Founder stories
$100K ARRin 4 years
4 milestones
Near bankruptcy to 10M users after pivoting based on Product Hunt launch
Founder
Joe Thomas
Co-Founders•Technical•USA
Commitment
Full-timeExperience
ExperiencedProduct
Video messaging and screen recording platform for work.
Type
SaaSIndustry
Content CreationModel
SubscriptionMarketing Strategy
How Joe acquired customers
Primary Channel
Product Hunt
Also Used
Word of MouthCommunities
Tech Stack
Tools used to build Loom
ReactNode.jsAWSStripe
The Full Story
We were near bankruptcy when we launched on Product Hunt. 3,000 signups in 24 hours saved the company. We pivoted from usability tests to video recording based on what users wanted.
The Pivot
We started as a usability testing tool. Users kept asking for just the recording feature. We listened and pivoted.
Product Hunt Saved Us
We were running out of money. The Product Hunt launch brought 3,000 signups and gave us runway to survive.
Explosive Growth
From that pivot, we grew to 10M users and 120K paying customers. Revenue grew 1,100% in one year.
- PH launch signups: 3,000 in 24 hours
- Users: 10M
- Paying customers: 120K
- Revenue growth: 1,100% YoY
Key Takeaways
1
Product Hunt can save a dying startup
2
Double down on feature with traction
3
Listen to what users actually want
4
Near-death experiences clarify priorities
Originally published onProduct Hunt
Inspired by Joe's journey? Generate a business idea in the Content Creation space using AI and real founder data.
Milestone Journey
Joe achieved 4 milestones on the path to $100K ARR
First Customer
14 days
October 2015
85% faster
vs avg 3 months+3 months to next milestone
$1K MRR
$1,000
3 months
December 2015
73% faster
vs avg 11 months+9 months to next milestone
$10K MRR
$10,000
1 year
October 2016
43% faster
vs avg 1 year+3 years to next milestone
$100K ARR
$10,000,000
4 years
October 2019
Avg: 3 years
4 years
Total journey time
4
Milestones achieved
Joe's Path to $100K ARRPremium
The journey, decisions, and context behind this milestone
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