How I Made $40K Helping Non-Technical Founders Build Their MVPs
In this interview, Deepak shares how he earned $40K by building MVPs for non-technical founders who lack coding knowledge.
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In this interview, you'll meet Deepak, founder of LeanMVP, a software development agency. I discovered him on one of my Reddit threads and thought to feature his journey.
In this interview, Deepak shares:
His backstory and how he started.
How he got his first free and paid customers for his product.
What was effective in attracting customers to his product?
His competitive advantages, what gives him an edge, and insights that have proven beneficial to his operations.
Which books, podcasts, or other resources have had the greatest impact on him.
What advice would he offer to entrepreneurs who are just starting out.
Q. Hello! Who are you and what product are you working on currently, and who is your target audience(Age range)?
Hey! I'm Deepak, founder of LeanMVP, a software development agency. We work with non-technical founders and early-stage startups to build and scale their products. Our audience includes founders looking to create their MVP and startups (up to Series A) that need design, development, or DevOps support without spending $100k on a full-time hire.
Q. What is your backstory and how did you come up with your idea? What year did you start?
I worked as a full-time software engineer for five years, earning $60k annually. During that time, non-tech founders often reached out for help building their MVPs. For some, I acted as a fractional CTO while they hired interns.
One of the most memorable cases was a PayPal recruiter with seven years of experience who wanted a full product built. After helping several people, I realized I could do this full-time and resigned from my job in May 2024 to start LeanMVP.
Q. Take us through the process of building the first version of your product MVP.
LeanMVP is a service-based agency, so there wasn’t a “product” to build.
Q. How many employees do you have working on your product? Do you have any co-founders?
I’m the sole founder of LeanMVP. We’re a team of eight, including a product designer, frontend and backend developers, DevOps, and AI/ML specialists. Some team members are full-time, while others consult part-time.
Q. How did you get your first customers for your product and how many free/paid customers do you have currently? (Feel free to list them out).
I got my first customer on Reddit. A founder posted about wanting to build a product using a no-code tool. I replied, explaining why no-code wasn’t the best option for their idea and offered a roadmap.
They started with a small $500 project to test our skills, then signed a full contract after being satisfied with our work.
We’ve worked with three clients so far and have two more deals in the pipeline.
Q. Since you launched your product, What has worked to attract customers?
The biggest factor is how closely we work with founders. Many are busy or unsure how to handle everything. We take full responsibility for developing their product according to their vision, which builds trust.
Q. How is your product performing currently, and what are your plans for the future? Can you share your current metrics and revenue figures?
We’re doing okay but want to improve. We’ve onboarded three clients so far, but a few potential high-ticket clients ghosted us after long discussions. We’re optimistic about two new deals in progress. We have closed projects totaling $40k, with $15k received so far. The remaining $2k invoice is not included in this screenshot. Also, payments are made in phases, based on project progress.
Q. Since the inception of your business, have you gained any insights that have provided you with a competitive advantage and proven beneficial to your operations?
We realized many founders have similar needs, product roadmaps, basic features, standard authentication, and payment integration. To simplify things, we introduced fixed-price packages based on these common requirements.
Q. What tools have helped you grow your product?
Reddit and LinkedIn have been the most effective for networking and finding clients.
Q. What advice would you offer to entrepreneurs who are looking to start or have just begun their journey?
Take action and stay consistent. That’s the only way to make progress.
Q. Are you hiring?
Yes, we’re looking for frontend developers and UI/UX designers who specialize in creating high-converting landing pages.
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions! What is your contact info if people would like to inquire about your services? You can add all your links.
You can contact me on LinkedIn and via Email.
Let me know what you learned from this interview and have a productive week!🙏
Indie Tip Of The Week
This week's indie tip is to work wisely, not tirelessly. Use established frameworks, prioritize distribution from the start, and choose markets with proven demand to lower risks. Begin with services before moving into tech, and ensure your business aligns with what drives you personally to stay energized and focused. Check this out for more!
Indie Product Of The Week
BlinkMetrics by Nathan Tyler is a simple tool for tracking and reporting KPIs. It connects with other platforms to bring all your business data into one place. Built by a small business, it offers an easy alternative to messy spreadsheets and expensive enterprise systems.
Check out the product, and share your thoughts in the comments!
Indie Trivia Of The Week
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