Stagetimer: A Side Hustle Turned €10k MRR Business

NxtBigStartup is a free newsletter that shares case studies and interviews with small startup founders who are making real money. Get inspired and find your next idea with us

Some Stats

Company - Stagetimer.io

launched - 2021

Revenue - 10K MRR

Founder - Lukas

The Spark of an Idea

The whole thing started with just a simple observation. Stagetimer’s founder is a seasoned software engineer, and the glaring inefficiency he saw in the live events industry left him opening his company in 2015. At a friend’s studio session, he saw the manual work of manually timing speakers using an old Flash app. I could tell a more efficient, web based solution was needed.

From the Side Project to The Full Time Venture.

The journey started with the first commit to a still brand new project in November 2020. Three weeks later the first user was acquired through a Reddit post. By February 2021, the project was fully grown into a full company.

Stagetimer was a side hustle at first, built alongside a full time 9 – 5. As far as the founder was concerned, nights, weekends were spent building and perfecting the product. But the slow progress kept him going — he had the initial traction and positive feedback to keep him going.

After a little over 1.5 years, Stagetimer went on to generate 3,000€ per month. Confident in the product’s potential, the founder and his wife took a bold step: Then they quit their jobs and went on a six month long travel adventure across Asia. Upon return to Germany, the income Stagetimer made covered their living expenses.

Customer Acquisition Art

Stagetimer's first days consisted of the freemium model where the first version of the product was free. Having gathered the necessary feedback, this strategy was crucial to attracting the first users. Firsthand experience with user behaviour and the data revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the product.

Stagetimer’s early growth was due in part to Reddit. The founder simply shared the tool with potential users and contributed to the relevant communities. Initial traction was achieved by this organic approach, with some word of mouth.

But Stagetimer needed six months to get its first paying customer. Developing premium features and adjusting the product’s value proposition took the time, according to the delay. The breakthrough was when the founder did an update and immediately received a payment. This proved that the product has market potential and valuable product extension.

In order to go deeper into understanding of users needs, the founder spoke with the early customers, and asked how do they use it, what are the pain points, and the former ways of doing it. The product roadmap was informed by this feedback loop as well as helped tailor the messaging to resonate with the target audience.

Marketing Strategies and Growth tactics

After Stagetimer’s growth, the founder started testing marketing channels. Finally we found the strategy that worked — SEO and Google Ads both lead to traffic and conversions. Less favorable results were seen with Facebook Ads, social media posts, and cold email outreach.

The founder emphasized the importance of low-effort marketing tactics:

• A Strong Landing Page: A clear and concise landing page effectively communicates the product's value proposition.

• Comparison Pages: Highlighting the advantages of Stagetimer over competitors can attract users seeking alternatives.

• Free Resources: Offering free tools, templates, and guides can attract potential customers and build brand awareness.

• Targeted Reddit Participation: Engaging in relevant communities can generate organic traffic and foster word-of-mouth.

Customer satisfaction was prioritized as a crucial marketing tool. By providing exceptional customer support and addressing issues promptly, the founder cultivated a loyal user base. Positive word-of-mouth and referrals became valuable assets for business growth.

The Freemium Model and Future Vision

Stagetimer's freemium model continues to be a cornerstone of its business strategy. The free tier offers a taste of the product's capabilities, while the paid tiers unlock advanced features and cater to specific user needs. Additionally, one-time license packages are available for event-based clients, providing flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

As Stagetimer evolves, the founder plans to introduce team billing and expand the features of the premium tier. While the niche market limits the potential for rapid growth, the current €10k MRR and 85% profit margin are significant achievements.

Lessons Learned

The journey of Stagetimer offers valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Identify a Niche: By targeting a specific pain point in the live event industry, Stagetimer carved out a unique niche.

• Iterate and Refine: Continuous improvement and adaptation to user feedback are crucial for product success.

• Prioritize Customer Satisfaction: A strong customer base can fuel organic growth and positive word-of-mouth.

• Leverage Effective Marketing Channels: SEO and Google Ads can be powerful tools for driving traffic and conversions.

• Embrace the Side Hustle: Starting small and building gradually can lead to significant achievements.

The story of Stagetimer exemplifies the impact of perseverance, innovation and customer oriented thinking. Stagetimer has taken its vision and has adapted to the needs of the market and it’s stayed true to that vision.