Hey everyone (new to dev.to .. sorry for any mistake.. you can point me out ..if happen),
If you're a builder, you've probably been there. You have the skills to build almost anything, but the hardest part is figuring out what to build.
You scroll through Reddit, Indie Hackers, and Twitter, looking for that spark. You see people complaining about their software, hinting at problems that need solving. It’s a goldmine of ideas, but it's buried under thousands of posts and comments.
I spent weeks doing this** manually—copying l**inks into Notion, trying to spot patterns, and honestly, just getting lost in the noise. It was inefficient and frustrating.
I realized the real problem wasn't a lack of ideas; it was a lack of a system. So, I built a system.
From Manual Scraping to an Automated "Idea Engine"
Initially, it was just a collection of scripts. A little "machine" I built to scrape these communities 24/7, pull out complaints and feature requests, and structure them in a simple database.
What I found was incredible. By analyzing the language people used, I could identify:
High-Intent Problems: Issues that users were desperate to pay to solve.
Feature Gaps: Missing features in multi-million dollar SaaS products.
Emerging Niches: New markets popping up before they became saturated.
The "machine" worked so well for me that I realized it was too valuable to keep to myself. That's why I'm turning it into a full-fledged product called IdeaHub.
What is IdeaHub?
IdeaHub is a curated, data-driven platform designed to help developers and founders find their next validated SaaS idea without the endless research.
Instead of just giving you a vague idea like "build a CRM," IdeaHub gives you an actionable starting point backed by data:
Data-Backed Validation: Every idea comes with direct quotes and links to the original discussions.
Market Analysis: We provide insights on the potential market, existing competition, and noted pain points.
Technical Starting Point: We even outline potential key features and tech stacks to get you started faster.
The goal is to take you from "I don't know what to build" to "I have a validated plan for a product people already want" in a fraction of the time.
The Tech Stack
For those curious about the internals, the stack is built for speed and scale:
Backend: Supabase (PostgreSQL) for the database, with Edge Functions handling the data collection and analysis.
Frontend: Next.js deployed on Vercel for a lightning-fast, statically generated interface.
Data Analysis: Using premium models + human evalution at each step and 15+ criteria.
Get Early Access
I'm currently building out the final interface. I'm looking for a small group of serious founders and developers who want to get their hands on this data and build their next venture.
If you're tired of the guesswork and want to build something with a built-in advantage, this is for you.
➡️ Apply for a spot on the IdeaHub early access list
I'm keeping the initial group small to get high-quality feedback. Thanks for reading, and I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
row no 2 from our db in json format for your reference-- >
{
"original_post": {
"uid": "8763bbe1-db08-4217-80b3-ce0222e659cb",
"Subreddit": "microsaas",
"Post URL": "https://reddit.com/r/microsaas/comments/1lur2iy/should_i_just_move_on/"
},
"extracted_ideas": [
{
"idea_id": "idea_pm_001",
"title": "Hyper-Niche PM for Digital Micro Agencies (Refined Boutique Agency OS)",
"category": "SaaS",
"subcategory": "Project Management / Agency Tools",
"problem_statement": "Digital micro agencies (e.g., SEO, social media, content, web design agencies with <10 staff) struggle with generic project management platforms that lack specific features for their unique workflows, client communication, and lean team structures. The OP's struggle ('Should I just move on?') despite initial demand validation suggests challenges with differentiation, user acquisition, or monetization post-MVP.",
"solution_overview": "A refined and highly specialized project management platform, 'Boutique Agency OS,' focusing on 1-3 critical, unmet feature needs of digital micro agencies. Instead of broad PM features, it provides deep functionality for client collaboration, specific reporting, and workflow automation tailored to digital campaigns, aiming for superior user experience and clear value proposition.",
"target_audience": "Owners and team members of small (1-10 people) digital marketing agencies, SEO agencies, social media agencies, content creation studios, and web design/development micro-agencies.",
"business_model": "SaaS (Software as a Service) with tiered subscription plans.",
"revenue_potential": "High. The niche is large and underserved by truly specialized tools. High lifetime value (LTV) if churn is low due to strong niche fit. Potential for $50k-$100k ARR within 12-18 months with focused marketing.",
"difficulty_level": "Intermediate",
"time_to_build": "2-4 weeks for a refined MVP (assuming OP has existing codebase for 'Boutique Agency OS'), focusing on a specific pain point.",
"key_features": [
"Dedicated Client Portal: Secure, branded portal for each client to view project progress, share assets, and provide feedback.",
"Automated Digital Campaign Reporting: Integrate with common marketing platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Meta Ads, SEMrush) for automated, customizable client reports.",
"Niche-Specific Workflow Templates: Pre-built, customizable templates for SEO audits, content calendars, social media scheduling, or website development sprints.",
"Lean Team Collaboration: Tools optimized for small teams, emphasizing clear task ownership, fewer meetings, and asynchronous communication.",
"Integrated Proposal & Invoicing: Seamless generation of proposals, contracts, and invoices linked to project scope and milestones."
