Episodes

  • How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With a Simple API Integration

    How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With a Simple API Integration
    Jun 28 2026
    Episode 79 of The Indie Hacker Podcast explores how solo developer Mia Chen built a SaaS product that reached $10,000 monthly recurring revenue by creating a simple API integration for small e-commerce stores. Lucas and Luna break down her strategy: identifying a pain point in syncing inventory across platforms, building a lightweight connector, and pricing it at $19 per month. They discuss how Mia used a single integration partner to validate demand, then expanded to four more platforms. The episode covers her customer acquisition via niche forums, her decision to avoid a landing page until month six, and the moment she hit the 10K MRR milestone. A tangible case study in focused, low-friction SaaS development. #API #Integration #SaaS #SoloDeveloper #IndieHacker #MRR #Ecommerce #Bootstrapping #MicroSaaS #MiaChen #Technology #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #IndieHackerPodcast #SoloDev #SideProject #RevenueGrowth Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 mins
  • How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With an API-First Product

    How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With an API-First Product
    Jun 28 2026
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the story of a solo developer who built a simple API for converting PDFs to text and scaled it to $10,000 monthly recurring revenue without a traditional SaaS dashboard or user interface. They explore how API-first products reduce friction, the importance of documentation and developer experience, and why selling to developers requires a different approach than selling to consumers. The hosts discuss pricing strategies like usage-based billing, the role of rapid iteration based on user feedback, and the challenges of standing out in a crowded API marketplace. They also touch on how this developer leveraged Product Hunt and Hacker News for initial traction, and why focusing on a single, well-executed endpoint can be more effective than building a suite of features. This episode offers concrete takeaways for indie hackers considering an API-first or backend-focused product strategy. Perfect for developers and entrepreneurs interested in SaaS, side projects, and bootstrapped businesses. #API #SoloDev #IndieHacker #10KMRR #PDFtoText #DeveloperTools #UsageBasedPricing #ProductHunt #HackerNews #Bootstrapping #SideProject #Documentation #DeveloperExperience #Technology #SaaS #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #APIFirst Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 mins
  • How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With a Chrome Extension That Blocks Distractions

    How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With a Chrome Extension That Blocks Distractions
    Jun 27 2026
    In this episode of The Indie Hacker Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the story of Sarah Chen, a solo developer who built 'FocusFlow,' a Chrome extension that blocks distracting websites and uses a Pomodoro timer. Starting with a simple MVP that just blocked Reddit and Twitter, she grew it to 10K MRR within 18 months without any paid ads. We break down her key decisions: the freemium model with a smartly priced $5/month pro tier, how she used Product Hunt to get an initial 2,000 users, a word-of-mouth referral program that drove 40% of growth, and her pivot from a browser extension to a web app to reduce churn. Sarah also shares her revenue split: 70% from subscriptions, 30% from a one-time lifetime deal. Tune in for actionable takeaways on validating, pricing, and scaling a solo SaaS project. #FocusFlow #SarahChen #ChromeExtension #PomodoroTimer #ProductHunt #Freemium #ReferralProgram #LifetimeDeal #SoloDeveloper #IndieHacker #10KMRR #Bootstrapping #SaaS #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #ChromeExtensionBusiness #DistractionBlocker Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 mins
  • How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With a Newsletter

    How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With a Newsletter
    Jun 27 2026
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the story of a solo developer who built a SaaS tool for newsletter creators and reached $10,000 monthly recurring revenue in just six months. They break down the specific strategies used: starting with a free email course to validate demand, leveraging affiliate partnerships with existing newsletter platforms, and focusing on a single feature that solved a painful problem—automated subscriber list cleaning. The hosts discuss how this approach differs from typical SaaS growth playbooks, why the developer chose a subscription model based on list size rather than features, and the surprising role of personal outreach in acquiring the first 100 paying customers. They also explore the trade-offs of building for a niche audience versus a broader market, and what indie hackers can learn from this focused, low-cost launch. No fluff, just actionable insights from a real solo founder's journey. #NewsletterSaaS #SoloDeveloper #IndieHacker #10KMRR #Bootstrapping #EmailMarketing #ListCleaning #SubscriptionModel #AffiliateMarketing #FreeCourse #CustomerAcquisition #NicheMarket #SaaSGrowth #SideProject #TechPodcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #IndieHackerPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 mins
  • How a Solo Dev Bootstrapped to 10K MRR With Zero Social Media

