CourseKey founder Luke Sophinos contrasts the repeatable validation methodology of vertical SaaS against the myth of startup creation requiring artistic genius and large VC raises.
“I think vertical SaaS is much more of a science than an art. I think people believe starting a software business is this artistic thing where you got to come up with some crazy big idea and, you know, you got to hold it close to the vest and you can't tell anybody about it and you got to raise millions and millions of dollars. I think it's a very like mathematical scientific approach in vertical software.”
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“There's so much opportunity for still today in 20, 24 to not go build the shiny, sexy thing with limitless, you know, market size and, Hone in and focus on one industry, you know, one type of business and build software tailored for them and build really great…”
Luke SophinosSep 25, 2024▶ 3:02How to build a $1M+ vertical SaaS business (step-by-step guide)
Insight
Sophinos: Vertical SaaS founders must pick an industry before a product idea
“I'm a big believer in picking a industry and not a, an idea. So you don't come up with an idea at all. That's not the first step. That's not even the 10th step. So you have to focus on an industry.”
Luke SophinosSep 25, 2024▶ 5:36How to build a $1M+ vertical SaaS business (step-by-step guide)
Insight
Sophinos: Founders do not need preexisting domain expertise to build vertical SaaS
“And there's a correlation with successful outcomes and actually, actually having the industry expertise, but it's not a requisite at all. So, you know, we've built one of the biggest vertical SaaS businesses in the country for trade schools, and it's, I didn't…”
Luke SophinosSep 25, 2024▶ 11:35How to build a $1M+ vertical SaaS business (step-by-step guide)
Opinion
Luke Sophinos: AI cannot yet accurately map detailed industry workflows
“I think AI isn't going to do a great job yet on like, what is every single step of the workflow for a, you know, a bank.”
Luke SophinosSep 25, 2024▶ 23:36How to build a $1M+ vertical SaaS business (step-by-step guide)
Insight
Sophinos: Buy blue-collar workers lunch to get permission to shadow their workflows
“Just show up at machine shops and say, I'll buy everybody, I'll buy you guys lunch today. I know I probably look like a crazy person, but I'll buy you guys lunch today. If you just let me shadow the operation for today, go validate it.”
Luke SophinosSep 25, 2024▶ 30:33How to build a $1M+ vertical SaaS business (step-by-step guide)
Insight
Sophinos: Vertical SaaS startups should enter through SMBs before moving upstream
“As a software company, it's so much easier to get into SMBs. They require less. You can get in with a smaller feature set or maybe even one feature, and then you can add to that capability, kind of grow up a little bit, you know take the punches and develop ki…”
Luke SophinosSep 25, 2024▶ 7:54How to build a $1M+ vertical SaaS business (step-by-step guide)
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