How to Get Your First 100 Users: A Guide for SaaS Startups
Learn how to get your first 100 users as a SaaS startup with proven strategies like free trials, Product Hunt, early access, and growth hacking tips.
You’ve built something. A product you believe in. Maybe it's a sleek AI dashboard, a project management tool for solopreneurs, or an automation tool that saves teams hours each week. But now comes the real challenge—getting someone (who isn’t your best friend or ex-colleague) to actually use it.
The truth? Your first 100 users can either make or break your product direction. They give feedback, signal product-market fit, and often become your most loyal advocates.
In this guide, we’re diving deep into exactly how to land your first 100 users using a mix of free trials, growth tactics, community engagement, and scrappy founder-led efforts. These aren’t theories—they’re battle-tested plays from founders who’ve done it before.
Let’s get started.
Free Trial Strategies That Convert
A generous but structured free trial can lower the barrier to entry while helping you learn what drives usage.
Offer a 14 or 30-day full access to your core features—especially if you're targeting other startups or consultants who want to move fast.
Include subtle usage nudges via email or in-app to help new users hit their first "aha" moment.
Collect feedback after the trial ends: What made them stick? What didn’t land?
Don’t forget: free doesn’t mean cheap. Use the trial as an onboarding opportunity, not a giveaway.
Prepping for a Product Hunt Launch
Launching on Product Hunt is a classic move for early traction—but it’s not about just showing up.
Build your coming soon page and start gathering early access signups.
Get involved in the community weeks before the launch—comment, support others, and connect with fellow makers.
Craft your launch assets ahead of time: gifs, videos, value-driven copy.
The Product Hunt algorithm loves momentum, so line up your audience in advance (think: newsletter, Twitter, LinkedIn). Bonus: being on the front page often means organic traffic for days.
Targeted Email Campaigns That Don’t Feel Spammy
Email isn't dead. It's just poorly used.
Start by:
Building a waitlist from your landing page.
Segmenting by interest or role if possible.
Sending value-first emails like: early access invites, short how-we-built-this stories, or behind-the-scenes updates.
Use tools like Lemlist or ConvertKit to personalize at scale—and always end with a CTA that feels like an invitation, not a pitch.
Embedding in Reddit and Discord Communities
People already hang out online. You just need to show up without selling.
For Reddit:
Use Subreddits like r/SaaS, r/Entrepreneur, or niche-specific ones relevant to your product.
Don’t just drop links—comment, ask questions, offer advice.
For Discord:
Join relevant communities and be active for at least a week before introducing your tool.
Host AMAs or demo days inside communities open to collaboration.
Approach it as a human first, founder second.
Building an Early Adopter Tribe
Early adopters are gold. They forgive bugs, love being first, and give actionable feedback.
Where to find them?
Twitter power users who tweet about your product category.
Indie Hackers and early-stage founder circles.
Consultants who need a better way to do their job.
Give them a reason to care:
Early access
Lifetime deal options
Direct line to the founding team
Build relationships, not just a user base.
Landing Page + Waitlist: Your Front Door
Your landing page should answer three questions in 10 seconds:
What is this?
Who is it for?
Why should I care now?
Add:
A clear headline
Screenshots or short demo GIFs
Social proof (even if it’s “Trusted by 22 early users”)
Then: invite visitors to join a waitlist. Use tools like Tally or Typeform to capture intent + email + use case. Bonus: add a “Why do you want early access?” field to personalize outreach.
Grow with a Referral System
Turn your first users into your marketing engine.
Offer simple incentives: 1 referral = 1 free month, or unlock a pro feature.
Use tools like Viral Loops or SparkLoop for easy implementation.
The key? Make it feel exclusive. Position the referral not just as a reward, but as an insider advantage.
Partnering with Micro-Influencers
You don’t need MrBeast to go viral. You need micro-influencers with niche trust.
Think consultants, creators, or operators with 1K–10K engaged followers.
Offer value upfront: free access + co-branded content or affiliate revenue.
Focus on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter for B2B plays.
These partnerships bring you users who trust the messenger—half the battle is already won.
Driving Traffic with LinkedIn Content
LinkedIn isn't just for job hunters—it’s the place to share your journey, especially for B2B SaaS founders.
What to post:
The “why” behind your product
Customer wins or use cases
Teardown of how you got your first 10 users
Be honest. Be useful. Add value consistently.
Engage with comments and repost others' content too—LinkedIn rewards creators who play the long game.
Building Trust Through Demo Calls
If you’re under 100 users, you should still be doing 1:1 demos.
Why?
Build trust and relationships
Understand where users get stuck
Pitch your product in real time
Use Calendly to book. Keep it informal—think 15-minute chats. Ask smart questions and take notes. This is how features get shaped, and how communities start.
You only get one shot at being small. That’s when you can talk to every user, reply to every message, and shape your product around real needs. Every strategy above is designed to help you learn faster, iterate smarter, and win your first 100 users—not with a big budget, but with intent and heart.
Want to surround yourself with other builders doing the same? Join the Ekofi Capital community—we share guides, real founder stories, and growth ideas that work.