    How a Solo Dev Bootstrapped to 10K MRR With Zero Social Media
    Jun 26 2026
    In this episode of The Indie Hacker Podcast, Lucas and Luna talk to Sarah Chen, the solo developer behind FormScout, a SaaS that validates form submissions for lead quality. Sarah reached $10,000 MRR in 14 months without using Twitter, LinkedIn, Product Hunt, or any social media promotion. Instead, she used cold email outreach to B2B buyers, a niche blog about form abandonment, and direct integrations with popular tools like WordPress and Shopify. Lucas breaks down her acquisition channels, pricing strategy, and the surprising lesson that indie hackers don't always need to build an audience first. Luna questions whether this approach scales beyond a certain revenue threshold, and Sarah shares her retention numbers. This episode is packed with actionable tactics for founders who hate the social media grind. #IndieHacker #SaaS #Bootstrapping #NoSocialMedia #FormScout #SarahChen #10KMRR #ColdEmail #B2B #WordPress #Shopify #FormAbandonment #LeadValidation #ConversionOptimization #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #SideProject Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    10 mins
  • How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With No-Code Tools

    How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With No-Code Tools
    Jun 26 2026
    In this episode of The Indie Hacker Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how solo developer Sarah Jenkins built a SaaS product called FormFlow to $10,000 monthly recurring revenue using only no-code tools. They break down her stack: Airtable for the database, Bubble for the front end, and Zapier for integrations. The hosts discuss the trade-offs of no-code versus traditional coding, the surprising advantage of speed to market, and how Sarah eventually migrated to a lightweight codebase when she hit scale limits. Specific numbers include her 67% gross margin before migration and the three-week build timeline. A practical case study for any indie hacker considering the no-code route. #NoCode #SaaS #IndieHacker #Airtable #Bubble #Zapier #FormFlow #SarahJenkins #10KMRR #SoloDeveloper #SideProject #LowCode #Bootstrapping #Revenue #Technology #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    12 mins
  • How a Solo Dev Used a Podcast Sponsorship to Hit 10K MRR

    How a Solo Dev Used a Podcast Sponsorship to Hit 10K MRR
    Jun 25 2026
    In this episode of The Indie Hacker Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the story of a solo developer who grew his SaaS from $2K to $10K MRR in just four months by sponsoring a niche podcast. They break down how he targeted a specific audience, crafted a simple ad script, and measured ROI using a unique discount code. The hosts discuss the economics of podcast advertising for small businesses, the importance of audience alignment, and why this strategy can work better than social media for certain products. Along the way, they reflect on the value of listener support and share a lighthearted moment about keeping the show ad-free. Tune in for a concrete, data-driven case study on indie growth. #PodcastSponsorship #SaaSGrowth #SoloDeveloper #10KMRR #IndieHacker #NicheMarketing #PodcastAdvertising #Bootstrapped #StartupGrowth #SaaSMarketing #RevenueGrowth #Technology #Business #Entrepreneurship #IndieHackers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #GrowthStrategy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    6 mins
  • How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With a Waitlist Strategy

    How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With a Waitlist Strategy
    Jun 25 2026
    In this episode, we dive into the story of a solo developer who built a SaaS product around AI-powered resume screening and hit $10,000 monthly recurring revenue before even opening the doors to the public. The key? A waitlist strategy that created scarcity, validated demand, and generated early revenue. We break down the exact tactics used, including a three-tier waitlist with cash deposits, a referral ladder that rewarded early signups, and a launch-day conversion rate of over 60 percent. We also discuss the risks of this approach, from cash flow management to the pressure of delivering on promises. Whether you're a solo dev or part of a small team, this episode offers a concrete playbook for building momentum before launch. #WaitlistStrategy #SoloDev #SaaS #PreLaunch #10KMRR #AIResumeScreening #ScarcityMarketing #ReferralLadder #CashDeposit #LaunchDayConversion #ProductValidation #Bootstrapping #IndieHacker #Technology #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #IndieHackerPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    12 mins