Startups For the Rest of Us Episode 589 | Finding a SaaS Idea Through 70 Cold Calls
Feb 8, 2022
Jason Buckingham, who discovered a startup idea after making over 70 cold calls, shares his journey into entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the importance of tenacity in identifying customer needs and finding viable SaaS solutions. The conversation highlights the challenges of balancing day jobs with building a product, securing family support, and navigating the startup landscape during a pandemic. With insights on effective communication and the resilience required in business, Jason's story is both inspiring and practical for aspiring entrepreneurs.
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Cold Calls Led To The Idea
- Jason made 35 cold calls to home care companies and pivoted when he found placement agencies mentioning a real pain.
- He then did 30–40 more calls to placement agencies while balancing a Microsoft day job.
Ask For 15 Minutes And Listen
- Send personalized cold emails asking only for 15 minutes and focus the conversation on the other person.
- Keep persisting through initial rejections and extend the call to learn more when they agree.
Formed Company While Working Full-Time
- Jason and cofounder JD formed the company in late 2016 after aggregating interview notes and securing prepayments.
- They worked Microsoft days and built the product nights and weekends, coding 30 hours a week between them.