I Asked 10 Founders How They Got Their First Paying Customer, Here’s What They Said

Most SaaS founders struggle with getting that first paying user.

So I asked 10 founders how they did it. Here’s what worked:

• Reddit & Twitter → Posting about their problem, engaging in comments, and sharing insights.
• Cold DMs & Emails → Simple messages like, “I built something that solves X. Want to try it?”
• Niche Slack & Discord Groups → Offering early access in industry communities.
• Affiliate & Referral Deals → Giving early users an incentive to bring friends.
• LinkedIn Outreach → Connecting with ideal customers and starting conversations.

No magic tricks. Just talking to people who have the problem and making them an offer.

How did you get your first user? Or are you still looking?