I Built a SaaS in 30 Days — Here's Exactly What I Did

Week 1: Validate, Don't Build

Most people fail at SaaS because they spend months building before they know if anyone wants what they're making. I spent the first week talking to 20 potential customers before writing a single line of code.

The question I asked: "What's the most painful part of [problem area] for you right now?"

Week 2: MVP — Ruthlessly Minimal

My MVP had exactly three screens. Login, the core action, and a dashboard showing results. No settings page. No user profile. No onboarding wizard. Just the core loop.

Week 3: First Users

I went back to the 20 people I'd interviewed and offered them free access in exchange for feedback sessions. 14 signed up. By the end of week 3, 6 of them were using it daily.

Week 4: Monetize

I added a payment wall using Stripe. Priced at $19/month. Within 48 hours, 3 of the 6 active users converted to paid. That's $57 MRR — tiny, but proof the model works.

What I'd Do Differently

• Start charging in week 2, not week 4
• Pick a narrower niche — my ICP was too broad
• Build in public from day one — the accountability is valuable