],
"tech_stack_suggestions": [
"Frontend: React.js or Vue.js (for reactive UI and component reusability)",
"Backend: Node.js (Express.js) or Python (Django/Flask) (for rapid API development)",
"Database: PostgreSQL (for relational data and scalability) or MongoDB (for flexibility if data schema is less rigid)",
"Cloud Hosting: AWS (EC2, RDS, S3) or Vercel/Netlify (for frontend) + Render/Heroku (for backend)",
"Integrations: OAuth for Google/Meta APIs, Zapier/Make.com for broader automation needs"
],
"monetization_ideas": [
"Starter Plan: $29/month (up to 3 users, 5 client portals, basic reports). Targeting solopreneurs and tiny agencies.",
"Growth Plan: $79/month (up to 10 users, unlimited client portals, advanced reporting, niche templates). Targeting growing micro-agencies.",
"Agency Pro Plan: $149+/month (unlimited users, white-labeling, priority support, custom integrations). Targeting established micro-agencies and small studios."
],
"validation_signals": {
"market_demand": "High. The original post explicitly states 'I validated the demand' and 'found many subreddits where potential customers were complaining about the lack of features on current PM platforms.' This direct user feedback is strong validation.",
"reddit_engagement": "Medium. While the post itself has low direct engagement (3 upvotes, 5 comments), the OP's *method* of validation (checking 'many subreddits') indicates active discussions and pain points within relevant communities.",
"competition_level": "Medium-High. General PM tools are highly competitive, but truly niche-specific solutions for *digital micro agencies* with deep, tailored features are less saturated. The challenge is in defining and communicating this niche.",
"trend_momentum": "Growing. The rise of specialized SaaS solutions for specific verticals (vertical SaaS) is a strong trend. Digital agencies continue to proliferate, and remote work accelerates the need for structured PM. The micro-SaaS subreddit's growth also indicates a broader interest in niche solutions."
},
"why_now": "The proliferation of digital micro agencies and freelance operations means a growing market that is underserved by generic PM tools. The 'vertical SaaS' trend provides an opportunity for deeply integrated, niche-specific solutions. OP's existing validation and early product development provide a significant head start, making this an opportune time to refine and push a focused offering.",
"potential_risks": [
"Feature bloat: Attempting to be 'everything for everyone' within the niche can dilute value.",
"Marketing overhead: Reaching a fragmented niche can be costly without targeted channels.",
"Integration complexity: Maintaining integrations with multiple third-party marketing tools can be challenging.",
"User adoption: Convincing agencies to switch from established, albeit generic, tools."
],
"next_steps": [
"Conduct deeper qualitative interviews with digital micro agencies to pinpoint the *single most painful* PM feature gap.",
"Refine 'Boutique Agency OS' MVP to excel in that one specific area, rather than being a general PM tool.",
"Develop a highly targeted go-to-market strategy focusing on specific subreddits, Facebook groups, and industry newsletters for digital agencies.",
"Implement a compelling free trial or freemium model to lower the barrier to entry."
