Loading...
Answers
MenuNeed help building and Scaling a DFY Service for SaaS Startups
I'm offering a DFY service to transform ideas into MVPs for pre-seed SaaS startups, including MVP website creation, prototype interaction, and initial customer feedback collection. Struggling with sales, I need strategies to attract and retain startups with $40k+ revenue. Tips?
Answers
Absolutely, I've got you covered! With over a decade of experience in the startup ecosystem, here are some real-world strategies that have proven effective in attracting and retaining pre-seed SaaS startups with $40k+ revenue:
1. Get Personal: Think of your outreach like making friends. It's all about genuine connections. I've found that personalized messages tailored to each startup's unique situation go a long way. Show them you've done your homework and understand their pain points.
2. Show, Don't Just Tell: People love success stories. Sharing real-life case studies and testimonials from startups you've helped can be a game-changer. It's like saying, "Look, we've been there, done that, and we're here to help you succeed too."
3. Speak Their Language: When pitching your service, speak their language. Focus on how you can help them scale faster, nail product-market fit, and ultimately boost their revenue. They'll appreciate that you understand their goals and challenges.
4. Network, Network, Network: In this game, relationships are everything. Forge connections with startup hubs, accelerators, and VCs. They're like treasure troves of potential clients. Plus, word-of-mouth referrals from trusted sources can do wonders for your credibility.
5. Be Flexible: Startups are often strapped for cash, so offering flexible pricing models can be a huge selling point. Whether it's a pay-as-you-go option or a revenue-sharing arrangement, show them you're willing to work with their budget.
6. Be the Expert: Position yourself as the go-to expert in MVP development and startup growth. Share your wisdom through blogs, webinars, or speaking engagements. When startups see you as the authority, they'll naturally gravitate towards your service.
7. Hands-On Help: Hosting demo workshops or webinars where you roll up your sleeves and guide startups through the MVP process can be incredibly powerful. It's like giving them a taste of what it's like to work with you, and once they see the value firsthand, they'll be hooked.
8. Celebrate Quick Wins: Startups thrive on momentum. Highlight how your service can help them achieve quick wins, like getting their MVP up and running in record time. It's all about showing them that with your help, success is within reach.
9. Stay in It for the Long Haul: Building lasting relationships is key. Offer ongoing support and guidance beyond the initial MVP phase. Be their trusted advisor as they navigate the ups and downs of startup life.
10. Always Be Learning: Finally, never stop learning and evolving. The startup landscape is constantly changing, so it pays to stay ahead of the curve. Keep refining your approach based on what works and what doesn't, and you'll be unstoppable.
Hey great question, getting clientele online can be difficult without the right strategies..
Great you have your ideal client avatar down that's important. Normally with startups they do not have a lot of capital to give while building..
You definitely want to start step by step..
WHERE ARE THEY HANGING OUT AT?
There's start up events that are always going on to attend.. Especially in Los Angeles.. Not sure where you are in the world but attending these events are greater in person than they are online..
You can run into investors as well..
If you lookup "Tech Start Up Events in Los Angeles" on google..
They have an infinite amount of events happening throughout the month.. Its getting close to summer so there's going to be a lot more events..
Also Facebook groups I would go for the Influencer groups like grant cardone and tony robbins groups.. Some of the facebook groups are just garbage..
But I hope I gave some good ideas..
Targeted Outreach: Identify startups in your target revenue range and reach out to them directly. Personalize your outreach to show that you understand their specific needs and how your service can add value to their business.
Case Studies/Testimonials: Showcase success stories of startups that have used your service to launch successful MVPs and grow their revenue. Case studies and testimonials provide social proof and build trust with potential clients.
Partnerships: Partner with incubators, accelerators, or venture capital firms that work with startups in your target revenue range. These organizations can refer startups to your service and help you reach a broader audience.
Content Marketing: Create valuable content that addresses the pain points and challenges faced by startups at the pre-seed stage. This could include blog posts, whitepapers, webinars, or video content. By providing useful information, you position yourself as an authority in your niche and attract potential clients.
Networking Events: Attend industry events, conferences, and meetups where startup founders gather. Networking allows you to make connections with potential clients and showcase your expertise in person.
Offer a Guarantee: Consider offering a satisfaction guarantee or a performance-based pricing model. This reduces the perceived risk for startups and gives them confidence in your service.
Focus on Value Proposition: Clearly communicate the value proposition of your service and how it can help startups achieve their goals faster and more cost-effectively. Highlight the benefits of working with you compared to building an MVP in-house or using other alternatives.
Referral Program: Implement a referral program where existing clients can earn rewards or discounts for referring new startups to your service. Word-of-mouth referrals can be a powerful driver of growth.
Continuous Support: Offer ongoing support and guidance to startups beyond the initial MVP development phase. Building a long-term relationship with your clients can lead to repeat business and referrals.
Stay Updated: Keep yourself updated with the latest trends and technologies in the startup ecosystem. This allows you to offer innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of your target market.
By implementing these strategies, you can attract and retain startups with a revenue of $40k or more and position your DFY service as a valuable partner in their journey to success.
I'd focus on LinkedIn outreach and cold emailing. Additionally, building a partner program and trying to leverage existing networks which have access to your ICP's data might work. Are there agencies you could partner with? Does a rev share or white label service make sense?
Basically, I'd try to pursue these things concurrently. Partnerships in order to build revenue now while you look after clients on your own through outreach.
