From starter to pilot: 5 users converted to paying customers
A few weeks ago, I launched StarterPilot an AI tool built to help entrepreneurs go from raw idea to a launch-ready startup, fast.
The concept was simple: validate your idea, generate a business name, get a logo, and build a landing page — all with AI, and all in one place.
I decided to skip the free plan and go straight with a 7-day free trial model. The idea was to attract serious users who were actually building something, not just browsing around.
So far, 17 people have started a trial.
5 of them converted into paying customers.
And 7 more are still on active trials, which could go either way, but I’m hopeful.
Seeing those first conversions felt surreal. I’ve been building, tweaking, second-guessing, and now there are real people who’ve not only used it but decided it’s worth paying for.
This is still early. There's so much to improve. But having a few pilots on board makes the journey feel a whole lot more real.
If you're working on something similar, don’t underestimate how motivating those early wins can be. They’re small, but they hit hard.
Happy to chat if you’re curious about how I set up the trial flow, or anything else about the journey so far!
Great work Aziz! How did you get your product in front of the very first group of users who started the trial? I'm really curious. I'm also building an AI SaaS app but I'm. a coder with no marketing experience. Thanks and good luck :)
Thank you!
Getting the first group of users to try the product can definitely be a challenge, especially if you’re coming from a coding background without much marketing experience. For me, the first step was tapping into communities where people were already discussing the kind of problem my product was solving. I spent a lot of time in places like Reddit, Twitter, and niche forums, engaging with users, answering questions, and sharing insights about the problem my tool addresses. Over time, that built interest and curiosity.
I also made sure to reach out to people directly, not in a spammy way, but by offering value. I would share the tool with a small group and ask for feedback in exchange for early access. That personal connection helped me get those initial users.
Good luck, and feel free to reach out if you have any other questions!
This is super inspiring — congrats on the early traction! 🚀
I’m in an earlier stage with a tool I’m building (focused on helping people who manage messy Excel files), and right now I’m trying to better define my ICP. The hardest part so far has honestly been getting people to talk — even just short user interviews have been tough to land.
Any tips on how you got those initial users to engage and try the product? Would love to hear what worked for you!
Thanks so much!
I totally get the challenge. From my experience, one of the most effective ways to get people to try your product is to clearly demonstrate how it solves their problem. For me, a short demo video on the landing page worked wonders. It’s way more engaging than just text or images and gives people a clear picture of what they can expect from the tool.
Another thing that helped me was storytelling. I made sure to share relatable use cases and show how my product fits into real-world scenarios. That resonated with users a lot more than just listing features.
Also, don't underestimate the power of being active on communities like Reddit and Twitter. For me, those platforms were essential in finding my first adopters. Engaging with people, answering questions, and sharing updates regularly built trust and awareness around my product. It’s a lot of work but it pays off when you get that first group of passionate users.
Hope that helps, and good luck.
Aziz, this is great news, congratulations on the 17 free trial to 5 paying customers! We implemented something similar with an added "phase" pricing to sweeten the deal. My question to you, have you noticed a spike in retention rate once the 7th day is up and the customer gets charged?
Thank you for your insight! Yes, I’ve noticed that almost half of the users tend to stay on after the trial period.