],
"instant_build_options": {
"replit_prompt": "Build a multi-tenant SaaS application called 'Boutique Agency OS' focused on project management for digital micro agencies. The MVP should include user authentication, agency onboarding, creation of multiple client projects, and a dedicated client portal view for each project where clients can see progress updates, share files, and add comments. Use React for the frontend, Node.js with Express.js for the backend, and PostgreSQL as the database. Ensure secure API endpoints for project and client data. Prioritize a clean, intuitive UI.",
"bolt_ai_prompt": "Create a web application MVP for 'Boutique Agency OS'. It needs user authentication, agency and client dashboards, basic project creation, task management with assignees and due dates, and a simple client communication feature (comments on tasks). Focus on a responsive, professional design suitable for agencies. Use React for frontend, Node.js backend. Include database schema for users, agencies, clients, projects, and tasks.",
"lovable_prompt": "Design a user flow and wireframes for 'Boutique Agency OS' focusing on its core value proposition: simplified client collaboration and reporting for digital micro agencies. Include screens for agency dashboard, project overview, client portal, and a report generation interface. Emphasize a clean, professional, and intuitive UI/UX that minimizes complexity.",
"cursor_prompt": "Develop an Express.js backend for 'Boutique Agency OS'. Define RESTful API endpoints for user authentication (JWT), agency management, client management, project creation and retrieval (filtered by agency and client), and file upload/sharing for projects. Implement PostgreSQL database models for users, agencies, clients, projects, tasks, and files. Include error handling and data validation. Assume React frontend for integration.",
"v0_prompt": "Generate a sleek, modern UI for a 'Boutique Agency OS' dashboard. It should include a sidebar navigation with 'Projects', 'Clients', 'Reports', and 'Settings'. The main content area should display a list of projects, each with a status, client name, and progress bar. Include a 'Create New Project' button and a search/filter bar. Use a clean, professional aesthetic suitable for agency software."
},
"market_research": {
"google_search_queries": [
"project management software for small digital agencies",
"client portal software for marketing agencies",
"vertical SaaS for digital services",
"digital marketing agency market size",
"pain points of small marketing agencies project management"
],
"market_size_data": "The global project management software market size was valued at $7.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $15.5 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.7% (Source: Grand View Research). The digital marketing services market is estimated at over $300 billion globally, with a significant portion comprising small to mid-sized agencies and freelancers. Specializing in 'micro-agencies' could target 100,000s of potential clients globally, each paying $29-$149/month.",
"growth_trends": "Strong growth in remote work and the gig economy has led to an explosion of small, specialized service businesses, including digital agencies. The 'micro-SaaS' and 'vertical SaaS' trends are booming, indicating a shift from generalist tools to highly tailored solutions that solve specific, deep pain points. The r/microsaas subreddit's own growth suggests an increasing number of entrepreneurs targeting such niches.",
"customer_pain_points": [
"Generic PM tools are too complex or lack specific features for agency workflows (e.g., handling multiple clients/projects simultaneously, specific content review cycles).",
"Poor client communication and feedback loops within existing PM platforms, leading to email clutter and missed deadlines.",
"Difficulty generating automated, client-facing reports from project progress.",
"Over-reliance on spreadsheets or multiple disparate tools for different agency functions.",
"Expensive, enterprise-level agency management software is overkill for micro-agencies."
],
"pricing_analysis": "Competitors like Asana ($10.99-$24.99/user/month), Monday.com ($8-$16/user/month), and ClickUp ($5-$19/user/month) offer per-user pricing. Agency-specific tools like Teamwork or Accelo can be significantly more expensive. The gap exists for a product that offers niche-specific value at a competitive price point ($29-$149/month for the whole agency/team, not per user), especially if it bundles value currently spread across multiple tools."
},
"competitor_analysis": {
"direct_competitors": [
{
"name": "Teamwork.com",
"url": "https://www.teamwork.com/",
"strengths": [
"Comprehensive features for agencies",
"Strong client collaboration",
"Time tracking"
],
"weaknesses": [
"Can be overwhelming for micro-agencies",
"Higher price point",
"Less emphasis on 'micro' niche"
],
"pricing": "$13.99 - $24.99 per user/month",
"market_share": "Significant in agency PM, but not dominant in micro-agency segment"
},
{
"name": "Monday.com / Asana / ClickUp",
"url": "Various",
"strengths": [
"Broad feature sets",
"Highly customizable",
"Large user base"
],
"weaknesses": [
"Generic, not tailored to digital micro agency workflows",
"Can be complex to set up for niche needs",
"Lack specific integrations relevant to digital marketing campaigns"
],
"pricing": "Typically $5-$25 per user/month",
"market_share": "Dominant in general PM, but not specialized"
}
],
"indirect_competitors": [
"CRM tools with PM features (e.g., Honeybook, Dubsado - more freelancer-centric)",
"Communication tools (Slack, Microsoft Teams) when used for basic project updates",
"Spreadsheets (Google Sheets, Excel) for simple project tracking",
"Niche reporting tools (e.g., AgencyAnalytics, Whatagraph) which focus on reporting but not full PM."
