Operations Manager

1-5 people managing anywhere between $1k to $50k MRR. Bootstrapped.  
  
 It used to be how software startups started before this VC dhamaka in the last few years.

Data Scientist

Software Engineer

@levelsio on Twitter is a good example.  
 Photo.ai, pdf.ai, avatar.ai are a few recent businesses

Tell me your story, how you hit your first $, when did you quit corporate, how hard was it, what is your current MRR, what you think about the future (of your SaaS/lifestyle and the world in general)

Welcome to Indian Startups's Private Community

MicroSaas folks - Tell me your story

MicroSaas folks - Tell me your story- Grapevine

Started working in my first job. Per month pay is around 50k. Very sad as to how will I grow financially.

Does money really come along the way?

Investor

Welcome to IT Company Discussion's Private Community

After completing my BTech. I joined TCS for 2LPA. 
My RMG(read: The most hated folks at TCS) came up with the stupidest project and forced me to join it. She brutally harassed me for 3 days straight to take that project and I kept denying. I cleared interviews for two projects and then she still didn't let me take those projects.

She then had the audacity to stop project allocation for me leaving me on bench.

Now here is the real kicker... She starts sending me threatening email. Like your pay will be stopped indefinitely if I don't report to the project that belongs in 1989(joke). It was literally based on some archaic mainframe related tech and it was just some support job.
 
Thankfully my father was very supportive and he told me to start my own business. He gave me 9L to start something. After 6 years of gruelling hardwork and ups and downs now, I run my own IT services company. I have 100+ people on my payroll and we did 17% in EBITDA last year. NP was 6%. 

I made this post because I read this news article today. I will tell you that the audacity of TCS to say all of this is mindboggling. DO NOT JOIN TCS AT ALL. It is a place where careers go to die.

My journey from TCS to running my own IT company with 20Cr annual turnover.

Welcome to Software Engineers's Private Community

Does anyone have a successful micro saas project running? I have some doubts to ask

Micro saas

Currently at over 45L. 
Jumped from 9L 1.5 years back. 
Is it possible to go 5-6X from here?

I'm in tech.

What path should I follow?
Build a SAAS, become an influencer, join a FAANG?

How to 5X from here?

I work in the Data Privacy and protection domain. You won't believe me if I said we are spending $M on BigId and OneTrust apps (including infra cost for on prem).

As an SME and power user of these apps I can tell you they are spreadsheets with CTA buttons that calls some APIs. Their AI, ML posturing are all marketing gimmicks. Doesn't work well. 

Since they costs $$$ many privacy pros are asking for cheaper alternatives which not many seems to be available.

My ambition is to build a SaaS company that offers privacy app suite that is affordable and works much better.

My action plan:
1. Complete FIP (fellowship in Privacy from Iapp) n become an influencer. Am already networking with privacy pros.

2. I am learning Bubble development now

I know 1 is tough and 2 nd may be even tougher.. but this is my 2024 goals. I may fail but I need to give it a try

To build a SaaS business in a niche domain, what would you recommend I do? How would you do it.

2024 resolution. BigID n OneTrust raking in moolahs

Product Manager

Hi folks, 

I'm Aadit, Co-Founder & CEO at Zepto. We're one of India's fastest growing consumer internet companies and are today present across 10+ cities in the country. 

I'd love to chat with you folks about my journey in building Zepto, my thoughts on the quick commerce space, organization building, amongst other things.

Ask away!

I'm Aadit Palicha, Co-Founder & CEO at Zepto. Ask me anything!

Hey @Aadit  
I’m @salt  
  
Some questions from my side: 
1. As companies scale there are many diverging opinions on how things should run. How do you ensure that the best ideas drive the company even though they might be in direct conflict with your point of view?  
  
2. What kind of impact have you seen via use of Machine Learning to streamline operational efficiency wrt initial benchmarks? 
  
3. What is the key focus area that you are currently working on? 
  
4. How do you balance creating shareholder value versus customer value?

Founder

Hi folks, 

I'm Kashish, the CEO of EquityList and Founder of Cloud Capital which I run as a solo GP.
A little bit about what we do: 

EquityList is a full-stack equity management platform by AngelList India. Companies across India, US and Singapore use EquityList to manage their cap table, stock options (ESOP/SAR), shareholders, and related compliances. Managing equity for 10k+ stakeholders, 250+ companies and ~$1B in stock options.

