MicroConf On Air

MicroConf Tactics: AI is Crushing Big SaaS

The "SaaSpocalypse" wiped $2 trillion from public SaaS markets — but the people panicking aren't building the kind of business you are. I break down why the math-terrifying enterprise SaaS giants don't apply to bootstrapped founders, and why the advantages that have always made small teams dangerous are getting stronger in an AI-driven market. Links from the Pod Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the Rob Walling YouTube Channel MicroConf Europe | Iceland, Sept 21–23, 2026 Tinyseed Portfol

MicroConf Tactics: Start a SaaS From $0 in 2026

No savings. No trust fund. No venture capital. Just nights and weekends. That's how most successful SaaS companies start — including mine. I walk through what it costs, what's free, how to build without cash, and how to find your first customers on a tiny budget. Links: Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the Rob Walling YouTube Channel Join Idea To Traction Waitlist - New book launches in October The 9-to-5 Audit Startups for the Rest of Us Podcast MicroConf Connect The SaaS Playbook

MicroConf Tactics: Is Mailchimp the Greatest Bootstrapped SaaS Ever?

This is the story of MailChimp. Welcome to SaaS Legends, a series where Rob Walling tells the stories of the founders who built the most iconic software companies, and what you can learn from them. In this episode I break down how Ben Chestnut and Dan Kurzius accidentally invented freemium, said no to VCs for 20 years, and built one of the most valuable software companies ever created, without following anyone else’s playbook. Links from the Pod Subscribe to the Rob Walling YouTube channel Watc

MicroConf Tactics: The Real Reason SaaS Customers Cancel (here's how to fix it)

Every time a customer cancels, you tell yourself a story about why. Most of the time, that story is wrong. Rob Walling break down the biggest churn patterns I’ve seen kill SaaS companies and how to figure out which ones you can actually fix. Links from the Pod Subscribe to the Rob Walling YouTube Channel Watch this video on YouTube The SaaS Playbook, Free Sample Chapter TinySeed Accelerator

MicroConf Tactics: The ‘Old Rules’ of SaaS Still Win

AI is changing SaaS, but not everything. Rob Walling breaks down the 5 fundamentals that still determine whether your business survives, and why ignoring them means no amount of AI will save you. Links from the Pod Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the MicroConf YouTube Channel Subscribe to the Rob Walling YouTube Channel MicroConf Mastermind Matching Program (Applications are open in the Fall) Senior Place

MicroConf Tactics: Not Sure How to Market Your SaaS? Start Here

Rob Walling has seen 5 B2B SaaS marketing strategies work over and over, and in this video, he breaks down how AI is changing each one in 2026, what's different (and what's not), and how to prioritize based on your product. Links from the Pod Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the Rob Walling YouTube Channel MicroConf Connect Grab a free sample chapter of the SaaS Playbook The SaaS Playbook

MicroConf Tactics: SaaS is Hard Until You Learn These 4 Skills

Most SaaS founders hit a wall and can't figure out why they won't grow. After working with thousands of founders and investing in over 230 SaaS companies, I've found the same root cause almost every time: a gap in one of four core skills every SaaS needs to survive. In this video I'll break down what those skills are and what to do if you're missing one. Links from the Pod: Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the Rob Walling YouTube Channel Subscribe to Rob Walling's Essays Episode 807 | Th

MicroConf Tactics: AI Ads Will Be The Next Land Grab (Here's How I'd Play It)

Early Google and Facebook ads felt like a cheat code. Then the advantage disappeared. AI chat platforms are introducing ads now, and this might be another early window. The real challenge is timing. Today I’ll show you how to get that timing right and avoid the common traps I’ve seen across hundreds of SaaS companies. Links from the Pod Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the Rob Walling YouTube Channel MicroConf Europe September 21-23, 2026 in Reykjavik, Iceland SaaS Institute

MicroConf Tactics: He Built Two Unicorns. Here’s The Only AI Startup He’d Build in 2026

MicroConf Tactics: Give Me 36 Minutes and I'll Teach You How to Find $1M SaaS Ideas

I surveyed 200+ founders making $1K-$100K+/month to find out how successful founders came up with their SaaS idea. In this video I break down the 8 proven methods they used—with real examples from dozens of founders. Spoiler: 72% found their idea through their work. Your next SaaS might be hiding in plain sight. Links from the Pod Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the MicroConf YouTube Channel Free 9-5 Audit (find your SaaS idea at your day job) 75+ Marketplace opportunities Get early acc

