Micro SaaS Idea > Newsletter for techies and marketers looking for their next profitable Micro-SaaS Idea
Bannerbear > Bootstrapping a SaaS Product to $36k MRR
Tally > Bootstrapping our SaaS from $10K to $20K MRR
🐦️ Twitter Thread
Nathan Latka on bootstrapping
Aleksandr Volodarsky on VC vs. bootstrap
🤝 Related SaaS Trends
🏔 Micro SaaS > the future of niche software
🏔 Building in Public > sharing journey leads to growth opportunities
Thanks for reading. See you next time 👋