],
"competitive_advantages": [
"Hyper-niche focus: Deeply understands and solves specific problems of digital micro agencies, unlike general PM tools.",
"Simplified client portals: Designed for ease of use by non-technical clients.",
"Integrated digital marketing reporting: Automates a major pain point for agencies.",
"Value pricing: Offering a compelling price point for the entire micro-agency team, not per-user, making it cost-effective.",
"Rapid iteration based on niche feedback: Ability to quickly adapt to specific feature requests from the target audience."
],
"market_gaps": [
"A truly *all-in-one* platform for micro-agencies that combines PM, client portal, and automated digital reporting seamlessly.",
"PM tools specifically designed for agency *size* (micro), not just agency type.",
"Simplified workflows that reduce complexity for small teams managing multiple clients."
]
},
"detailed_implementation": {
"technical_architecture": "A modern 3-tier architecture: a responsive single-page application (SPA) frontend, a stateless RESTful API backend, and a robust relational database. Utilizes cloud services for scalability and managed infrastructure.",
"database_schema": "Users (id, email, password_hash, role, agency_id, created_at, updated_at); Agencies (id, name, subscription_plan, created_at, updated_at); Clients (id, agency_id, name, email, contact_person, created_at, updated_at); Projects (id, agency_id, client_id, name, description, status, start_date, end_date, created_at, updated_at); Tasks (id, project_id, assigned_to_user_id, title, description, status, due_date, created_at, updated_at); Files (id, project_id, uploaded_by_user_id, file_name, file_url, created_at); Comments (id, entity_type, entity_id, user_id, content, created_at).",
"api_endpoints": [
"/api/auth/register",
"/api/auth/login",
"/api/agencies",
"/api/agencies/:id/clients",
"/api/agencies/:id/projects",
"/api/projects/:id",
"/api/projects/:id/tasks",
"/api/projects/:id/files",
"/api/projects/:id/comments",
"/api/reports/generate"
],
"ui_ux_guidelines": "Minimalist and intuitive design. Focus on clarity, logical information hierarchy, and minimizing clicks. Use clear visual cues for project status and progress. Implement drag-and-drop for tasks and files. Ensure mobile responsiveness. Prioritize client-facing portal simplicity and branding options.",
"security_considerations": [
"Implement robust user authentication (JWT for stateless API, bcrypt for password hashing).",
"Ensure all communication is over HTTPS.",
"Apply strict input validation and sanitization to prevent SQL injection and XSS attacks.",
"Implement role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure users/clients only access authorized data.",
"Regular security audits and dependency updates."
],
"scalability_plan": "Deploy backend on containerized services (Docker, Kubernetes) or serverless functions (AWS Lambda) for horizontal scaling. Utilize a managed database service (AWS RDS PostgreSQL or Azure Database for PostgreSQL) with read replicas. Store static assets (files, images) on an object storage service (AWS S3) with a CDN (CloudFront). Implement caching where appropriate."
},
"go_to_market_strategy": {
"launch_timeline": "Week 1: Refine MVP based on specific pain point. Week 2: Build simple landing page with strong value proposition. Week 3: Soft launch to select Reddit communities (r/microsaas, r/digitalmarketing, r/SEO, r/socialmedia) and targeted Facebook groups. Month 2: Incorporate feedback, expand features, start paid ads (Google Search, LinkedIn). Month 3-6: Content marketing (blog posts on agency PM, client comms), partnerships with agency consultants.",
"marketing_channels": [
"Reddit communities (organic posts, targeted ads on relevant subreddits)",
"Facebook Groups for digital marketers and agency owners",
"LinkedIn outreach to agency owners and freelancers",
"SEO-optimized content marketing (blog posts, guides, case studies)",
"Targeted paid ads (Google Search, Facebook/Instagram, LinkedIn)",
"Partnerships with agency coaches, consultants, and industry influencers.",
"Email marketing to collected leads."
