This founder burnt $500K in VC funding & yet could NOT buildd his startup’s MVP!
Then, he used NoCode tools:
Bubble — Platform
Postmark — Emails
MixPanel — Analytics
Hookdeck — Webhooks
And built the product in:
Time — 1 month
Cost — $500/mo
Here’s his story 🧵
Then, he used NoCode tools:
Bubble — Platform
Postmark — Emails
MixPanel — Analytics
Hookdeck — Webhooks
And built the product in:
Time — 1 month
Cost — $500/mo
Here’s his story 🧵
Structure:
1) Tough lessons after buildd-ing products from scratch
2) Discovering the magic of NoCode
3) What is UserLoop?
4) User-driven development of building!
5) How NoCode gives you Wings?
6) UserLoop's NoCode Stack
7) The impact!
8) Shortcomings with using NoCode
1) Tough lessons after buildd-ing products from scratch
2) Discovering the magic of NoCode
3) What is UserLoop?
4) User-driven development of building!
5) How NoCode gives you Wings?
6) UserLoop's NoCode Stack
7) The impact!
8) Shortcomings with using NoCode
1/ Tough lessons after buildd-ing products from scratch
James Devonport started building side hustles and small projects ever since he was 10.
In 2012, he went all in to buildd a proper business.
To help him code an MVP first, he needed some skilled developers.
(contd.)
James Devonport started building side hustles and small projects ever since he was 10.
In 2012, he went all in to buildd a proper business.
To help him code an MVP first, he needed some skilled developers.
(contd.)
So, he raised $500K from a VC to fund a team of 5 devs.
But, as soon as the money came in the clock started ticking. The developers were expensive and all the money went into paying them.
With, $500K raised & spent and as months passed, James only had an MVP in hand.
(contd.)
But, as soon as the money came in the clock started ticking. The developers were expensive and all the money went into paying them.
With, $500K raised & spent and as months passed, James only had an MVP in hand.
(contd.)
Realization ⇒ He realized that when building a startup, you can run out of money very quickly.
So, to de-risk the process and achieve a better runway you needed to cut the development cost.
But, there was no alternative to hiring developers. Then, James discovered NoCode!
So, to de-risk the process and achieve a better runway you needed to cut the development cost.
But, there was no alternative to hiring developers. Then, James discovered NoCode!
2/ Discovering the magic of NoCode
In 2017, James started experimenting with different NoCode tools for fun.
He discovered Bubble and immediately, he was blown away.
With Bubble, he wouldn't be building a toy version of actual software but high-quality sophisticated SaaS!
In 2017, James started experimenting with different NoCode tools for fun.
He discovered Bubble and immediately, he was blown away.
With Bubble, he wouldn't be building a toy version of actual software but high-quality sophisticated SaaS!
3/ What is UserLoop?
UserLoop was one of the fun projects, James whipped up over one Christmas.
It is a Shopify tool that helps e-commerce stores collect user feedback during the checkout process and later via email.
It comes with in-built analytics and customizations.
UserLoop was one of the fun projects, James whipped up over one Christmas.
It is a Shopify tool that helps e-commerce stores collect user feedback during the checkout process and later via email.
It comes with in-built analytics and customizations.
4/ User-driven way of building
James had experience in the user feedback and e-commerce domain. So he built a simple tool.
But UserLoop was nothing like the product it is today!
Version 1 ⇒ The app simply sent emoji reaction emails to collect feedback to a mail list.
(contd)
James had experience in the user feedback and e-commerce domain. So he built a simple tool.
But UserLoop was nothing like the product it is today!
Version 1 ⇒ The app simply sent emoji reaction emails to collect feedback to a mail list.
(contd)
Version 2 ⇒ His early users were all based on Shopify. And they wanted an app that didn't require a lot of set-up work on their Shopify store.
So with that feedback, in a few minutes, he made the app easily installable and usable on Shopify without any set-up process.
(contd)
So with that feedback, in a few minutes, he made the app easily installable and usable on Shopify without any set-up process.
(contd)
Version 3 ⇒ The customers wanted to run surveys during checkout and not just emails. So, he added that feature.
Version 4 ⇒ Then they wanted to run multiple surveys and not just one. So, that prompted James to add more complexity and customizable features to UserLoop.
(contd)
Version 4 ⇒ Then they wanted to run multiple surveys and not just one. So, that prompted James to add more complexity and customizable features to UserLoop.
(contd)
So, with constant feedback, UserLoop became the product it is today!
💡 Lessons:
1) Don't try to solve all problems at once. Figure the most critical ones & solve them first. Iterate & solve for the rest later.
