How a Non-Technical Founder Bootstrapped a 6-Figure SaaS Business
Brecht Palombo is the founder of Distressed Pro, the home of BankProspector, a SaaS application that provides access to real-time updates for real-estate financials from some 14,000 banks and credit unions. He founded this business in 2009 and today has built a 6-figure business which he runs from on the road while traveling full-time with his wife and kids.
Key Talking Points
- How Brecht transitioned from being an auctioneer to a full-time non-technical software entrepreneur.
- Why focusing on a “niche of a niche of a niche” market has been critical to the success of Distressed Pro.
- How the first version of the product was a PDF document which Brecht was able to charge around $200 to each customer.
- Why Brecht regrets having started building the BankProspector product too soon and why he wishes he'd waited longer.
- How Brecht was able to show with data how his lack of focus directly impacted the growth of his software business.
- Why Brecht believes that it's critical to invalidate your product ideas instead of validating them.
Success Quote
- “Up, sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough.” – Benjamin Franklin
Book Recommendation
- “The Ultimate Sales Letter” by Dan Kennedy
Links & Resources Mentioned
Contact Information
- Brecht Palombo – @brechtify
- Omer Khan – @omerkhan
Recommended Podcast Episodes
- Bootstrap and Sell a Profitable Micro-SaaS Company - with Tyler Tringas [207]
- Unstack: How to Spot a Gap in a Crowded SaaS Market - with Grant Deken [272]
- Bootstrapping a SaaS from Zero to $55K MRR in 2 Years - with Arvid Kahl [259]
- Makerpad: How Ben Tossell Bootstrapped a $240K Side-Project - with Ben Tossell [238]
- Overcoming the Challenges of a Female-Founded SaaS Startup - with Rachel Liaw [253]
- Elastic.io: Getting Traction by Charging More for Your SaaS - with Renat Zubairov [236]
- How to Quit Your Job, Build a SaaS Product & Raise a Family in Japan - with Patrick…
- SaaS Founder Lessons: On Startup Failures, Vulnerability & Leadership - with Dennis van…
- Whooshkaa: Launch & Differentiate Your SaaS in a Crowded Market - with Rob Loewenthal…
- Findigs: Focusing on Progress Not Perfection to Hit $2M ARR - with Steve Carroll [290]