Related Questions
-
As a startup, is it better to find a way to pay for services (i.e. design) or trade equity for it?
Before I get to your question, let me give you a tip: always aim settle questions of payment before the work happens. It is ten times easier to agree on a price beforehand, and having done that doesn't stop you from changing it by mutual agreement later. The problem with paying cash is pretty obvious: you don't have a lot of it. The problems with paying equity are subtler. The first one is that early-stage equity is extremely hard to value. A second is that equity transactions require a lot of paperwork. Third is that entrepreneurs tend to value their equity much higher than other people would; if not, they wouldn't be starting the company. And fourth, people like designers are rarely expert in valuing businesses or the customs of of startup equity valuation. In the past, I've both given and received equity compensation, and it's a lot more of a pain than I expected. In the future, what I think I'd try is convertible debt. That is, I'd talk with the designer and agree on a fair-market wage. E.g. 100 hours x $100/hr = $10k. The next time we take investment, the $10k turns into stock at whatever price we agree with our investors, plus a discount because he was in before the investors. Note, though, that this will increase your legal costs and your deal complexity, so I'd personally only do this for a pretty significant amount of work. And I'd only do it for somebody I trusted and respected enough to have them around for the life of my business.WP
-
Business partner I want to bring on will invest more money than me, but will be less involved in operations, how do I split the company?
Cash money should be treated separately than sweat equity. There are practical reasons for this namely that sweat equity should always be granted in conjunction with a vesting agreement (standard in tech is 4 year but in other sectors, 3 is often the standard) but that cash money should not be subjected to vesting. Typically, if you're at the idea stage, the valuation of the actual cash going in (again for software) is anywhere between $300,000 and $1m (pre-money). If you're operating in any other type of industry, valuations would be much lower at the earliest stage. The best way to calculate sweat equity (in my experience) is to use this calculator as a guide: http://foundrs.com/. If you message me privately (via Clarity) with some more info on what the business is, I can tell you whether I would be helpful to you in a call.TW
-
What happens to a convertible note if the company fails?
Convertible notes are by no means "earned." They are often easier to raise for early-stage companies who don't want to or can't raise an equity round. Equity rounds almost always require a simultaneous close of either the whole round or a defined "first close" representing a significant share of the raised amount. Where there are many participants in the round comprised mostly of small seed funds and/or angel investors, shepherding everyone to a closing date can be very difficult. If a company raises money on a note and the company fails, the investors are creditors, getting money back prior to any shareholder and any creditor that doesn't have security or statutory preference. In almost every case, convertible note holders in these situations would be lucky to get pennies back on the dollar. It would be highly unusual of / unheard of for a convertible note to come with personal guarantees. Happy to talk to you about the particulars of your situation and explain more to you based on what you're wanting to know.TW
-
How much equity should I give an engineer who I'm asking to join my company as a co-founder? (He'll be receiving a salary, too, and I'm self-funding)
You will find a lot of different views on equity split. I haven't found a silver bullet. My preference/experience is for: 1. Unequal shares because one person needs to be the ultimate decision maker (even if it's 1% difference). I have found that I have never had to use that card because we are always rational about this (and I think us being rational is driven because we don't want a person to always pull that card cause it's a shitty card to pull) 2. When it comes to how much equity, I like Paul Graham's approach best: if I started the business by myself, I would own 100% of the equity; if xxx joined me, he/she would increase my chances of success by 40% (40% is just an example) at this moment in time. Therefore, I should give him/her 40% of the company (http://paulgraham.com/equity.html) 3. In terms of range, it could go between (15-49%) depending on the level of skill. But anything less than 15%, I would personally not feel like a cofounder 4. Regarding salary and the fact that you will pay him/her, that's tricky but a simple way to think about it: If an outside investor were to invest the equivalent of a salary at this exact moment into the startup, what % of the company would they get? (this may lowball it if you think the valuation is high but then again if you think you could get a high valuation for a company with no MVP, then you should go raise money) One extra thing for you to noodle on: given you are not technical, I would make sure a friend you trust (and who's technical) help you evaluate the skill of your (potential) cofounder. It will help stay calibrated given you really like this person.MR
-
How much equity should a CPO receive when joining a Series A startup that's been around for 2-3 years?
Hi There are various 'models' that you can use to estimate how many shares/percentages your new partner should get. These include (a) his/her investment in time and/or money, (b) the current + potential value of the company, (c) the time and/or money that you as the original founder already put in and various other models. That said, at the end of the day, it's all about value and psychology (both side's feelings). Bottom line: 1. It all really depends on how much value they are giving you (not only financial, sometimes even just moral support goes a long way). Some founder's 'should' get 5%, some should get 50% or more. 2. Ask the potential partner how much shares they want (BEFORE you name a number). 3. Have an open conversation with them in regards to each of your expectations. 4. Use a vesting (or preferably reverse vesting) mechanism - meaning that the founder receives his shares gradually, based on the time that goes by (during which he fulfills his obligations) and/or milestones reached. 5. If you want a mathematical method: calculate the value of each 1% of the shares (based on the last investment round), check how much an average CPO earns per month/year, and then you can calculate what % he/she should get for the 2-3 years they should put in. I've successfully helped over 350 entrepreneurs, startups and businesses, and I would be happy to help you. After scheduling a call, please send me some background information so that I can prepare in advance - thus giving you maximum value for your money. Take a look at the great reviews I’ve received: https://clarity.fm/assafben-davidAB
the startups.com platform
Copyright © 2025 Startups.com. All rights reserved.