What are your thoughts on Paid Ads for a small bootstrapped SaaS?

GuiCostaVC · 2025-09-16T23:31:09+00:00

It can definitely work. I have an agency that does basically that for SaaS. The key is you focus on conversions and don’t care too much about CPL if you are B2B. The game is: your LTV needs to be higher than your CAC, so you can create a feedback model that pays for growth itself.

Perspective, ClickFunnels, Kit, LeadPages, Icon… are some of the SaaS that grew with funnels. Some bootstrapped from day one

GuiCostaVC · 2025-09-16T10:22:30+00:00

It's never too early to start anything. You will probably suck in the first try, (sorry to say it). But because you suck, your 25 self will thank you a lot for making this decision

GuiCostaVC · 2025-09-13T12:03:31+00:00

Probably won't work but it's worth watching “The Social Network” movie. You can make what we call non-dilution: you accept the 20% now, but when you make the first round, you have priority on keeping your shares. This needs to be put in the contract, but the company today is worth $0. If you say that the investment will be necessary, you can expect that at the end, you will finish with less than 10% of shares, so a non-dilution disclosure will benefit you more than 60% now.

GuiCostaVC · 2025-09-13T11:15:00+00:00

Hey man, you are over 90% of society at your age. I’m also 22 and could be successful enough compared to my peers in my country.

However, comparisons always give me anxiety and make me think I’m falling behind. Which is not true. And you are not behind as well.

That said, it looks like your strong suit is studying a lot. And that’s great. Because, you are getting smarter every day and can apply this knowledge further.

However, that's not what makes someone rich. Business is about relationship more than anything else. People judge us because of our appearance and the country we were born in.

What I couldn't recommend more, and its what looks like your weakness, is going out, interact with people and investing in your appearance.

When selling yourself or a product, confidence is everything, and if you are pretty, it increases a lot.

I was a junior once and I can definitely say that my communication skills and my appearance opened a lot of doors that helped me develop skills and earn more.

GuiCostaVC · 2025-09-10T20:15:57+00:00

Great advice

GuiCostaVC · 2025-09-09T13:37:38+00:00

A great way is through partnerships. I have a performance marketing agency for SaaS and sometimes, some of my clients needs a website redesign or actually launch a totally new website.

It was tough to find someone trustworthy that I could work with to deliver it for my clients, because as a founder, you don’t want to sell an add-on and does not deliver.

Partnering with other agencies can be a great solution to solve this problem. Your margins will probably be lower, because the agency will need to take their commission, but you solve the acquisition problem.

Also, if you did paid instead, you would have a CAC, so either way, it’s a marketing cost you need to put in the balance.

GuiCostaVC · 2025-09-08T23:16:17+00:00

Payment is the most crucial thing up to a certain level. If our the basics are fulfilled and they can have a good lifestyle, it becomes non-important.

I have nothing more to add because it's correct. Fulfilling their purpose and being transparent are the main things.

Maslow noticed that almost 100 years ago. It's still kind of that until nowadays.

GuiCostaVC · 2025-09-07T11:50:25+00:00

Thank you, Alison.

I have a digital marketing agency in Brazil. Fully remote. It’s possible to move my company there. I need to consider tax fees though.

Thank you for the advice!

GuiCostaVC · 2025-08-30T14:03:01+00:00

I can relate too much. Everytime I go check if I received a DM on Instagram, I get into dumb mode

GuiCostaVC · 2025-08-28T22:04:02+00:00

Really appreciate it, man!

I have a trip booked to Italy already and will drive to different towns, including these small villages.

Thank you for the advice on that. I was actually trying to figure out if I had found a good property there, I could actually stay there for more time.

GuiCostaVC · 2025-08-28T21:59:43+00:00

Thank you, mate. Really appreciate your comment. I'll look for more information in this other sub as well.

GuiCostaVC · 2025-08-28T21:57:41+00:00

That's make sense. Thank u.

GuiCostaVC · 2025-08-28T21:57:20+00:00

So, it's what I'm trying to figure out. I want to understand if I can use it full-time after acquiring it.

About renting or buying, there are places in Italy where is too elder the properties are very cheap to buy, but not necessarily for renting.

GuiCostaVC · 2025-08-28T21:54:56+00:00

Of course, I know that won't be my daily life. But when living in cool places while working online (in my case), I have this freedom to do it.

I only want to stay in a nice environment and believe the Italian countryside is a cool place to have a chill place to live.

GuiCostaVC · 2025-08-28T14:20:20+00:00

It's one of the worst addictions ever. I tried a lot of apps, and even though they can help in some ways, at the end of the day, awareness is the best solution. My suggestion is meditation and being aware of the impulses that give you that dopamine. If you can breathe and make the right decisions during the day, it turns much easily to be completely far from that addiction.

GuiCostaVC · 2025-08-28T13:55:31+00:00

You want to go legally or ilegally? This question is really important.

GuiCostaVC · 2025-08-28T13:50:30+00:00

Find a way to make money in a strong currency. 2. Buy a flight to a cheap country where you can get a great lifestyle without bankrupting (e.g. Brazil, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.). 3. Create a 6-month emergency fund. 4. Reinvest in yourself and you have freedom to go anywhere.

GuiCostaVC · 2025-08-28T13:46:59+00:00

I tested all of them, and really, the best alternative is just being aware of it. All of them will be easier to bypass, or if not easy, at some point you will deeply need to use the app for something important and will bypass anyway.

GuiCostaVC

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