10 Unknown SaaS Making $50K+ MRR (Copy Them)
The Startup Ideas Podcast
Waitlist Strategy Explained
Rob introduces the waitlist playbook used for Clio and Mentions to quickly hit tens of thousands MRR.
On this episode I sit down with Rob Hoffman, who runs a portfolio of profitable SaaS businesses (Contact, Mentions, Kleo). Rob breaks down six proven customer acquisition playbooks using real examples doing between ~$20K and $300K MRR. The episode walks through concrete strategies like waitlist launches, trend-jacking, language arbitrage, AI search, signal-search, and high-ticket ads. You will learn how to go beyond “vibe coding” and use structured marketing systems to get their first customers, raise prices, and scale more predictably.
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
04:16 – 1) Waitlist Strategy: Kleo & Mentions Case Study
19:45 – 2) Wave Surfer Strategy: TrustMRR Case Study
27:54 –3) Language Arbitrage Strategy: Teachizy Case Study
33:53 – 4) AI Search Strategy: Tally Case Study
40:30 – 5) Signal Search Strategy: LocalRank Case Study
50:04 – 6) High Ticket Ad Strategy: MailScale Case Study
Key Points
Most indie builders can ship products but struggle to get customers; Rob packages his experience into six repeatable acquisition playbooks.
The Waitlist Strategy pairs “edgy sales” content with email nurturing, scarcity, and beta cohorts to quickly reach tens of thousands in MRR.
Riding an existing wave (like fake-MRR discourse on X) plus product-led virality can generate huge attention, which is better monetized with ads than subscriptions.
Language and geo arbitrage—cloning a winning SaaS into another language/market—combined with non-English SEO is “marketing on easy mode.”
AI search (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude) is an overpowered channel right now; deep “alternatives/versus/best of” pages are heavily cited and convert far better than Google traffic.
Feature-first launches, faceless accounts, and enterprise plans let products like LocalRank and MailScale stack MRR with small audiences, YouTube demos, and high-ticket sales.
The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com
LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/
The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com
Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit
Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire
FIND ME ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/
FIND ROB ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://x.com/RobHoffman_
Kleo: https://kleo.so
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