What I've Learned Building a Language Learning SaaS From Scratch: Weeks 2 - 4

I'm building a MVP for my language learning SaaS. Here is a review on what I've learned during the first 4 weeks of building.

Introduction

When you're building an MVP, the urge to perfect everything is almost irresistible—especially for those of us who love to tinker with code. But the reality is, the quicker you get your product into the hands of real users, the quicker you start getting the feedback that matters. Each week, I strive to refine my approach, hoping to outdo the last week in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. Despite these intentions, I've hit a few stumbling blocks that I wish I had navigated differently. Here's what didn't go as planned and what I've learned from the experience.

Building the MVP

Getting Too Advanced Too Fast

As a software engineer, I love diving deep into the intricacies of code and infrastructure. This passion is a double-edged sword when it comes to building a SaaS MVP. While it drives me to create robust, scalable solutions, it can also lead me down rabbit holes that aren't necessary at the MVP stage. Early on, I found myself heavily invested in setting up Terraform scripts to manage my infrastructure. I spent countless hours configuring everything from load balancers to auto-scaling groups, thinking I was setting myself up for future success. But in reality, I was just delaying the launch of my MVP.

The harsh truth is that none of this complexity mattered in the early stages. The goal wasn't to build something scalable for thousands of users—it was to build something usable for one. Eventually, I scrapped the Terraform setup entirely and opted for a simpler approach using Next.js API routes and MongoDB Atlas. By simplifying my stack, I was able to focus on what really mattered: getting a functional product out the door. This pivot allowed me to deploy on DigitalOcean within weeks on top of the weeks wasted, a process that could have taken less than two weeks had I kept it simple from the start.

Solve For Your First User Before Worrying About 1,000 Users

It's easy to get caught up in the idea of building a product that can handle massive scale, especially when you're deep in the technical weeds. But here's the reality: your first customer doesn't care about your infrastructure's scalability; they care about whether your product solves their problem. I found myself thinking about how to optimize for thousands of users when I hadn't even secured my first one. It was a classic case of putting the cart before the horse.

The key lesson here is to focus on creating value for one person first. Forget about scaling, and zero in on finding that initial user whose pain point your product addresses. Only after you've proven value to them should you start thinking about how to expand. It turns out that marketing and sales, not code, are what will make or break your product in these early stages. It's about connecting with people and understanding their needs—things that can't be solved by adding more servers or optimizing your database queries.

Clearly Define Your MVP

One of the biggest traps I almost fell into was overbuilding the MVP. As I started making progress, the temptation to add more features grew. It's easy to convince yourself that a new feature is essential, but without customer feedback, you're just guessing. I found myself sketching out ideas for additional functionality, thinking they would make the product more attractive. But I had to ask myself: Are these features something my target customers actually want? Would they make the difference between someone purchasing or passing? Without clear answers, it became evident that building these features would be a waste of time and resources.

The turning point was when I forced myself to clearly define what the MVP should include. I outlined the minimum set of features needed to solve the core problem my product aimed to address and committed to not adding anything beyond that until I had real user feedback. This clarity allowed me to focus on delivering something tangible and valuable, rather than getting lost in a sea of “what-ifs.”

What is Most Important?

Focus on the Important Things First

In the whirlwind of building a product, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. I found myself spending time on things like perfecting the UI, which, while important, weren't critical at the MVP stage. The reality is, no amount of technical polish will matter if your core product doesn't deliver value. This realization brought me to the importance of prioritizing work.

When you're at a large company, there are project managers and product owners to help guide your priorities. But as a solo founder, that responsibility falls squarely on your shoulders. I learned that I needed to develop a basic plan and stick to it, focusing on tasks that would have the most significant impact on delivering a functional MVP. It's about making progress, not perfection, and ensuring that every step you take is moving you closer to a product that users can engage with.

What is the Core Functionality of the Application?

Hand-in-hand with prioritization is understanding the core functionality of your product. These are the features that define your MVP and deliver the value your customers are looking for. By focusing on getting these core elements right, I was able to share my product with others and gather early feedback before even signing up my first user. This approach not only helped me validate my ideas but also allowed me to make adjustments based on real-world usage, rather than assumptions.

The extra features—the “nice-to-haves”—can always be added later. But the core functionality is what will make or break your product. It's the foundation upon which everything else is built, and getting it right is essential for finding success. By laser-focusing on these aspects, I was able to streamline my development process and create something that had real potential from day one.

Marketing

As a software engineer, marketing feels like a foreign land. It's intimidating, especially when you've spent most of your career solving technical problems. I had been putting off this phase, telling myself I would tackle it once the MVP was done. But in hindsight, I realize that this was a mistake. Marketing isn't something you should bolt on at the end; it needs to be integrated into your process from the beginning.

Now that my MVP is complete, I'm finally diving into the world of marketing, and it's both exciting and terrifying. My strategy revolves around creating video content, particularly in the language learning niche, where I believe there's a real opportunity to connect with potential users. Video content is powerful, but it's also intimidating, especially when you're not experienced in front of the camera. Despite the fear, I'm committed to documenting my journey, sharing what I learn, and hopefully building an audience along the way. This new phase is my priority, and I'm eager to see where it leads.

Final Thoughts

Building an MVP is like navigating a maze where every turn teaches you something new. The technical side of things can be a double-edged sword—it's what gives you the power to create, but it can also be what holds you back if you're not careful. Keeping things simple, focusing on the first customer, and resisting the temptation to overbuild are key lessons I've learned. The journey doesn't end when the code is written; it only begins. Now, as I shift my focus to marketing, the real challenge begins.

My Major Takeaway

If there's one thing I've come to realize, it's that speed and simplicity are paramount. The MVP isn't about perfection; it's about getting something functional out there and learning from it. By trimming down to the essentials and focusing on core features, I not only saved time but also set the stage for more focused, meaningful feedback. The goal isn't to build something perfect from day one—it's to build something that can grow and evolve with your users.