How Fernando Built Two SaaS Products to $15K MRR as an Average Coder
TL;DR: Fernando, a designer from Argentina, built ResumeVaker.online and AI Carousels to $15K MRR combined while working only 4 hours a day. His approach focuses on finding validated markets and creating ultra-simple solutions that solve one specific problem better than bloated competitors. For ResumeVaker.online, he removed the signup wall and let users see their resume instantly with one button press. For AI Carousels, he launched in 10 days after getting fired from his 9-5, validating demand when 5 users paid for a buggy beta product. His main distribution channels are Product Hunt launches (won Product of the Week for ResumeVaker), SEO through 30+ free complementary tools, and building in public on Twitter/LinkedIn. He converted ResumeVaker from one-time purchases to SaaS for predictable revenue, and expanded AI Carousels beyond just carousels to reduce churn. With 90% profit margins and a lean tech stack (Notion + Supabase), he optimizes for lifestyle over revenue, maintaining momentum by working weekends but limiting himself to deep work each morning.
Key Insights
- Niche down validated markets to 0.1% - big companies can't afford to serve tiny segments with ultra-focused solutions
- Launch in 10 days to validate without emotional attachment - easy to move on if it fails vs 6-12 months of building
- Build 30+ free complementary tools for SEO when you're not a marketing expert
- Remove friction radically - one button to see your resume vs signup walls that competitors use
- Payment is ultimate validation - 5 users paid for buggy beta proved opportunity existed
Actionable Takeaways
- Identify bloated tools in validated markets and build a version that does one thing simply
- Launch a 10-day MVP challenge with public accountability to validate fast without attachment
- Build free tools as natural extensions of your main product to drive SEO traffic
- Remove signup walls and friction - let users experience value immediately
- Start with low beta pricing ($9.99), then increase as you add features and mature the product
- Track first paying customers as validation signal - if they pay for buggy product, there's real demand
Principles Validated (13)
Resource constraints should drive niche focus
Fernando (ResumeVaker.online and AI Carousels)
Remove authentication and use local storage to reduce friction and costs
Fernando (ResumeVaker.online)
Build value ladder with low-friction entry points that drive conversions to core product
Fernando (AI Carousels)