],
"user_acquisition_cost": "Estimated $50-$150 CAC initially, aiming to reduce to $30-$70 CAC over time through organic growth and refined targeting. This takes into account cost of specialized niche advertising and content creation.",
"revenue_projections": {
"month_1": "$100-$300 (5-10 users on starter/growth plans with intro offers)",
"month_6": "$1,000-$3,000 (30-50 active agencies, mix of plans, 1-2% conversion from trial)",
"year_1": "$10,000-$20,000 (100-200 active agencies, 2-3% conversion, improved retention, some upgrades to higher tiers)"
},
"pricing_strategy": "Value-based pricing. Offer a generous free trial (e.g., 14-30 days) to allow agencies to experience the benefits. Tiered pricing based on the number of active projects, client portals, and access to premium features (e.g., advanced reporting, white-labeling). Consider annual discounts to encourage commitment.",
"customer_segments": [
"Startup digital marketing agencies (1-3 people) looking for an affordable, tailored solution.",
"Established micro-agencies (4-10 people) struggling with generic PM tools and seeking efficiency.",
"Freelance marketing consultants expanding into team-based projects.",
"Agencies specializing in a single digital marketing discipline (e.g., SEO, Social Media) that need specific workflow support."
]
},
"validation_experiments": [
{
"experiment_type": "Hyper-Targeted Landing Page + Survey",
"description": "Create a landing page highlighting the most critical pain point (e.g., 'Tired of generic PM tools? Get a client portal and automated reports designed for your digital agency.'). Include a short survey asking about their top 3 PM frustrations. Drive traffic via niche Reddit ads and Facebook groups.",
"success_metrics": [
"200 unique visitors",
"50 email sign-ups",
"30 survey completions with consistent pain points identified"
],
"timeline": "1.5 weeks",
"budget_required": "$100-$200 (for ads on Reddit/Facebook)"
},
{
"experiment_type": "Niche Forum Engagement + MVP Demo",
"description": "Identify 3-5 active online communities (subreddits, private FB groups) for digital micro agencies. Engage in discussions, offer to solve specific PM challenges, and then, if appropriate, share a quick Loom video demo of a specific, refined feature of 'Boutique Agency OS' (e.g., the client portal). Offer early access to 5-10 agencies in exchange for detailed feedback.",
"success_metrics": [
"10 detailed feedback sessions/calls",
"3-5 agencies willing to beta test the MVP for 2 weeks",
"2-3 testimonials capturing the core value"
],
"timeline": "3 weeks",
"budget_required": "$0 (time investment)"
},
{
"experiment_type": "Pain Point-Specific Content Marketing",
"description": "Write a detailed blog post or guide titled 'The Ultimate Guide to Client Reporting for Small Digital Agencies' or 'How to Streamline Your Content Workflow as a Micro SEO Agency'. Distribute it in relevant communities and forums, organically attracting users looking for solutions to specific problems that your 'Boutique Agency OS' can solve.",
"success_metrics": [
"500+ organic views on the content piece",
"20+ inbound inquiries/sign-ups related to the specific problem addressed"
],
"timeline": "2 weeks",
"budget_required": "$0 (time investment for writing and distribution)"
}
]
}
],
"analysis_metadata": {
"extraction_confidence": "High",
"post_relevance_score": 8,
"market_timing_score": 9,
"comprehensive_analysis": {
"market_research_depth": 9,
"technical_feasibility": 8,
"competitive_landscape_coverage": 9,
"monetization_clarity": 9,
"implementation_detail": 9
},
"recommended_for": [
"Entrepreneurs",
"SaaS Founders",
"Developers looking for a niche product",
"Anyone already building in the agency tools space"
],
"tags": [
"microsaas",
"saas",
"project management",
"agency tools",
"b2b",
"niche saas",
"digital marketing"
]
}
}
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