How I hit 4k MRR in 2 months - My framework for B2B SaaS Startups

Last summer, I wanted to make a successful B2B SaaS Company.

The first thing I did was speak to many Series A B2B SaaS founders. Using what I learned, I compiled a framework on how to find a good idea and get first paying B2B Customers.

Within 2 months after launch, my startup hit 4k MRR.

I want to share more about my method on how I got 1) a good idea and 2) paying customers.

Good Idea

To validate your startup idea,

Form a hypothesis (eg: AI that automatically replies to customer service emails)
Talk to 5 target customers (I KNOW it's shitty but there's no way around it)
See if it's a problem (how much $$$$/time does the status quo cost)
Ask them what their timeline is on this (How urgent is it to solve the problem?)

In my case, I spoke to 20 B2B founders. My hypothesis was automating their LinkedIn posts to get more top of funnel. Their painpoint was spending 10 hours a month writing LinkedIn content, were willing to spend a few hundred a month to outsource the process.

Paying Customers

To test willingness to pay,

Setup a Manual MVP (something you can fulfill by hand, or as a freelancer)
Setup a landing page
Set the price point (eg: $500/mo)

With the people you spoke to, jump on a second call and get their feedback on your Manual MVP. If they're interested, let them know you can take it off their hands fully through a managed solution for $500/mo! If they pay, great you've validated there's money in this space. You can go ahead and solve the solution manually, then come up with a tech-enabled way for your SaaS to handle it :)

In my case, I got my first customer at $800/mo and fulfilled their posts by hand. Over time, I built out an AI solution to fulfill these LinkedIn posts. Now we are transitioning from "Manual MVP" to "Actual SAAS MVP."

We have validated it's a 1) Good idea and 2) Paying customers

Build a good tech product

Alright, now it's time to get your hands dirty! You've got two paths: you can either dive in and create the tool yourself (YAY!) or you can team up with a cool dev shop to bring it to life. The best part? You're not shooting in the dark; you already know there's a crowd out there ready to throw their money at your solution.

And guess what? The first customers of your SAAS could be those early adopters who joined you for the manual MVP ride. Let's make some tech magic happen! 🌟🛠️💻

Parting advice:

Instead of diving headfirst into building, then trying to sell, only to find out it's not such a hot idea...

Do it the smart way: First, make sure your idea rocks. Then, get a few customers excited and paying. Finally, roll up your sleeves and build it. Way better, right?

I get it, chatting with folks isn't everyone's cup of tea (esp as tech founders!). But trust me, if you want to dodge the big bad bear – which is creating a product only to discover nobody wants it – it's super smart to get those talks and payment promises upfront.

Good luck, and hope this was helpful! 👍
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