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Give Me 36 Minutes and I'll Teach You How to Find $1M SaaS Ideas

2026-01-18 Education
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Rob Walling
Rob Walling
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Description

I surveyed 200+ founders making $1K-$100K+/month to find out how successful founders came up with their SaaS idea. In this video I break down the 8 proven methods they used—with real examples from dozens of founders. Spoiler: 72% found their idea through their work. Your next SaaS might be hiding in plain sight. 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED: → Free 9-5 Audit (find your SaaS idea at your day job): https://robwalling.com/ideas → 75+ Marketplace opportunities: https://microconf.com/marketplaces → Get early access to my upcoming book: https://robwalling.com/emails Huge thanks to all of the folks who filled out the survey! HamiltonRock · pinggg · Opening chess trainer · Trophy Labs · Slotly · CalFull · TemplateDocs · CREflow · Siteshot Pro · Praemostro ApS · saasyDB · Parable · Glow Social · WA Reminders · GuideWhale · MySQLSync · TrakRF · PostFast · Hutch Staging · TraitLab · SavvyIdeas · Photo Studio App · OpenGraphs · AdKit · Mega Seating Plan · Vanilo · CompanyEnrich · StreamThing · Samir Alibabic · VermietAssistent · Geocodio · Explosync · PictoMento · Favourites.io · Bridify · BlueGamma · Phos Site LLC · Airsailer · WaltDesign and Development · GiveMeLeads · Builder Prime · Questo è Cheto · Tododrive · Facility Kinetics · Glacier Peak Studios · Acodei · FitscorePro · Overcentric · QuantixAI · Deductible Duck · DocuPotion · k9 Security · Buuky · ZLS.app · AFM Ventures GmbH · Deporte Virtual · GivFlow · HyperEnv · ResponseHub · RentKit · PromoPulse · Omega Benefits Inc. · Spindle · Gradsift · Prima Facie Bonkers, Inc. · Sporting Scouter · AutomatePOD · SetHero · Jenesis Software · Gentext AI · Tracker · SignWell · Prophy.ai · StructuredAF · TinyCal · Apiable Oy · Quil · Tiiny Host · Astalty · Heyo · AuthoredUp · Gobo · TimeClout · Humap · Try That LLM · BridgeCurrent · Radio Cult · ShowMojo · Stitchwork · WPConcierge · Changebot · Birgu Consulting SRL · Simplebooklet · LangFast · BizSpeed · Profitdent · StaffReservations · SkuVault · Rootabl · CheckoutJoy · Redokun · Sinosend · Huditech UG · Ask Edgar · Castos · Prokurio · Certify · Leadsie · Training Tilt · VerificationManager · Dump Truck Dispatcher, Inc. · SessionLab · BriefTech · Design Master Software · Glacier Peak Studios · Abstract Leap · Teamfluence · Launch Guardian · Cloudhooks · The INFIN · BigMailer · GoRails · Easy Tee Golf · WellFunded Philanthropy · Inbox Zero · Sonas · Tempesta Media · Plark · humadroid.io · Affable Link · StatusGator · DrawSQL · BlueGamma · StreamPilot · Bolero · Obnex Technologies AB · LazySubs · Xolution Technology · Gem Logic · Lesson Launchpad · Mawi · endless webservices GmbH · PostMentor · Retentional · OKZest · Assemblia AI · Pagedeck · On-Call Optimizer · Ostinato · Start in Wyoming, Inc. · Civic Review · Podsqueeze · Stockistly · DevZing · DropInBlog · OneAccord · Bookr · Fleetworks · OrderNerd · Fingarde Technologies Inc · Checkout Page · Flare · Parseur · SocialKit · Hovercode · DialogShift · Singing Carrots · DropEvent · Supadata · CapaPlanner · RoutineFactory · AuctionIT · Outseta · detamoov · Quill Therapy Solutions · Prism · Metro Retro / Ludi · Shrpa · DYDOMITE · EmployTest · UpSheets · Anchorpoint · T.LY URL Shortener · Reviewflowz · LinkMatch · OutboundSync · Bluite · Constructive Software · Dynamic Leads · Loadster · DrugPatentWatch · Student Voice AI · Jitbit · Nusii Proposals · Join It · Bad Statement, Inc · Upstream Edge LLC · DashLoops · CrankWheel · Ekofi Capital · Rasbree · Attributer · pdforge · Dcentrica Solutions · Drum · CQSE · Detail Bookie · resynced.io · TxtSquad · WANotifier Inc · OneUp · Hooroo.ai · DebugBear · GJ Price Tracker About Me: I’m Rob Walling. I’ve been building, growing, and acquiring SaaS companies for nearly two decades. I’ve started six companies (five of them bootstrapped) and exited multiple times, most notably selling Drip in 2016. I’ve invested in over 200 startups, and my focus is on helping founders build multimillion-dollar companies without the pressure of the traditional "unicorn or bust" venture capital model. 🚀 Scale Your SaaS with TinySeed If you are a B2B SaaS founder looking for funding, mentorship, and community, check out the accelerator I co-founded. We designed it specifically for bootstrappers. Apply to TinySeed: https://tinyseed.com 🤝 Join the Community at MicroConf I co-founded MicroConf to create a space for non-venture-backed startups. Connect with thousands of other founders, watch world-class talks, and find the support you need to grow your business. Explore MicroConf: https://microconf.com 🎙️ Listen to Startups for the Rest of Us Check out my podcast, where I’ve shared insights on bootstrapping and growing startups for over a decade. With over 800 episodes and 15 million downloads, it’s the longest-running podcast for software entrepreneurs. Listen here: https://www.startupsfortherestofus.com 👋 Connect with Me Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/robwalling LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robwalling Website: https://robwalling.com

Top Comments (10)

@itsanishjain 2026-01-18

Rob because of you I'm made my first few micro SaaS and now it's doing 800-1000 / month thanks a lot

91 7 replies
@zdrux 2026-01-19

Looking for problems within your own daily life is a super life-hack

17 2 replies
@prateekbhardwaj9943 2026-01-27

Rob made everything, nothing left for us to built

8 1 replies
@j4kubczerwo 2026-01-22

I started using your rules for finding SaaS ideas. I'm looking for them in various industry groups (e.g., Azure / Microsoft 365 / Sys Admin groups on Discord / Reddit, etc.). The problem is that most of the problems that users write about are not repeated enough to make it a product for more than, for example, 3 people :D I simply can't find a "paint point" and propose a solution so that, for example, 30-50 people sign up for my waiting list.

7 2 replies
@FedericoTerzi 2026-01-18

Such a great, informative video. I'll recommend it to anyone asking me how to find ideas from now on

6 1 replies
@_worksonmymachine 2026-02-09

Thanks for the shoutout Rob!

4
@edek8985 2026-05-29

I'm glad I gave it a shot to visit this channel.

1 1 replies
@istvantree 2026-06-16

rich content. thank you!

1 1 replies
@eonryan8491 2026-06-15

1. Find problems encountered in jobs 2. Copy an existing product 13:20 3. Discovering problem through freelancing 17:25 4. Solving a problem for people you know: spouse friend colleague etc (18:19 - having a chat with someone with deep experience) 20:35 5. Find a problem online 25:10 6. Scratch your own itch 26:03 - idea validation: Rob asked 17 other founders before started building drip; when he got 11 yeses he started building 28:45 - 7. taking advantage of emerging/fast growing industry 38:33 - 8. Building on top of existing products

1
@felixrabe 2026-05-23

This is a great and helpful presentation. Though I do find the sound effects somewhat distracting.

0

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