How a Simple Countdown Timer Became a $25k/Month SaaS Business

Central Theme

This is the story of Lucas, a solopreneur who turned a very simple idea—a web-based countdown timer for live events called Stage Timer—into a SaaS business generating $25,000 per month. The core message is that massive opportunities exist in solving niche, overlooked problems with simple, well-executed solutions, allowing one to build a life-changing business without a complex product.

Key Points & Findings

• Idea Validation & First Customers: Lucas validated his idea not with a large audience, but with a single, targeted post in a niche video production subreddit. By offering a free tool and asking for genuine feedback, he confirmed demand and received a list of features users wanted.
• MVP Development: He built the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in just three days by using technologies he already knew (JavaScript, Vue.js). This allowed him to ship quickly and iterate based on user feedback, rather than getting stuck learning new tools. It took 224 days to earn his first dollar.
• Growth Strategy:
  • Niche SEO (50% of traffic): They create highly specific content (documentation, YouTube videos) that answers very precise user problems, such as integrating the timer with a specific piece of hardware (e.g., a Stream Deck). While these have low view counts, they attract high-intent users who are very likely to convert.
  • Product-Led Growth (33% of traffic): The app is designed for sharing. A generous freemium model encourages freelancers to use it at events, exposing the tool to new teams. The branding is clear on all shared links, driving organic, word-of-mouth discovery.
• Business Model & Operations:
  • The business is a family affair; Lucas handles product and development, while his wife manages marketing and customer support.
  • It is extremely profitable, with an 80-90% profit margin. Monthly costs are low (~$1,930) against a $25,000 monthly revenue.
  • The problem it solves is crucial for professional settings (conferences, TV broadcasts, even horse races) where an iPhone timer isn’t sufficient due to the need for remote control and multiple, synchronized displays.

Significant Conclusions

The main takeaway is that there are countless “$1 million niches” with outdated or non-existent software solutions. Aspiring entrepreneurs should look for simple, real-world problems and inefficiencies outside the typical tech bubble. Once an idea is found, the path to success involves rapid validation, a simple MVP, and a focused distribution strategy rather than building a complex, feature-heavy product from day one. Lucas also advises European entrepreneurs not to let fear of regulation prevent them from starting.

Mentoring Question

Lucas discovered his business idea by observing a friend’s awkward and inefficient workflow. What manual, clunky, or frustrating processes do you witness in your own job, industry, or hobbies that could be significantly simplified with a basic digital tool?

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=HBCwzfFbopE&si=4p87D6FfnBwrUZKo