Here, the main problem was collecting feedback.
(contd.)
💡 Lessons:
1) Don't try to solve all problems at once. Figure the most critical ones & solve them first. Iterate & solve for the rest later.
Here, the main problem was collecting feedback.
(contd.)
2. When building a product always think of building an MVP first. Launch, get feedback, iterate & buildd on top.
3. Do not add a feature unless its absence in your product has created a bottleneck in business outcomes.
4. Always keep shipping ⇒ Perfect is the enemy of good
3. Do not add a feature unless its absence in your product has created a bottleneck in business outcomes.
4. Always keep shipping ⇒ Perfect is the enemy of good
5/ How NoCode gives you Wings!?
NoCode perfectly supports this user-driven approach to development.
Benefits:
1. Low cost
2. Whip up a working prototype fast
3. Start collecting feedback from day 1
4. Make changes and iterate in a few clicks
5. Ship features quickly
(contd.)
NoCode perfectly supports this user-driven approach to development.
Benefits:
1. Low cost
2. Whip up a working prototype fast
3. Start collecting feedback from day 1
4. Make changes and iterate in a few clicks
5. Ship features quickly
(contd.)
NoCode is not only incredibly economical for bootstrapped businesses but also for VC-funded businesses.
a. They can cut down development costs and focus their funds on marketing or sales.
b. They can use a working NoCode prototype to gain leverage while negotiating with VCs.
a. They can cut down development costs and focus their funds on marketing or sales.
b. They can use a working NoCode prototype to gain leverage while negotiating with VCs.
6/ UserLoop's NoCode Stack!
1) Bubble ➝ Used to buildd the entire platform (integrated with Shopify)
2) Postmark ➝ Used to send emails
3) MixPanel ➝ Provides proper analytics for the survey data that are already collected.
4) Hookdeck ➝ Handles all the Webhooks
(contd.)
1) Bubble ➝ Used to buildd the entire platform (integrated with Shopify)
2) Postmark ➝ Used to send emails
3) MixPanel ➝ Provides proper analytics for the survey data that are already collected.
4) Hookdeck ➝ Handles all the Webhooks
(contd.)
There is also a very small amount of custom JavaScript that helps render the survey into the Shopify checkout.
The earlier version of this on Bubble was a bit slow, so they went for a custom solution.
But, nevertheless, all the data is saved on Bubble via the APIs.
The earlier version of this on Bubble was a bit slow, so they went for a custom solution.
But, nevertheless, all the data is saved on Bubble via the APIs.
7/ The impact
Today, UserLoop has
1. Onboarded 350 Shopify stores
2. Reached 70K customer responses and 100K emails
3. Scaled to $10K MRR
4. Grows by 20-30% month over month
5. All on a ⇒ $500/month NoCode tech stack + $1000/month of Bubble freelance contractors.
Today, UserLoop has
1. Onboarded 350 Shopify stores
2. Reached 70K customer responses and 100K emails
3. Scaled to $10K MRR
4. Grows by 20-30% month over month
5. All on a ⇒ $500/month NoCode tech stack + $1000/month of Bubble freelance contractors.
8/ Shortcomings with Using NoCode
NoCode can be a great starting point for your SaaS.
But, there are some complex apps that require heavy customizations for which Bubble might not be a great tool.
Now, James believes that 95% of SaaS apps can be built on Bubble.
(contd.)
NoCode can be a great starting point for your SaaS.
But, there are some complex apps that require heavy customizations for which Bubble might not be a great tool.
Now, James believes that 95% of SaaS apps can be built on Bubble.
(contd.)
If there are any limitations, you can always use 3rd party API connectors to add more functionality.
For example, if you have millions of database records, using a Bubble database won't be sufficient. So, you can use a different database and connect it to Bubble.
(contd.)
For example, if you have millions of database records, using a Bubble database won't be sufficient. So, you can use a different database and connect it to Bubble.
(contd.)
Now, wondering about the future limitations is futile when you haven't even started.
The fact is that getting started with building is actually the most intimidating part for entrepreneurs.
So, it's best to just start building apps for fun as James did.
(contd.)
The fact is that getting started with building is actually the most intimidating part for entrepreneurs.
So, it's best to just start building apps for fun as James did.
(contd.)
All 350 Shopify stores that UserLoop services have no idea that UserLoop is actually running on NoCode i.e. Bubble because the experience is so close to an app built from scratch.
All customers care about is results.
So, now is a great time to get started with NoCode! 😁
All customers care about is results.
So, now is a great time to get started with NoCode! 😁
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Thanks for sharing this wonderful story with us, @jamesdevonport ! 💯
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