30 January 2024
Things to consider when starting a SaaS (Software) company
Starting your own company is likely to be one of the most exciting and stressful experiences of your life. However, with the right approach, a clear set of goals, a sound strategy and the best people around you, you stand a far better chance of navigating this perfect storm. From nailing your product strategy to getting the perfect product-market fit, read on to discover the top things to consider when starting your SaaS company.
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Develop a strong digital product strategy
Building a successful SaaS company requires a forward-thinking digital product strategy. Before setting off from the starting blocks, take the time to clearly define your long-term objectives, including scalability, competitor analysis and USP. You also need to devote time to getting a deep understanding of what your audience wants and needs from you. More on this shortly.
Collaborating with an experienced digital product partner is incredibly valuable at this stage. They can help you to create a comprehensive roadmap, ensuring your products achieve a balance between functionality and scalability and that you avoid any unnecessary detours between ideation and completion.
Interested in the potential of building a platform that can reduce your time to market from weeks to minutes? Check out our guide to building scalable whitelabeling software.
Define your product and target market
Creating your digital products is the really exciting and rewarding part. But before diving into development, put the hours in to clearly define your product and target market. Taking the Minimum Scalable Product (MSP) approach is a great way to ensure a genuine market need and set the foundation for a smoother development process.
Curious about why Miyagami’s MSP approach beats the outdated MVP way of working? Check out our article on the benefits of minimum scalable products.
Design for the optimum Product-Market Fit
Achieving the ideal Product-Market Fit (PMF) is something that all businesses struggle with. It requires deep market research and user validation to ensure you understand how to serve your target audience, identifying and addressing any pain points they have. Designing for PMF means you can deliver the optimum user experience and that your products not only solve user problems but do so in a way that is intuitive, user-friendly and stands out in a crowded market.
Tip: Conduct usability testing and gather feedback at every stage of development to ensure your design resonates with users.
Curious about PMF? Read our article on the impact of design on your product market fit.
Avoid building your MVP twice
Many startups fall into the trap of rebuilding their Minimum Viable Product (MVP) due to oversights a the planning and research stages. Adopting the MSP approach from the start mitigates this issue and puts you on the right track to creating scalable, modular architecture that anticipates future needs and ensures the smoothest transition possible from idea to MVP. This approach saves time and resources by preventing the need for extensive redevelopment.
Tip: Prioritise features based on their long-term value and scalability, not just immediate functionality.
Choose the right tech stack
Naturally, selecting the right tech stack is critical as it influences the scalability and future success of your SaaS platform and your company. Not every business has the luxury of a dedicated CTO but it is possible and achievable to make the optimal long-term investments if you work with the right digital product partner. They can guide you in choosing a tech stack that aligns with your business goals, ensures a scalable solution and incorporates the emerging technologies that will ensure your business stays one step ahead of the competition.
It’s not always easy to tell the difference between groundbreaking tech that will benefit your business and headline-grabbing tools that lack any meaningful substance. Take a look at our article on how to respond to tech hypes .
Work with the right digital product partner
When you’re building a business, resources are precious, but it rarely makes sense to try to do everything yourself. You need to choose the right partner to help with digital product strategy, development, delivery and long-term support. People who understand your business and audience and can recommend the right tech. Also, people who can connect you with marketers, SEO and other specialists who will support your company as it grows.
Look for a partner with a proven track record in end-to-end digital product management who can provide expert specialists for product development and project management, ensuring a roadmap aligned with a robust strategy.
As you grow your SaaS business and digital ecosystem, having an experienced partner ensures you're not only ready for the present but also well-prepared for the future. Contact the team at Miyagami today to find out how we can help grow your business and delight your customers.