MicroConf Tactics: 9 Brutal Truths About Startups I Know After 20 Years in SaaS

SaaS is an incredible business model, with recurring revenue, high margins, and big exits. But there’s a dark side most founders don’t see until it’s too late. In this ep, I break down the uncomfortable truths every founder should know before they dive in. Links in the Pod: Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the MicroConf YouTube Channel MicroConf Europe September 21-23 · Reykjavik, Iceland

MicroConf Tactics: What's ACTUALLY Happening in SaaS Right Now

Rob Walling shares how he's seeing AI affect the SaaS landscape, explains why he doesn’t believe AI will ever kill SaaS, and outlines where the biggest opportunities are for ambitious bootstrapped founders today. Links from the Pod Watch this video on YouTube MicroConf Mastermind Matching Subscribe to the Rob Walling YouTube Channel MicroConf Connect

MicroConf Tactics: Coding in 2026 is STILL a Superpower (Even with AI)

Is learning to code still worth it in 2026? Rob Walling breaks down what’s actually happening in the industry, why coding is still one of the highest-leverage skills you can learn, and how he’d approach learning to code if he were starting from scratch today. Links from the Pod MicroConf Mastermind Matching MicroConf Mastermind Guide Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the Rob Walling YouTube Channel SaaS Launchpad and “The DNA of a Great SaaS Idea” Frontend Mentor Boot.dev

MicroConf Tactics: 6 Signs Your SaaS MVP Is Not Good Enough (nobody teaches this)

In this video, Rob Walling breaks down 6 real reasons your MVP flopped from solving the wrong problem to over-promising what your product can’t yet deliver, and shows you exactly how to fix each one. Links from the Pod MicroConf US - Portland -  Use Promocode ROB50 for $50 off Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the Rob Walling YouTube channel SaaS Launchpad and “The DNA of a Great SaaS Idea” The Mom Test

MicroConf Tactics: You're Working on the WRONG Things - here's how to fix it

Rob Walling shares the Certainty vs. Uncertainty Framework, the system he’s used to build six companies and invest in over 250 startups to help you stop mistaking “busy” for “effective,” and focus on what truly drives progress. Links from the Pod MicroConf Europe Tickets are on Sale - Reykjavik, Iceland - Sept 21-23rd, 2026 Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the Rob Walling YouTube Channel Episode 720 | How to Prioritize Your Focus (In Both Your Startup and Personal Life) The SaaS Playboo

MicroConf Tactics: I Obsessed Over Product-Market Fit - Here Are the 5 Stages of PMF

Rob Walling breaks down the five phases of Product-Market Fit, showing how founders can identify where they are on the spectrum and what specific actions will move them forward. Most founders think product-market fit is a switch that suddenly flips on, but it’s not! Links from the Pod TinySeed Application are open until 2/17/26 TinySeed Applications Live Q&A- February 11th, 10AM EST Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the MicroConf YouTube Channel

There’s ONLY 5 Ways to Use AI in SaaS (prove me wrong)

Every founder is asking the same question: “Am I falling behind on AI?” In this video, Rob Walling breaks down the five ways startups are using AI and which ones actually work. He covers everything from using AI as your core product to leveraging it for growth and operations, including real-world examples from SaaS founders. Can’t find a developer, and now you’re frustrated with the hiring process? G2i gives you access to over 8,000 pre-vetted engineers ‍‍ - no AI-generated resumes, just real

MicroConf Tactics: How to Hire Your First Developer (Avoid These 7 COSTLY Mistakes)

Hiring your first developer or engineer is a huge milestone and it’s easy to make costly mistakes. In this video, Rob Walling shares the seven most common pitfalls founders face when hiring a developer for the first time, plus expert tips to help you build your startup team with confidence. Can’t find a developer, and now you’re frustrated with the hiring process? G2i gives you access to over 8,000 pre-vetted engineers ‍‍ - no AI-generated resumes, just real, experienced candidates ready to j

MicroConf Tactics: The Silent Killer of Startups (And How to Prevent It)

In this episode, Rob Walling shares why building alone is dangerous, what your real options are, and exactly how to surround yourself with other founders who can help you navigate the chaos without losing your mind. Links from the Pod Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the MicroConf YouTube Channel MicroConf’s Mastermind Matching Program Get your free copy of the MicroConf Masterminds Guide

MicroConf Tactics: How TinySeed Helped Harris Grow His SaaS to $500k ARR (in 1 Year)

Rob Walling chats with Harris Kenny, founder of OutboundSync, about how he took a low-code MVP and, with seed funding from TinySeed, scaled it into a SaaS business generating over $500K in annual recurring revenue — all in just one year. Links in the episode: Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the MicroConf YouTube Channel OutboundSync TinySeed Accelerator Program Bonus Coaching Call TinySeed Tales Season 5 Startups for the Rest of Us Podcast