Cloud Capital has deployed $8M+ in 55+ startups such as Airmeet, Rupifi, Orange Health, DevRev, ZET (OneCode) and others. I've also angel invested in startups such as OSlash, Atlys, Chronicle, Even Healthcare and others.

Excited to do this AMA, and look forward to answering any of your questions about ESOPs, cap table management, investing, entrepreneurship, and more!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kashisharma

Live AMA: Hey everyone, I'm Kashish, CEO of EquityList. Ask me anything!

Acquiring funding for a startup in india has become a hassle. I myself have been doing research on seed funding Vc's and angel investors. All they ask is pitch deck and LinkedIn profile. Which they don't even go through and just reply with an email saying we are not eligible for funding. On the other side US and other countries are getting funding at the ideation stage. I guess we can't even go for crowdfunding. Started building MVP, but halfway through the hurdle and unable to resume the development due to limited resources.

Tired of applying everywhere for funding.

Have a fully functional product and have 20 paying customers. What will it take me to raise a first round of 1 to 2 mn.

What will I need to raise $1 -$2Mn as a B2B SaaS startup?

Consultant

Team is less than 10 people still, slowly growing. Net profit could be higher, that's top priority to work on now. Total cash invested by founders was 15L over 3-4 years.

Yearly revenue :

2019 - less than 30k 
20 - 1.5L (after pivot)
22 - 50L

Getting to the first lakh and then to 10 lakhs was probably the most challenging part.

We thought of shutting down multiple times, struggled through multiple fights between founders. Glad we didn't stop working and pulled through.

This is my 4th or 5th attempt at starting up. Except for 1, other attempts didn't even get to incorporation stage.

Would love to hear from other bootstrappers and their experience.

Personal milestone: 1Cr in rev as a bootstrapper

We’re at about $400K bootstrapped with a team of 2 (me included), started in 2019. Revenue almost doubled in last 18 months. 
  
 My personal observation is that if you’re going to bootstrap, you need to go after high margin, niche markets (unless you’re doing services) because you don’t have a lot of money for marketing. 
  
 Our main growth channel is affiliates and SEO. Growth will be slow so we just have to keep at it. Also, beware of VC-funded competitors.

Generalist

What kind of questions I can expect in final round with Partner for an VC analyst role in early stage investment firm?

VC Analyst interview Partner round

I am a non-techie. For some time, I have been working on a SaaS project (Bubble, Supabase, ChatGPT) alone. Don't have enough cash to build a team. 

Can you help me out with these questions: 
1. Advice you would give to someone who is just starting out.  
2. What should I do to earn the respect of my future team. Considering I am a young non-techie and SaaS is all about tech.

To all Founders/Senior Management

No matter how good the product is, if you don't have a seller's genes it is almost impossible to sell this thing. Most of the founders are good builder but not sellers. How do you crack this barrier?

Selling a SaaS product is so frustrating and tough

Last 3 years of startups have been all about SaaS. I just don't get it. So far, it was about solving real problems at scale.
First with consumer websites (google etc), then software, then shopping & delivery (amazon swiggy zomato fk etc etc) 

And now, it's all SaaS:
- Imma build a startup to help white businessmen in America do better billing 
- Imma build a 360 degree feedback tool specifically for Norwegian miners 
- Imma build a SaaS software to help HR people note down who isn't dressed properly
- Imma build a software to help hillbillies in the US better manage their trucking company

Like how are smart people in India taking up entrepreneurship to build these ideas that are dull and feel like the end of life? How does anybody become excited by this? 

is it just money? what am I missing?

SaaS: Why are people so attracted to it? (mini rant)

Analyst

i am product manager with 6yoe and with some good brands. but lately i am wondering if this is peak and future demand of software product manager with no hands on coding experience will keep declining 

i sometime feels that either i have to learn coding (which i am learning) or else find a hard core industry like EV, renewable energy, batteries, semiconductor etc 

whats your thoughts? super curious to learn what you all feel about digital product manager?

also one question where i appreciate your feedback - I have not done MBA yet but contemplating it now to make switch industry to non software. I know this is very non traditional but would love to hear feedback

is software product manager role over?u

Welcome to Product Managers's Private Community

What is one story from your work that you wish somebody had told you on your first day as a product manager?

It's always something to look forward to in a startup. But wanting to know if it's actually meaningful. Are you making good money from it? Anybody around you who is making good money from it. 

This would really help a lot of us in startups know what to expect 🙏

People at Meesho, can you share experience on ESOP buyback?

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MicroSaas folks - Tell me your story

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