How I Built a Profitable AI Product in 43 Days
I built my SaaS Newsletter Hero in 43 days in order to prepare for the massive AI disruption I see coming. This was my process, the lows and the highs. Check it out here: https://www.newsletterhero.ai/ Code: BETA45 ($99 for the full year - more than 50% off the monthly rate) 00:45 Days 1-10: Foundation & Planning - Team organization took unexpected energy and time - Multiple decisions required before writing any code - Key lesson: "Working with a human team forced accountability" 02:15 Days 11-24: Market Research & MVP - Newsletter market chosen after extensive analysis - Three core pain points identified through creator interviews: - Writing faster in personal voice - Stronger subject lines - Easier multi-platform distribution - [03:45] MVP features: custom templates, subject line generation, user profiles, credits, payments 05:30 Days 25-35: Launch Reality Check - Major assumption proven wrong: Users wanted control, not one-click solutions - Marketing became unexpectedly difficult despite existing audience - Multiple integrations added: Kit, Mailchimp, podcast uploads - Key insight: "Building a product and getting people to care about a product are two completely different games" 07:45 Day 35: First Paying Customer - Customer acquired through Reddit comment on micro-SaaS celebration post - Validation moment: Stranger paid for the product - Customer feedback immediately integrated, especially onboarding improvements 09:15 Days 36-43: Growth & Learning - Additional paying customers from existing network - Product responsibility realization as users depend on it for income - Honest admission: "I am currently just ass at marketing"
