Accidental SaaS: From Side Project to Full-Time Income in 16 Months
SolosJanuary 06, 202500:58:03

Accidental SaaS: From Side Project to Full-Time Income in 16 Months

Join Martin as he talks with Lukas Herrmann, the creator of Stage Timer, about his journey from burnout to a thriving B2B SaaS business. Discover how a simple idea turned into a $200K ARR product and the valuable lessons learned along the way.

πŸŽ™οΈ In this episode, you'll learn:
β€’ How Lukas transitioned from volunteering to entrepreneurship
β€’ The importance of failing fast and learning from mistakes
β€’ Why B2B can be more lucrative than B2C for indie hackers
β€’ How to maintain work-life balance as a solo founder
β€’ The unexpected benefits of having an open-source competitor

πŸ”‘ Key takeaways:
β€’ Entrepreneurship can be lonely - build a support network
β€’ Focus on one product and resist the urge to chase new ideas
β€’ Consider unconventional pricing models for your SaaS
β€’ Don't neglect personal hobbies and interests outside of work
β€’ Embrace the bootstrapper mindset and grow organically

⏱️ Episode Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction and Lukas' background
05:58 - The birth of Stage Timer and early challenges
15:42 - Pricing strategies and B2B focus
23:35 - Work-life balance and personal growth
31:48 - Dealing with competition and open-source alternatives
37:26 - Current success and future plans
45:15 - Advice for aspiring indie hackers
53:29 - Lukas' daily routine and work schedule
56:12 - Pursuing personal passions (flying lessons)
59:34 - Final thoughts and recommendations

πŸ”— Links:
β€’ Stage Timer: https://stagetimer.io
β€’ Lukas on Twitter: @lukasherrmann
β€’ CapGo: https://capgo.app